Politics

The union representing county workers, SEIU Local 521, held a rally earlier this month to update workers about ongoing contract negotiations with San Benito County.

More than five years after its closure, it doesn’t look like San Justo Reservoir will be open anytime soon, according to San Benito County officials.

The National Park Service is seeking public input through Oct. 23 about proposed increase in the park entrance fee from $5 to $10 to support a shuttle service, according to an announcement from Pinnacles.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted to cut $40 billion from the SNAP program, or food stamp program. In July, the House voted for a farm bill that separated the SNAP program funding from the larger farm bill.

San Benito environmental activists known as San Benito Rising, with the Center for Biological Diversity as a cosponsor, held a rally against 15 proposed oil wells near Pinnacles National Park on Saturday. The event was called “Draw the Line: Don’t Frack the Pinnacles.” The oil company with exclusive rights to the project – Ojai-based Citadel Exploration, Inc. – vehemently denied those implications of fracking and its spokesman said the businesss has worked with the county to address all environmental concerns. San Benito Rising also has acknowledged there is no planned fracking at the Indian Wells project.

The 33rd Agricultural District board voted this month to shift rights for Bolado Park alcohol sales to the San Benito Heritage Foundation – and away from other nonprofits previously selling at the fair and other events – because of state budget cuts and a need to raise more revenue.

With an estimated 70 percent, or 4,200 of the 6,000 agricultural workers in Santa Clara and San Benito counties lacking proper documentation, proposed state legislation granting all undocumented immigrants the ability to attain a driver’s license has been well-received at the local level.

The San Benito Board of Supervisors earlier this month announced that the county has saved more than $1.1 million in prescription drugs for its residents since the Coast2Coast Rx discount prescription drug program and card were launched in August 2009.

Hollister City Council members approved a budget appropriation Monday for a lighted crosswalk at the new courthouse intersection at Fourth and Monterey streets.

A bill authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo to increase California’s minimum wage passed both houses of the California Legislature on Thursday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk, where the governor has said he will sign it.