Local News

Californians accused of certain drug and retail theft crimes may already be facing stiffer penalties under an initiative voters passed this year, alongside related bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law.  Voters this November overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which both modifies and adds key changes...

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...

Police arrested a Hollister woman on suspicion of animal cruelty after a viral video had circulated showing the suspect abusing a dog, authorities said.  Hollister Police Animal Care and Services earlier this month received a report from Watsonville Police Department, notifying local authorities that a...

California lawmakers in 2024 introduced 4,821 bills, but most of them were tossed or otherwise rejected during the months-long legislative process during which most never saw the light of day. Just 1,206 made it to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, with 1,017 getting signed into law...

‘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...

Police arrested a man in Hollister who was reportedly pointing a gun at people and waving the weapon toward passing traffic, authorities said.  About 2pm Dec. 23, Hollister Police officers responded to the 100 block of Sally Street on reports that a male was sitting...

The family of a Hollister man who was shot to death at a local car wash in February has filed a lawsuit claiming the owners of the business where the crime occurred are responsible for the homicide.  Efrain Amezcua, 48, was allegedly shot and killed...

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week that a body found Dec. 15 in unincorporated Gilroy has been identified as a missing San Martin man.  The remains were positively identified as Gabriel Laradelara, 21, who was last seen alive Dec. 1 in Gilroy.  Laradelara’s...

The Hollister School District has once again partnered with Legacy Church to provide a brighter Christmas season for local families in need, and this year’s effort included a large increase in recipients.  The 2024 drive included more than double the number of families—20 this year—who...

A jury convicted a sex offender for a mall robbery he committed more than three decades ago, according to authorities. The jury deliberated more than two days before convicting Thomas Loguidice, 67, after a week of testimony before Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew, says a...