Local News

San Benito County faces another rising surge of Covid-19 cases, driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant of the virus, according to authorities. The wave of new cases hasn’t resulted in a major strain on the local hospital or healthcare providers—largely because Omicron doesn’t appear...

More than 50 community entries—including a herd of cattle, marching bands, floats, horsemen and horsewomen (some in the Vaquero tradition), 2025 Miss San Benito Rodeo, wagons and many community groups—marched through downtown Hollister June 21 to kick off this year’s San Benito County Rodeo. The...

Cal Fire reported at 7:38pm Jan. 23 the Colorado Fire, off Palo Colorado in the Big Sur area, south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, is 35% contained with about 700 acres still burning.   Officials say better map management shows the fire is smaller than the 1,050 acres reported...

The Northern California Renaissance Faire will soon wrap up its 20th anniversary year at Casa de Fruta in Hollister, with one last weekend allowing guests to step back in time for medieval revelry, camaraderie, entertainment and competition.  The festival features merchandise from fine artisans and...

Special to the Free Lance San Benito High School District Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum provided a brief presentation March 7 to the Hollister City Council on early plans to open a second high school. According to Tennenbaum, San Benito High School is at its capacity of 3,437...

Following an hours-long standoff, police arrested a man who was brandishing weapons and threatening to hurt himself outside a vacant store in Hollister, authorities said. About 6:38am Sept. 9, a woman called Hollister Police to report her brother had called her and made suicidal comments,...

San Benito Integrated Waste Management (SBCIWM) will host two upcoming free composting workshops where attendees can learn how to turn food scraps and yard waste into nutrient rich soil. The Composting 101 Workshop is scheduled for 9:30am July 29; and a Sheet Mulching Technique and...

The community is invited to Hollister High School's library on Jan. 17 (in Spanish) and Jan. 18 (in English) for community town halls to update the planning and preparation process for a second high school in the San Benito High School District.  The events, which...

Proponents of an effort to recall San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez—who has served on the board for less than one year—submitted a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to election officials last week.  In a Sept. 23 letter to the committee’s treasurer,...

Plans for a long awaited regional park took a huge step forward after the San Benito High School District (SBHSD) and county on Tuesday agreed to a 99-year lease for the property that will be used for the park.  The agreement will finally allow the...