Politics

Local residents will soon see higher fees for some services such as applying for a marriage license, filing a fictitious business statement and some other services at the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voter’s office.

Between June 2016—when the Hollister City Council entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement to sell the 400 block of San Benito Street—and its vote a year later to sell the property, the price jumped by 77 percent. Council members may have been unaware that...

San Benito County Supervisors unanimously approved an amended 2019-2020 county budget June 25. The new budget allocates $143.4 million in total spending for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Edgar Nolasco, deputy county administrative officer, told the Free Lance that total spending is approximately $87 million less...

The state’s petroleum industry is spending $320,000 in the District 30 State Assembly race to defeat fundraising frontrunner Robert Rivas. The San Benito County supervisor hopes to succeed Anna Caballero, who is running for state senate this year and represents a district that stretches...

The first known call for a building to commemorate the service

County voters may be asked to vote on several different tax measures in the June and November elections. The San Benito County Board of Supervisors this week began looking at tax ballot measures to fund regional road repairs, public safety, and administrative payrolls. First one the...

The mayoral race in Hollister was crowded this election, with incumbent Ignacio Velazquez facing opposition from former council member and county planning commissioner Gordon Machado and vocal resident, Keith Snow. Velazquez managed a significant victory on Nov 6, garnering nearly 52 percent of the...

The Hollister City Council approved local medical cannabis business Purple Cross Rx to move forward in the dispensary permit process after a testy face-off between council members and Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez. After hearing presentations from six medical cannabis dispensary applicants, Velazquez said he had...