Community

Smoke from a series of large wildfires burning in Northern California and Oregon is riding steady northerly winds into the Bay Area, lowering air quality to unhealthy levels in much of the region.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air...

Shaffer earns bachelor’s degree Brooke Shaffer, of Hollister, received a bachelor of science degree in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama.  The university awarded more than 5,800 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies.  A recent economic analysis found that a degree from The University of...

After Morgan Hill resident Kristina Andrews lost her daughter, Kourtney, to a drowning accident about six years ago, the local mother knew she wanted to do something to help prevent other families from suffering similar tragedies.  The desire to make a difference continued to grow...

The Hollister School District has announced that four schools no longer have targeted support designations from the state due to significant progress with student outcomes, while another site also now has an improved label attached to it after taking steps forward.  R.O. Hardin Elementary School,...

Locals and visitors started the Independence Day holiday early with a fireworks show and entertainment at Brigantino Park on July 1.  Festivities at the annual Fireworks Show and Family Fun Night included live entertainment, fun and games for the whole family and vendors. The evening...

Re: Opinion Page Cartoon, Free Lance, July 14 The Joe Heller cartoon on my favorite Free Lance page concerning a complex issue enlightened and entertained me. In one cartoon, it contained a whole strip explaining an issue difficult to understand. Beginning with: “It’s the hottest...

A new initiative to put land use decisions in the hands of San Benito County residents is currently circulating, the latest political effort by slow-growth advocates in the area. The Empower Voters to Make Land Use Decisions Initiative would amend the county’s General Plan to...

In a recent letter from the San Benito Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, local elected officials from various jurisdictions notified the public that the San Benito Healthcare District—which oversees Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital—is no longer participating in meetings with the committee as of Feb. 27.  The March...

San Benito County officials said they have invited Salinas Valley Health to partner in an effort to find a long-term solution on the future operations of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, which filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy last month.  But the county also stopped short of...

Hollister boys tennis Coach Rick Espino has his program rolling with both high-end talent and overall numbers and that will keep the Balers in the competitive top side of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Mission Division.  Leadership at the top of the singles ladder comes...