Local News

With the addition of two donated communication boards on playgrounds at Ladd Lane Elementary School, students with special needs will have an easier time expressing their thoughts to staff members and peers.  One of the boards—for TK through first-grade students—arrived in early November with the...

The leaders of the state Legislature have a message for voters: We know you’re frustrated with how expensive California is—and we’re going to fix it. After a painful election that sparked recriminations and soul searching among Democrats across the country, state Senate President Pro Tem...

Oriana Chorale to perform winter concerts Oriana Chorale will perform its winter concert, “A Joyful Sound the World Around,” at three locations next week.  The community choral group will perform 7:30pm Dec. 11 and 3pm Dec. 15 at Christ Fellowship Church, 2066 San Benito St in...

Rebekah Children’s Services, a South Valley nonprofit that serves about 14,000 children and families annually, is getting ready to collect and distribute donated gifts for their annual holiday toy drive.  Members of the community who are able to donate are encouraged to drop off new...

Robert Rivas, who represents 29th California district, was re-elected this week as Speaker of the California State Assembly.  Rivas, of Hollister, now begins his second year as Assembly Speaker following a unanimous vote by his Democratic colleagues on Dec. 2.  “I am filled with great pride...

After waking up from their post-feast Thanksgiving slumber this week, local residents and families are invited by the Hollister Downtown Association to celebrate the holidays with the annual Lights On and Project Dec-A-Tree events.  The celebration starts with a full day’s schedule of activities at...

Caltrans this week reminded motorists to expect an increase in traffic on the Central Coast during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  With wet and cold weather in the forecast in the days before and after the Nov. 28 holiday, Caltrans in a press release asked motorists to...

U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) announced this week that Gavilan College will receive $375,000 from the National Science Foundation to support STEM education for Latino students. “Diversity in the STEM workforce matters, and I am glad to see Gavilan College is implementing an innovative program...

A San Benito County Sheriff’s correctional officer was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence with his children in the vehicle, according to authorities.  About 6:30pm Nov. 20, a Gustine Police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jorge...

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office is easing seasonal fire restrictions as of Nov. 19 for about 300,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and...