Local News

After a solid junior season that ended with the San Benito High softball team hoisting the Central Coast Section championship trophy, Seryna Esparza entered the off-season with a renewed purpose and focus.  “Coming into senior year, I knew that came with a responsibility,” she said....

Fernando Buenrostro Estrada, 37, of Hollister, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after he pleaded no contest to felony driving under the influence, according to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.  Estrada also admitted that his blood alcohol content at the time of...

A grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board will help fund the creation of a wildlife crossing over Pacheco Pass on Highway 152.  The $3.125 million grant to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency will pay for the planning, design, environmental review and permitting of...

Local students named to Dean’s List Hollister residents Alissa Avina and Garret Kelly have been named to the winter 2022 Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s west campus, which is located in San Jose.  Rib Cook-off The Great San Juan Bautista Rib Cook-off returns April 29-30...

San Benito High lacrosse coach Chris Branon acknowledged the team might go the entire season without earning a victory. At 0-9 entering their April 20 Pacific Coast League match against Aptos High, conventional wisdom would have it that there have been few things to...

A host of local agencies, organizations, groups and individuals are working together to put on a grand celebration of the City of Hollister’s 150th anniversary. Among them is Diego Villalpando, a junior at San Benito High School, who has offered to create a public time...

San Benito County voters will have an abundance of choices for numerous local offices that will appear on the June 7 primary ballot. The local ballot features the newly redrawn 18th U.S. Congressional District, three county supervisors seats, district attorney’s office, sheriff-coroner and more. The...

San Benito County invites the community to celebrate Earth Day this Saturday with environmental education and recycling programs, awards and interactive activities for people of all ages. The festivities will take place 1-4pm April 23 at Carl Martin Luck City Library and Park in San...

Special to the Free Lance San Benito County officials and property owners continue to seek more funding to provide more services for local homeless people, and to reduce the unhoused population.  The San Benito County Board of Supervisors discussed some of the possibilities when they met...

The Great San Juan Bautista Rib Cook-off returns April 29-30 and May 1. Organizers will close down the streets of historic San Juan Bautista to make way for the festival of ribs, crafts and music.  Award-winning teams will prepare and serve tender, slow-cooked barbecue ribs...