Politics

San Benito County Chamber of Commerce President Juli Vieira gave an update on tourism efforts at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. County supervisors allocated $18,000 to the chamber in their 2016-2017 budget. Tourism efforts included printing guides and pamphlets, filming commercials, building an online presence and...

The Hollister City Council on Monday selected Monterey Bay Alternative Medicine to take the city’s second, and last, medical cannabis dispensary slot. “It was an arduous application process, but we’re very happy we were chosen,” said Bob Blodgett in a phone call Tuesday. Blodgett...

Nearly 30 years after a massive earthquake destroyed a section of downtown Hollister, the future of the vacant 400 block of San Benito Street will be decided by the city’s electorate next November. On Monday, the Hollister City Council chose to put the issue...

The City of Hollister and San Benito County recently passed resolutions in support of the immigration program referred to as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). “The immigration issue throughout the United States and locally in Hollister and San Benito County is no fault...

The new homeless services center is on track to open for operation on December 1. The shelter, meant to be a permanent replacement to the current Emergency Temporary Winter Shelter that operates from December to March, is now called the Homeless Opportunities Meals and Empowerment...

County employees rallied outside the San Benito County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday to demand accountability as contract negotiations continue. The workers, represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 are looking for wage increases, county health care contributions to offset increasing costs...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors Tuesday further delayed a decision to repair the damaged Pacheco Creek levee system to an October meeting. Rainfall during last winter’s storms overwhelmed the levee system, which runs across multiple private properties, and created chaos across Lovers Lane,...

County officials gathered Monday at the San Benito County jail to break ground on a new $20 million expansion expected to be complete in 2019. “The money to construct these buildings comes about every 20 years, so when it comes you better take it,” said...

The San Juan Bautista City Council held a first reading of a planned temporary cannabis ban last Tuesday. “This is a stop gap measure,” said Jim West, the city’s vice mayor at the September 19 meeting. “We’re working on a comprehensive ordinance that could come...

City leaders certified the petition to reconsider development of the vacant 400 block of San Benito Street on Monday. No decision was made on whether to take the issue to Hollister voters, leaving the future of the city-owned parcel in limbo. “I think that’s disappointing,”...