Economy

After Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out a deficit-bridging budget plan in January, advocates pushing for more affordable housing and shelters hoped he might reconsider his intent to make deep cuts—or scrounge up some more money. On May 10, Newsom released a revised proposal showing that...

Bill’s Bullpen comic book store in downtown Hollister has chalked up its 35th year and counting. Owner Bill Mifsud said that Dec. 1 marked three-and-a-half decades of marketing a huge array of comic books, on top of sports apparel, sports cards, non-sports cards, shirts...

The Board of the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers for Monterey and San Benito Counties (CHSP) announced that Genevieve Lucas-Conwell is the new incoming Executive Director of the Coalition. Joining CHSP from the Bay Area, Lucas-Conwell has served alongside the unhoused population in both San...

Thousands of households in San Benito County who have received extra CalFresh benefits due to pandemic-related hardships will see a reduction in their monthly allotments as of April 1, and local service providers are preparing now to meet the inevitable surge in demand that...

It’s been a rough week for Aurora Manzo, owner of Divas Aka Beauty and Barber Shop, as she’s had to transition yet again to one of the new Covid-19 orders announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom last week released a new guidance specifically for outdoor...

The new Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel, developed by Lotus Management, Inc., opened near the intersection of Highways 25 and 156 in Hollister last week.  The 93-room hotel, which shares a border with Santa Clara County, currently employs about 20 people, says a press...

With thousands of San Benito County residents set to lose their CalFresh benefits due to a suspension of federal funding, local organizations and service providers are preparing for a surge in the need for food assistance this month.  On Nov. 4, the board of supervisors...

The Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFFSBC) has funded 42 local nonprofits, including Junior Achievement of Northern California (JA), through their 2022 Program Project Grant Cycle, according to a press release. Aided by the $6,668 grant, Junior Achievement’s 2022-23 San Benito County Youth Economic...

While some California residents opted to leave the state during the pandemic, far fewer people are also moving to the state from other parts of the country, according to new research from the University of California at Berkeley's California Policy Lab.  The amount of people...

Hollister and San Benito County kicked off the winter holiday season this past weekend with the annual downtown Lights On Parade and celebration. The events on Saturday, Nov. 26 started early in the morning with the Holiday Car Display, an afternoon holiday boutique that lasted...