New Year Baby arrives just after midnight
Hollister’s Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of the year just after midnight on Jan. 1—a girl who weighed in at nearly 6 pounds, according to the hospital.
Parents Elizabeth Hernandez and Gilbert Valencia welcomed their daughter, Genesis, to the world at 12:04am...
New state law keeps medical debt off credit report
‘Everyday people across the country skip medical care because of cost. Those who do seek medical help may end up with a balance they can’t pay off. That debt can hurt people’s credit scores, resulting in long-term financial burdens.
Starting Jan. 1, a new state...
Health care district outlines next steps for HHMH
The San Benito Health Care District this week announced the next steps in the ongoing process to finalize the lease-to-own transaction between Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and Insight. While progress has been made, there is still crucial work ahead to complete the transaction. In...
BLM eases fire restrictions
The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office is easing seasonal fire restrictions as of Nov. 19 for about 300,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and...
UC Santa Cruz secures 2,400-acre ranch in San Benito County
UC Santa Cruz recently acquired and established the Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve, a 2,400-acre oak-studded grassland property in San Benito County that will be used for field research and outdoor education for the university’s students, staff and researchers.
The UC Board of Regents approved the...
District, Insight move toward hospital sale following successful Measure X campaign
San Benito Health Care District officials and representatives of Insight Health this week declared that Measure X has received voter approval in the Nov. 5 election, issuing statements on their next efforts to transfer ownership of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital to the Michigan-based healthcare...
Coroner identifies two who died in head-on crash on Highway 25
Two people—one a Hollister resident and one from Gilroy—died in a collision on Highway 25 near the border between Santa Clara and San Benito counties, according to authorities.
The Santa Clara County Coroner and Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims of the fatal accident as...
A guide to state propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot
With election day approaching, voters have several state propositions from which to choose. Below is a brief description of each of them. For a deeper dive, visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions.
Proposition 2
Public School and Community College Facilities
Under Prop. 2, the state would sell a $10 billion bond...
Supporters, opponents spend big on San Benito County hospital measure
San Benito County voters have the fate of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in their hands this Nov. 5 election as they decide on a ballot measure proposing its sale to an out of state company.
Measure X is the final step in the San Benito...
San Benito County homelessness up nearly 74%Â
The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, in partnership with local governments, community-based organizations, and volunteers, has completed the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count for 2024, says a press release from the coalition. The results indicate an increase in the number of individuals and families experiencing...


















