Health

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital recently received a $3 million loan from the state, according to hospital officials.  The loan comes from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority. The loan will allow the Hollister hospital to extend the timeline it needs to find a strategic partner...

In an effort to cut costs as Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital (HHMH) faces a potential bankruptcy, the San Benito Health Care District Board of Directors voted Jan. 6 to close the hospital system’s home healthcare department.  The board’s vote was in line with a recommendation...

San Benito County recently started working with regional organizations to develop a countywide strategy to expand reliable and affordable broadband communications services. Authorities are beginning to ask the community and stakeholders for input on the forthcoming Broadband Strategic Plan, according to a press release.  The...

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...

A 3.4 magnitude earthquake struck early Tuesday morning in the Gabilan Range about 25 miles east of Salinas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The 4:31am quake was centered at a depth of about 5 miles just west of the San Benito River and State...

Watkins graduates from Shenandoah University Branden Watkins, of Hollister, was among the 1,143 students who graduated from Shenandoah University during the 2022-23 academic year. Watkins earned a Post-Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery. Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational...

Residents of San Benito County who need to dispose of storm debris can do so at a free event Jan. 29 at John Smith Road Landfill.  The free disposal day is sponsored by the county’s Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency. It will take place from...

Hollister Police recovered a stolen U-Haul van after the vehicle’s illicit driver was exiting an appointment with San Benito County Probation staff, authorities said.  About 10:15am Nov. 7, a Hollister Police Department license plate reader scanned the plate of the vehicle when it was parked...

Five months after declaring a fiscal emergency and predicting that they’d run out of funds by early this year, officials at San Benito County’s only hospital said they have secured enough cash to get through the summer. At least for now, residents there won’t...

The historic heat wave that has gripped most of California this week has resulted in broken temperature records, prompted cities and counties to open public “cooling centers” for the vulnerable, caused power outages—and might have even damaged a stretch of highly traveled asphalt along...