Economy

A project to build a new four-lane expressway adjacent to Highway 156 between San Juan Bautista and Hollister is set to begin, resulting in traffic delays for commuters and other travelers over the coming months, according to Caltrans. The San Benito Route 156 Improvement Project...

Although recent rains have saturated Hollister and the surrounding areas—with more precipitation on the way—experts advised this week that California is nowhere close to being out of its ongoing drought.  A lingering storm over New Year’s weekend, from Dec. 30-Jan. 1, dumped a steady downpour...

The Hollister Recreation department has been busy bringing fun under the sun this summer for San Benito County residents. They recently invited the community for Family Fun Night on July 30 to play a couple of holes of miniature golf along with other family-friendly activities...

In an effort to minimize impacts on wildlife and tribal resources, as well as to satisfy critics of the proposed Sargent Mine in southern Santa Clara County, the project’s applicant recently offered to scale back their original plans for the property. However, some of those...

Feeding the Frontline The San Benito Health Foundation on Oct. 19 will host “Feeding the Frontline: Binational Hope, Health Without Borders,” a drive-thru food distribution event to support local families.  The event will take place 3-6pm at the health foundation’s headquarters, at 351 Felice Drive in...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and Anthem Blue Cross announced this week that they have agreed on a new contract that allows patients insured by the company to maintain “in-network access” to the local hospital’s services, services and providers, says a press release from Hazel...

Spectrum last week announced it has completed a fiber-optic network expansion project that brings the company’s internet, mobile, television and voice services to more than 40 homes in the River Oaks community of northwest San Benito County.  Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki and other local community members...

Hollister Municipal Airport is set to become a testing ground for zero-emission aircraft—and perhaps even a hub for hydrogen-electric power research—as an international technology company recently announced its new 19-seat aircraft will be based at the local facility.  ZeroAvia has received its second twin-engine Dornier...

The Hollister City Council voted last week to put a proposed occupancy tax increase on the ballot for the November 2024 general election. If passed, this would be the first time since 1986 that voters will  decide to increase the tax on hotel stays...

The San Benito County Resource Management Agency recently shared the “excellent” news that it has received a $2.4 million grant from the state to help build the new Riverview Regional Park. The funds were awarded on Aug. 22 by the California State Regional Park Program,...