Highway interchange construction is under way
Crews are pictured June 13 moving dirt on the west side of the interchange of Highway 101 and State Route 25 in south Gilroy. Construction began earlier this month on the long planned new interchange project, which is designed to ease congestion, improve safety...
Letter: Protesters celebrate the ‘real’ Fourth of July
Re: Hundreds protest on No Kings Day, Free Lance, June 20, 2025
Never before have I seen such enthusiasm before carrying out a protest or rally. People arrived with a mission to accomplish. Many arrived before noon and remained well into the late afternoon celebrating...
Dog found, healthy, after ‘misunderstanding’ in Hollister
What animal control investigators thought was a case involving an abandoned dog turned out to be a misunderstanding, Hollister Police said.
After investigating the July 26 incident and contacting the owners, local authorities determined the dog is in good health and its owners had no...
All four lanes of new Highway 156 corridor open June 13
In what transportation officials and local representatives hail as a “major milestone,” all four lanes of the new San Benito Route 156 Improvement Project will open to all traffic on June 13.
Caltrans District 5 hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 7, in which...
A show of support
A multitude of elected officials, workers and law enforcement officials from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties gathered at the Government Center in Salinas last week to send a message to the community and the federal government.
“Today we stand together, locally, statewide and...
Suncoast Organic Farm serves up artisan bread and craft beer
In the rolling hills south of Hollister, the Miller family have transformed a former walnut farm into an eclectic “destination bakery” that reflects their philosophy of giving new life to old structures and traditions.
The heart of Suncoast Organic Farms is a century-old barn that...
Hospital plans to expand women’s health services
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...
Police seek to ID owner of dog found injured near Hollister
Authorities are trying to find the owner of a dog that was found abandoned with injuries off the side of a highway near Hollister.
On May 5, officers from Hollister Police Animal Care and Services and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office responded to a...
Hundreds protest on ‘No Kings Day’ in Hollister
Millions of people in cities and towns throughout the nation joined the “No Kings” protest on June 14—a crowd that included several hundred protesters in southeast Hollister.
The event was organized in 2,000 cities in the U.S. to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, and...
Flag football, fastest growing prep sport, begins to reveal updated rules
Girls flag football began in many areas of California in Fall 2023. In the two years of competition, Hollister’s teams have excelled.
The fall 2024 squad won the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division title with a 13-1 record and was 19-6 overall. Although several...

















