Gavilan basketball coach makes history
Melissa “Moe” Llanes knew something was up when Gavilan College men’s basketball coach Derek Jensen called her during the team’s Feb. 9 game-day shootaround.
Moments later, Gavilan Athletic Director Ron Hannon and trainer Erik Hilliker walked into the gym and Llanes, the team’s assistant coach,...
State not likely to lift school mask mandate until March
While California K-12 students will still be required to wear masks once the state's indoor mask mandate ends this week, one of the state’s top health officials said Monday that a decision on in-school mask requirements could be made by the end of the...
Sweeping federal drug bust includes arrests in Gilroy
A sweeping drug and weapons bust centered on the Sinaloa Cartel, and headed up by the FBI, resulted in the arrest of scores of suspects over the past year, including arrests in Gilroy.
At a press conference Feb. 11, the FBI was joined by Northern...
Ryen Ortiz to play D-1 soccer; Balers aim to finish season strong
Ryen Ortiz and Laine Lowi are cherishing the last couple of games they have together playing on the San Benito High girls soccer team.
Best friends since preschool, the two will go their separate ways after they graduate, Ortiz to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro...
Local Scene: Miss CA Rodeo Contest
Miss CA Rodeo Contest applications open soon
Young ladies who are passionate about the western lifestyle and promoting the rodeo industry can run for the title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas and become an ambassador for the largest professional rodeo in the state. Entries for...
San Benito to join Bay Area counties in lifting indoor mask mandate
Nearly every county in the greater Bay Area will lift their indoor mask mandates next week, aligning them with the state's plans to lift its mask requirements.
San Benito will join Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and...
Moments Flower Shop owner stays optimistic about Valentine’s Day rush
Moments Flower Shop owner and florist Jeanette Melita has been getting prepared for what she hopes will be a busy Valentine’s Day weekend. That usually means orders for flower arrangements should start pouring in within the next couple of days.
But during these strange times,...
Gavilan men’s hoops look to finish season strong and springboard to Coast title contention next year
As long as Derek Jensen is the coach of the Gavilan College men’s basketball program, the Rams should be in good shape.
Like his predecessor and brother, Dallas, who went on to become the coach at College of the Sequoias, Derek has shown to be...
Guest view: Our Water Supply, The Elixir of Life
Winter storms brought significant snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and other California mountains in December. Snowpack is critical for the state’s spring water outlook because when the snow melts it runs downhill into streams that fill reservoirs that hold about 30% of the state’s...
Letter: Some kids more informed than parents
On reading the letter from Randy Logue in the Opinion section of the Feb. 4 Free Lance, the irony of his letter and its position against 12-year-olds being capable of making sound healthcare decisions is remarkable.
The inaccuracies and astoundingly poor reasoning exhibited in the...


















