Local News

At a tense board meeting Jan. 25, the San Benito Health Care District board voted to appoint Mary Casillas to the permanent CEO position of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, with a contract that increases her salary by more than 45 percent. Area residents, hospital nurses—and...

While California K-12 students will still be required to wear masks once the state's indoor mask mandate ends this week, one of the state’s top health officials said Monday that a decision on in-school mask requirements could be made by the end of the...

Hollister School District maintenance crews recently fabricated and installed stair railings at Rancho San Justo Middle School in an effort to enhance safety.  District staff members made the improvements in an outdoor area where there is a large section of stairs at the Hollister site....

In pursuit of its first Central Coast Section championship in program history, the San Benito High baseball team couldn’t have produced a better start to its title quest. Keon Texeira’s walkoff single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning capped a...

For many, the San Benito Oriana Chorale’s holiday concerts are the kick-off to the Christmas season. “It sets the tone for a beautiful Christmas season,” said Director Rachel Romina. “This traditionally is the launching pad of Christmas. It’s going to be phenomenal.”  But for the past...

Ballots and voting information packets for the Nov. 4 special statewide election are in the mail for San Benito County’s 37,000-plus registered voters.  Early voting started Oct. 6. Voters can begin casting their ballots by mail; 24-hour drop box; or in person at one of...

The rainy winter has been good for reservoir levels and surface water supplies, but a number of important factors remain unknown before authorities are willing to declare an end to the statewide drought.  These factors include San Benito County’s pending allocation of imported water from...

Despite a 50-36 loss in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs on Feb. 18, San Benito High boys basketball coach Bo Buller wasn’t too downtrodden afterward.  After all, the Haybalers had their best season in eight years and the future...

The Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFSBC) recently announced the launch of its 2026 Spring Grants Campaign, a community fundraising initiative running April 6-May 1. The foundation announced on April 22 that a generous local donor has pledged $50,000 to match every community...

Moments Flower Shop owner and florist Jeanette Melita has been getting prepared for what she hopes will be a busy Valentine’s Day weekend. That usually means orders for flower arrangements should start pouring in within the next couple of days. But during these strange times,...