Politics

Director of Development Services Bill Avera on Tuesday informed the Hollister City Council that the California Department of Finance had disapproved the $140,000 of budgeted payments from the RDA’s successor agency to the Hollister Downtown Association and Economic Development Corp.

After taking action at a meeting designed just for discussion Monday—the mayor's appointment of committee members to examine medicinal pot issues—the Hollister council will reconsider the same matter in light of the apparent open meetings violation.

As city officials were set to learn more about concerns over a

The San Benito County Jail is getting a cellmate. County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a $700,00 match – and confirmed an expectation for $35 million in additional operational costs over three decades – to open the door for $15 million in state funding for a jail expansion.

A citizens group that opposes commercial development of agricultural land submitted an initiative March 2 that would establish an urban growth boundary around the City of Hollister if approved by voters in November. Preserve Our Rural Communities, led by Aromas residents Andy and Mary Hsia-Coron...

In a move that could save up to $40,000 in potential election

A last-minute change to a proposed amendment to San Benito County's oil and gas well ordinance left residents of Aromas shaking their heads as they left the supervisors' chambers Tuesday – after commending officials for their willingness to compromise earlier in the meeting.

Here is a sampling of the biggest stories during the past year in San Benito County as reported by the Free Lance:

The city's obligations to meet state orders after a 15-million