Politics

A 339-mega watt solar farm project to be built in Panoche Valley in southeastern San Benito County is currently on hold for most of 2014, as PV2 Energy and Duke Energy Renewables, the two companies working on the project, work to comply with state and federal environmental regulations.

Sen. Anthony Cannella is taking aim at selfies – of the pornographic variety.

One local doctor is hopeful proposed legislation will fix a disparity with county Medicare reimbursements he believes are unfair. “Because of this (rate), doctors in Hollister that see Medicare patients get paid 15 percent less than doctors in Gilroy who do the same work,” said Dr. Martin Bress of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital.

In 2013, San Benito County put on a hard hat and got to work on the future.

Mayor Ignacio Velazquez sat down with the Free Lance in mid-December for an interview, a year after the local businessman was sworn in officially as the first elected at-large mayor in Hollister’s history.

The city council voted 3-1 Monday to approve a contract agreement with law firm L&G – which has largely represented agriculture and development interests in the city and county – to provide city attorney services for one year.

Mayor Ignacio Velazquez confirmed he would run for reelection in 2014 in an interview with the Free Lance last week.

The board of supervisors is set to take up a measure Tuesday addressing the “inadequate level of security” at the new courthouse on Fourth and Monterey streets, according to the meeting agenda.

The city council Monday is set to weigh making the code enforcement officer a full-time job.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, was presented with a “Promotor de Oportunidades” Award for outstanding leadership Thursday at a dinner in Sacramento hosted by the national League of United Latin American Citizens organization.