Local News

Hollister Police on Nov. 17 arrested a 74-year-old man accused of molesting a number of male juveniles since at least the early 1990s. Gilbert Cortez, of Hollister, was arrested after a detailed investigation by the Hollister Police Department. He is accused of two felonies, and...

After 10 years-plus of working for the Central Coast YMCA in a variety of positions, Robin Schnekenburger of Hollister now finds herself as executive director of the Watsonville Family YMCA. “This is the last branch, there’s no more,” she joked, referring to her stints at...

San Benito County hired Michael Chambless as its new Resource Management Agency director, effective Dec. 26. Chambless most recently served as interim RMA director and as the assistant RMA director for the county. Additionally, he has been the management services director/assistant city manager for the...

Every Saturday, scores of people make the drive to Pinnacle Farms market in San Juan Bautista to buy fresh, organically grown produce. Owners Phil and Katherine Foster began farming in San Benito County in 1968. Today they grow certified organic fruit and vegetables on 295...

The Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFFSBC) has funded 42 local nonprofits, including Junior Achievement of Northern California (JA), through their 2022 Program Project Grant Cycle, according to a press release. Aided by the $6,668 grant, Junior Achievement’s 2022-23 San Benito County Youth Economic...

A trio of friends were sitting around one day, toying with the idea of opening a tap room and coming up with a clever name for their brand. That’s when someone said, “Well, we all make poor decisions” and the three of them howled as...

A statewide Flex Alert has been issued for Sept. 5 as a heat wave impacts the Golden State with blistering temperatures over the Labor Day weekend and beyond. The alert for Labor Day is the sixth consecutive day that the California Independent System Operator has...

Over the coming weeks, the Hollister Free Lance will profile candidates for local City of Hollister and San Benito County offices that will appear on the Nov. 3 election.

SJB art exhibit celebrates iconic Route 66 A new art exhibit, “Painting Route 66: An Artist Road Trip,” will open in San Juan Bautista with a June 21 reception from 5-7pm. The exhibit will remain open to the public through Aug. 10. The exhibit and reception...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is celebrating a year of meaningful progress in quality and safety. The Obstetrics (OB) team earned three 2025 Quality and Engagement Awards from the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), while the Emergency Department completed BETA Healthcare Group’s Quest for...