Community

In the upcoming special election on Nov. 4, voters are going to see a new measure, Proposition 50. By a vote of the majority, California voters will decide if temporary changes to our congressional district maps should be authorized.  This would allow the legislature, members...

The public review period is open for the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for San Benito County’s 2023-31 Housing Element Implementation Project. The public review period started Sept. 12 and continues through Oct. 13. The county recently posted its Notice of Intent to...

During a joint investigation into a suspected narcotics trafficker operating in Gilroy and San Benito County, investigators from the Gilroy Police Department Anti-Crime Team and detectives from the San Benito County Criminal Apprehension, Suppression, Prevention Response Team recently served a search warrant at a...

Last week the smaller print piece in the Free Lance side bar labeled “Local Scene” got my attention. The title “State to study cancer risk of fighting wildfires” had me opening the paper focused on further information. Everyone is interested in cancer risk.   Our surrounding...

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,...

Student workers at Gavilan College are organizing what they say would be the first student workers union at a community college in California, aiming to address wage disparities and improve working conditions at their Gilroy and Hollister campuses, and inspire other students to follow...

On the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, Hollister FFA students continued the tradition of placing flags on Senior Mound to represent the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The recognition was a lunchtime ceremony in the main campus quad in commemoration of Patriot Day,...

The spirit of community and celebration was alive at Swank Farms on Sept. 6, as the Baler Education Foundation hosted its 18th annual Baler Fame Fest.  The event welcomed six new inductees into the Baler Hall of Fame, recognizing their  professional achievements, community service and...

Two games into the 2025 football season and the Balers are 0-2. However, there have been many good signs and a lot of progress with new coaches and new schemes and the Balers are encouraged about the “new season,” i.e., league play, beginning Friday...

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...