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The City of Hollister is working on an inclusionary housing ordinance that could require future residential developers to make up to 20% of their projects affordable under state guidelines.  A draft ordinance, produced under the council’s previous direction, was presented at the May 1 council...

A resident of Southside Estates in Hollister shot a burglar who snuck into the home early Monday morning, according to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. The burglary suspect who was shot, identified as Ocean Burger, 18, was treated at a nearby hospital and arrested...

The Hollister High track and field program had another strong showing in the Central Coast Section Semifinals on May 13 at Gilroy High.  The Haybalers qualified seven individuals and three relay teams to the Finals on May 20, also to be held at Gilroy. The...

Police arrested a young man and four teenagers after they shot at a group of juveniles in San Juan Bautista, resulting in injuries to an innocent bystander Wednesday night, according to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.

A growth management plan for the City of Hollister has received some updates following scrutiny by the state earlier this year. The ordinance, which is expected to be up for approval at the city council’s next meeting Oct. 21, limits the number of new market-rate...

Hollister resident Chris Mora shot several photos of the July 12 structure fire in the city’s downtown and shared them with the Free Lance. Firefighters from Hollister Fire Department and numerous surrounding agencies responded to the fire on the 400 block of San Benito Street...

At a tense board meeting Jan. 25, the San Benito Health Care District board voted to appoint Mary Casillas to the permanent CEO position of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, with a contract that increases her salary by more than 45 percent. Area residents, hospital nurses—and...

San Benito County officials are anticipating some more progress in the fight against Covid-19 as they plan to advance into the first of two tiers in Phase 1B of California’s vaccination plan.  The county issued a press release on Jan. 23 stating that the county...

As of Aug. 17, there have been 848 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in San Benito County. The local death count remains at four, according to county officials.  Confirmed cases include patients who have since recovered and those who are deceased. The data from the Public Health...

A plan to create a roadside attraction on the Betabel property along Highway 101 in San Juan Bautista took a step closer to reality on June 1. Community members joined elected officials in celebrating the groundbreaking of the Betabel Project’s first phase. The proposal for the...