Politics

Hollister police officials are in talks with San Benito High School about taking over the school resource officer position on the campus.

Gov. Jerry Brown's budget includes a provision to forgive San Benito County $3.4 million owed for back taxes, according to the local assemblyman's office.

Alex Pena lives along the San Benito River bed with his “so-called other half,” as he put it. He and other homeless residents have pitched tents in a spot along the riverbed entering Hollister off San Juan Road that has become increasingly visible to traffic on the west-side gateway.

Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez is hosting a special summit next week to showcase designs for possible "tiny homes" for use by homeless residents.

Local water guru Jeff Cattaneo told the Free Lance there is “significantly less” flow headed into the Hollister treatment plant in 2015 than there was eight years ago shortly before a long-standing building moratorium ended.

District trustees Monday approved work to make San Benito High School a closed campus.

In the next 60 to 90 days, construction will start on a water treatment plant that will “significantly” improve quality for residents in the middle and west side of Hollister, a water district official said.

Hollister City Council members Monday are set to hear the latest on the county water district's initiative to delivery recycled water for certain uses.

The Hollister School District and its teachers reached an agreement that gives instructors a raise and increases contributions to their health and welfare benefits, and significantly lowers the district reserve.