Health

Hundreds of California native pigeons have died this winter due to a parasitic disease, announced state wildlife officials on Feb. 23.   California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they’ve noticed an increase of reported sick and dead band-tailed pigeons since early February, mostly around...

The singers of San Benito Oriana Chorale—many of whom have performed with the group for more than three decades—are eager to be back in front of audiences this month for the first time since before the pandemic.  The local nonprofit community choral group has been...

With the Bay Area currently showing the highest Covid-19 infection rates in California, health officers are reminding people of the importance of safety precautions such as continued masking indoors and vaccine boosters. The current wave of infections is fueled by the highly contagious Omicron subvariants,...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its approval Monday of the first non-prescription at-home Covid-19 test that also detects the flu.  The test allows users to swab the inside of their nose and send the sample to the test's manufacturer, Labcorp, for analysis. In...

San Benito County public safety personnel are currently rescuing several people and animals from rising floodwaters on Lovers Lane, according to county staff.  The rescue efforts started early in the afternoon Jan. 9. A total of 10 people and four animals have been rescued so...

San Benito County organizations awarded $140K arts grants San Benito County Clerk-Recorder-Elections and Costanoan Indian Research Inc. were among 23 organizations throughout the Central Coast to have been awarded $140,000 grants to partner with an artist over a 12-month period to create an arts engagement...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital said in a statement that a major national and regional private health insurer is “refusing” to pay the Hollister hospital a fair price for health services. As a result, after Aug. 10, patients insured by Anthem Blue Cross Preferred Provider...

California’s severe drought continues, and mandatory water conservation measures are in place. These climate conditions, along with our limited long-term water supplies, mean it is in our best interest to use water as efficiently as possible. Not just when we’re in drought, but ALWAYS! On...

San Benito County on Aug. 25 reported its first confirmed local case of monkeypox. The case was confirmed through testing at a local Quest Diagnostics Laboratory, says a press release from the county. The infected person is in isolation under the care of a medical...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital announced March 21 that its leadership staff will withdraw notices previously sent to employees that cautioned of a potential hospital closure and loss of jobs.  The notices are being withdrawn because HHMH has made “significant progress in shoring up its finances”...