County supes OK full audit following library embezzlement scandal
San Benito County will conduct a full audit of the public library after two former employees were convicted of embezzling more than $360,000 from the county.
Former library staff members Erin Baxter and Mary Alvarez were recently convicted of embezzling about $360,755 of library funds...
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...
Statewide cleanup effort includes inaugural ‘Trashure Hunt’
California Coastal Cleanup Day will celebrate its 41st year this September with its first ever “Trashure Hunt,” offering participants the chance to win a variety of prizes by volunteering to pick up litter and garbage at hundreds of locations across the state, organizers announced...
Insight Health withdraws from negotiations to lease, purchase Hazel Hawkins
The San Benito Health Care District announced Aug. 13 that Insight Health is stepping away from negotiations on a proposed lease-to-purchase agreement for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, citing unprecedented uncertainty stemming from the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
The federal legislation will...
Weekly market offers fresh, local produce
Every Saturday, scores of people make the drive to Pinnacle Farms market in San Juan Bautista to buy fresh, organically grown produce.
Owners Phil and Katherine Foster began farming in San Benito County in 1968. Today they grow certified organic fruit and vegetables on 295...
South Valley mothers fight against fentanyl
Three mothers from California's South Valley have turned their grief into advocacy after losing their teenage sons to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.
Gilroy residents Geralyn Vasquez, Lisa Marquez and Stephanie Carrasco each lost sons between ages 17 and 21 to what the young men believed were...
San Benito County cleans up homeless riverbed encampments
Local authorities this week began cleaning up homeless encampments in the San Benito River bed in an ongoing effort to remove hazardous materials and direct unhoused people to services and more stable shelter.
San Benito County is leading the effort in partnership with the City...
Volunteer to help improve local pollinator habitat
A coalition of local, state and national groups will host a pollinator habitat planting community action volunteer event May 2 and 3 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.
Volunteers will be encouraged to spend the morning helping to prepare the soil...
San Benito County warns of rabies detected in dead skunk
San Benito County authorities warned that a dead skunk found recently in Aromas was infected with the rabies virus and anyone who thinks they have been in contact with a rabid animal should take precautions.
The skunk carcass was found at a private residence on...
Hazel Hawkins board declines to pursue bankruptcy appeal
The San Benito Health Care District board of directors on April 8 voted not to pursue an appeal in Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital’s Chapter 9 Bankruptcy case. Instead, the board will continue to focus on finalizing a deal with Insight Health, district officials said...
