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The San Benito County Free Library is closed until next week because a group of protesters refused to wear face coverings inside the building, in violation of state law, according to county officials. The unmasked protesters entered the library, 470 Fifth Street, on the morning...

Hot/cold, run/walk, up/down, fast/slow, like these opposites the Free Lance front page (June 30) displayed two stories each one opposite to the other. I am wondering what readers think and how they respond.   One story, a true bottom report, documented, “Hollister OKs more housing hookups...

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and San Benito County Integrated Waste Management (SBCIWM) are offering to recycle bulky items for free for local residents on Jan. 29 from 9am to 3pm at John Smith Road Landfill. Caltrans, landfill and county staff will be on...

Bars and breweries in Hollister may have to shut down this weekend and beyond following some modifications made by the state due to rising cases of Covid-19.  San Benito County officials announced July 8 that Dr. David Ghilarducci, county interim health officer, issued an order...

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that the San Benito County Water District (SBCWD) will be awarded two grants to support local water resiliency efforts.  The project that received funding—Accelerated Drought Response Project or ADRoP—is centered around groundwater recharge efforts. To accomplish this...

As springtime warms up and the long summer months approach, Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area will be welcoming a growing crowd of dirt bike and all terrain vehicle enthusiasts—with an emphasis on safety.  From May 14-21, volunteers, staff and other experts will offer the...

San Benito voters approved Measure C on Tuesday,with 58 percent in favor of setting up a tax structure for future expansion of the county’s budding cannabis business into unincorporated San Benito County. With citizens of Hollister and San Juan Bautista excluded from the vote, the...

San Benito High School 2018 graduate Rolando Pablo Lorenzo was back on campus Dec. 13 to receive his “Every Student Succeeding” award from the Association of California School Administrators. Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum presented the award to Lorenzo, who was honored by Baler staff, administrators and...

The wet weather didn’t dampen the holiday spirit when the Hollister Downtown Association held its 29th annual Lights On Celebration Nov. 30. The all-day event featured a holiday car display, Dec-A-Tree Contest, food vendors and live entertainment, with an evening parade marching down San...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital officials last week obtained approval to seek a line of credit to potentially extend the struggling Hollister hospital’s financial survival while its efforts to find a viable partner are ongoing.  On April 27, the San Benito Health Care District board of...