Local News

Gun violence is a public health crisis in the United States, and an upcoming firearms buyback event in Morgan Hill aims to address the problem by keeping unwanted weapons out of the wrong hands, according to county law enforcement and government officials.  Some of that...

Days after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Californians across the state took to the streets to voice their opposition against federal immigration enforcement tactics and President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. Over the weekend thousands...

Hollister resident Jennifer Laine—who has had a lifelong passion for art and creativity and dedicated her career to arts advocacy—was honored this week as the 2023 Woman of the Year for the 29th Assembly District.  Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who represents District 29, announced the recognition...

The scenes were jovial at the away end bleachers during Hollister’s season-opener against Oak Grove on Aug. 27 in San Jose, where the Haybalers claimed a scrappy yet dominating 28-0 victory. Hollister relied heavily on its ground game to gain vital yards throughout, giving the...

Anonymous Facebook users who run what they describe as a “satirical” social media page have sued San Benito County over its recent efforts to name them as the page’s owners.  At a Nov. 26 online hearing before the California Northern District Court, after receiving arguments...

The voters who have been trying to recall Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez have abandoned the initiative after their attempts to meet legal noticing requirements failed for the fourth time. Instead, the mayor’s detractors will focus on finding a candidate to run against Velazquez in the...

In Karim Yasin, Khader Yasin, Ethan Salcedo, Arthur Parra, Noah Nelson and Derek Sandoval, the San Benito High boys wrestling team has its highest number of section-ranked preseason wrestlers in several years.  Even so, Haybalers coach Steven Salcedo said it’ll be up to the athletes...

Local land trusts receive grant funding Two area land trusts received more than $200,000 worth of grants from the California Council of Land Trusts’ Capacity Building Grant Program. The Amah Mutsun Land Trust, based in Santa Cruz County, received $105,500 for stewarding ancestral lands, says a...

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.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, Coastal Kids Home Care—a regional nonprofit that provides specialized home healthcare for children living with illness and disability—has seen demand for its services skyrocket.