Politics

Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito county health departments will be releasing regional and county-level data about the consumption of sugary drinks.

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors has announced Karen Overstreet as the new agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures.

Seventeen employees in the Hollister Fire Department took home six-figure salaries in the 2013 calendar year. Another 11 employees in the Hollister Police Department had pay eclipsing the $100,000 mark, according to data provided by the city to the state.

Now retired former Fire Chief Mike O’Connor received the largest payout among 10 Hollister employees who accepted an early "separation" incentive, according to data provided by the city.

A judge has ruled in favor of an attorney who sued former Supervisor Richard Scagliotti in October 2003—while ordering him to pay $237,500—and concluded the ex-official had a conflict of interest on a development decision and failed to properly report a series of financial conflicts.

County supervisors Tuesday approved changes to compensation for members of the civil grand jury that acts as a watchdog overseeing government entities.

Supervisor Margie Barrios on Tuesday claimed the Panoche Valley solar farm project is being held up in Sacramento and she speculated about possible involvement from environmentalists.

Hollister officials Monday took a symbolic step forward on the $4.1 million west side beautification project by approving an engineering contract amendment for the first phase.

Hollister council members Monday unanimously approved hiring former Fire Chief Bill Garringer as interim chief.

Citadel Exploration has sued the county alleging that state law supersedes the Measure J ban against enhanced petroleum extraction once planned for the oil company's Project Indian site.