Community

A group of San Benito County residents calling themselves the “Public Safety First” committee is seeking to recall two supervisors less than a year after they were sworn in for office.  The group recently began circulating petitions throughout the county to recall District 2 Supervisor...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital announced recently it will expand its service line of women’s health services by introducing new physicians to support care in San Benito County. Dr. James Lilja recently joined the HHMH medical staff, adding the specialized field of gynecologic oncology to the...

Incentives up to $5,000 are available for San Benito County residents who purchase or lease a new or used electric or hybrid vehicle.  The 2025-26 Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP) was launched July 1 by the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. Residents of Monterey and...

Re: Food security critical on Central Coast, Free Lance, July 11, 2025  “We are all one common group,” clarified Harley Davidson biker wife at rally on San Benito Street, as colorful, stylish, multi-variety models of mechanical two and three wheel wonders paraded.   I assume that one...

More than 50 community entries—including a herd of cattle, marching bands, floats, horsemen and horsewomen (some in the Vaquero tradition), 2025 Miss San Benito Rodeo, wagons and many community groups—marched through downtown Hollister June 21 to kick off this year’s San Benito County Rodeo. The...

The Latino Coalition of San Benito County has announced that legendary labor and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta will attend the Annual Visionary Women’s Luncheon, set to take place 11:30am-3pm Aug. 23 at the Elks Lodge in Hollister.   The luncheon will include a silent auction...

Anonymous Facebook users who run what they describe as a “satirical” social media page have sued San Benito County over its recent efforts to name them as the page’s owners.  At a Nov. 26 online hearing before the California Northern District Court, after receiving arguments...

Hollister Police Department will conduct a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on June 13, at an undisclosed location within the city limits. The checkpoint will take place from 6pm-1:30am.   In recent years, California has seen a “disturbing increase” in drug-impaired driving crashes, Hollister Police Department...

Hollister HS baseball (9-5 overall, 5-3 PCAL Gabilan) Recent results: Lost 1-0 at Carmel; won 12-9 vs. Carmel; won 15-1 vs. Piedmont Hills Upcoming games: 4pm April 14 at Soledad; 4pm April 15 at Monterey; 4PM April 17 vs. Monterey NOTES: In the victory over first-place...

A Gilroy day care operator stalked and sexually molested her foster child and engaged in Satanic rituals, according to allegations in documents reviewed by the Gilroy Dispatch. Santa Clara County officials filed a July 31 criminal complaint that details the charges against Christina Jean Johnson,...