Local News

The deadline to apply for direct assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was extended to July 20 for California residents in 12 counties who were impacted by winter storms.  The extension gives residents in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and other impacted counties an...

Three California hospitals that declared bankruptcy earlier this year are hashing out deals that could bring back or save much-needed health care services for their communities.  Defunct Madera Community Hospital in the San Joaquin Valley, cash-strapped Beverly Community Hospital east of Los Angeles and Hazel...

People convicted of distributing fentanyl will face stiffer criminal penalties in the coming year under a new law shaped by rising overdose deaths. The law increases the penalty for selling or distributing more than one kilogram of fentanyl by an automatic addition of three years...

Local residents, visitors, families and friends enjoyed sunny skies and mild temperatures this past weekend as they ate, shopped, danced—and otherwise let loose—at the San Juan Bautista Street Festival.  The festivities took place March 28-29 in the city’s historic downtown. Third Street and some side...

Author and youth advocate Roy Juarez, Jr. will appear for a book signing at Hill’s Bookstore in Hollister Aug. 5. The event is part of Juarez’s “Stories That Move” tour.  Juarez wrote “Homeless by Choice: A Memoir of Love, Hate, and Forgiveness” in 2018. A...

A premier northern California focal point for the preservation, enjoyment, instruction and performance of bluegrass music is in San Benito County, where the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival takes place the second weekend of August every year in Tres Pinos.  The 31st annual festival, Aug....

A Caltrans worker helps clean up after a big rig smashed into a guardrail Monday on Highway 129 in Aromas. California Highway Patrol officer Fred Smith said the rig, carrying food goods, was traveling east on Hwy 129 around 1:15pm when he veered to...

Measure A, which would put land use designation decisions in the hands of San Benito County voters, is projected to pass with 54.08% of the vote as of Nov. 6. The No on A campaign garnered 45.92% with 40.71% of the votes counted. The ballot...

Special to the Free Lance The Hollister City Council on March 11 stood in unison on the Ukrainian flag being flown at city hall. The council held a special meeting to discuss the possibility of flying the flag in response to the invasion of Ukraine by...

Following the successful 20th annual Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition held last weekend, Gavilan College's Music Program is preparing for its landmark 25th Bach to Blues concert at 7pm March 15 in the Gavilan College Theater. The college has announced exciting guest performers for this...