Politics

Three local planning commissions are expected to hold a joint meeting Tuesday night at the Veteran's Memorial Building. Planning commissioners from Hollister, San Juan Bautista and San Benito County are expected to discuss five topics that include capital improvement projects, plan for housing growth/sphere of influence, rules/responsibilities...

Hollister council members Monday approved a $300,000 loan for an upcoming westside affordable housing project. On March 20, council members awarded $700,000 to the Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, also known as CHISPA, for a 48-unit senior apartment affordable housing project on Line...

County supervisors Tuesday discussed hiring a lobbyist to represent the board in Sacramento. At an early May meeting, Supervisor Robert Rivas floated the idea of hiring a lobbyist to represent San Benito County at the state level to advocate for local issues. Rivas suggested economic...

County supervisors Tuesday selected a design for a future third fire station. In October 2015, supervisors selected a location on Rosa Morada Road off Fairview Road as the location for Fire Station #3. The new station would cover northern parts of the county, including areas...

Congressman Jimmy Panetta is expected to announce the winner of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition in Hollister later this week. According to a press release from Panetta's office, the 20th Congressional District representative will announce the winning entry at the Veterans' Memorial Building on Thursday...

Hollister council members Monday received a report on ways to treat the city’s industrial wastewater facility, including the once proposed floating island concept. In February 2015, city officials held a special meeting to hear from Mokelumne Hill-based Floating Islands West, LLC. The company’s wastewater treatment...

The new county homeless shelter is on track to be done by November, Health and Human Services Director James Rydingsword said this week. Rydingsword gave an update on homeless services at a county board meeting Tuesday and talked about upcoming grant awards, including a grant...

A PV2 Energy representative addressed speculation about downsizing the Panoche Valley Solar Farm project at a county meeting Tuesday. PV2 Energy, the corporation constructing the solar farm, has secured approximately 26,000 acres for the project, with around 3,200 acres being used for solar development. The...

Hollister council members Monday appointed Jim Gillio to the open seat representing District 4. Gillio is expected to be sworn in on May 1. Council members conducted a two-hour interview session with the nine applicants, which included Jacob Aguirre, Tim Burns, Adolfo Gonzalez, David Huboi,...

County supervisors Tuesday set a public hearing date of May 23 for applicants under the temporary cannabis cultivation ordinance. On Sept. 27, supervisors unanimously approved a cannabis cultivation “urgency” ordinance that was supposed to halt all new cultivation operations within the county. Medical plants under cultivation...