Politics

Hollister council members Monday will consider an idea for an employee retirement/resignation program that would pay workers lump sums – at least $25,000 if an individual has reached five years of service.

For the first time in 30 years, San Benito County may be ineligible to apply for the federal community development block grant due to changes in the requirements by the state, which administers the grants. This year, the state implemented a rule that counties or cities that have received a grant in 2012-13 will not be eligible to apply for an additional grant in 2013-14 unless they have spent and completed 50 percent of the current year's grant before the notice of application is released.

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.

Robert Rodriguez will have to appeal to the county board of

Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a plan to lay off a county

Campaign expenditure reports show that incumbent District 5