State to require all K-12 teachers to get vaccinated or test weekly
K-12 teachers across California will be required to prove their full vaccination status against Covid-19 by mid-October or be subject to weekly testing, state officials announced Wednesday.
The requirement via public health order from the California Department of Public Health will take effect Thursday, according...
Hollister City Council District 1: Meet the candidates
Election officials have already mailed out ballots to registered voters in San Benito County, and installed drop boxes for residents to submit their ballots at their convenience before Nov. 3.
Jobless claims decline as coronavirus cases ease
By Patricia Cohen, @nytimes
New claims for unemployment fell last week, the government reported Thursday, the latest sign that the labor market’s recovery, however slow and unsteady, is continuing.
“The numbers look encouraging on the face of it,” said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford...
Ranch purchase adds to Bay Area Ridge Trail plan
The Conservation Fund purchased the Richmond Ranch on Jan. 22, a 3,653-acre property in southern Santa Clara County.
The Fund is a national organization that provides money to bridge the acquisition of conservation lands by private and public sources. In this case, they are buying...
Kayla Salazar wins $25K scholarship
Hollister High senior Kayla Salazar was recently chosen as a 2023 Girls Inc. National Scholar for her efforts to encourage and empower her peers to be “strong, smart and bold,” says a press release.
Salazar is one of only three recipients in the U.S. and...
Strada Verde developer asks county to halt environmental study
San Benito County officials clarified late last week that the developer of the proposed Strada Verde Innovation Park—which was the subject of a failed November 2020 ballot initiative—has asked the county to pause its work on the project’s application.
“As a result, work on the...
San Benito County: Bivalent boosters most effective against current Omicron variants
Earlier this month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizer and Modern bivalent vaccine (“two strain”) boosters for everyone aged 12 and older, following completion of their primary series at least two months earlier, regardless of vaccine product used, according to a...
Balers top Christopher in titanic defensive battle
If the San Benito High football team came to Don Christopher Stadium on Sept. 10 expecting to roll to victory, Christopher High had other ideas.
Though ranked 17 spots below the Haybalers in the Central Coast Section, the Cougars held their opponent down for most...
Congress members introduce disaster relief proposal for farmworkers
California lawmakers announced Aug. 1 the introduction of a bill that would create a permanent structure to provide relief for farmers impacted by natural disasters.
The Agricultural Emergency Relief Act aims to streamline the process for seeking and receiving relief.
While Congress has previously provided aid...
Smith at helm as sports return to Hollister School District
Don Smith said the vibe at Hollister schools is different with the return of the after-school sports programs this year.
“The reintroduction of sports has completely changed the energy at our schools,” said Smith, a physical education teacher at Rancho San Justo Middle School and...


















