Politics

Ratepayers are about to start absorbing those hotly debated increases to water rates.

Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, announced Wednesday farmers in San Benito County would be eligible to apply for federal disaster relief funds due to the region’s recent drought.

The Bureau of Land Management is conducting meetings as part of a scoping process in examining use of oil and gas resources on federal land, and whether to involve areas beyond the Hollister Field Office, according to an announcement from the agency.

Ratepayers are about to start absorbing those hotly debated increases to water rates.

The San Benito County Free Library will now be open for part of the day on Fridays – a departure from those days being closed since October 2012.

An estimated 40,000 new laws, regulations and resolutions were approved by legislators nationwide in 2013, including 800 in California.

The San Juan Bautista Planning Commission on Tuesday held off on a proposed recommendation to the city council to rescind – or change – the current franchise ban.

The county board Tuesday voted Supervisor Jerry Muenzer as the chairman of the San Benito County Board of Supervisors for 2014. He succeeds Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who served as last year’s chairman.

While the city’s code enforcement division started proactive enforcement Jan. 1, it also began the process of hiring a full-time code officer.

The Library Action Committee is set to host a third forum on the future of the San Benito County Libraries, with this one focused on weekday commuters.