News

Hollister police are investigating what Mayor Ignacio Velazquez calls a “hate crime” against a council member by prominent local lobbyist and former mayor Victor Gomez. Velazquez announced the investigation in a written statement to the Free Lance before the Jan. 21 city council meeting and...

San Benito High School was recently notified that it is one of 17 districts in California and among just 250 in the US and Canada named to the 10th annual AP District Honor Roll for achieving increases in access to Advanced Placement courses for...

San Benito Stage Company is holding its annual Members Choice Awards on Jan. 25 at San Benito High School. The event, which is open to the public, will honor performers and productions from the company’s 2019 season. Last year’s season lineup included Sylvia, Madagascar: A...

Some hemp growers are telling San Benito County officials that a proposed ordinance puts unreasonable restrictions on the burgeoning industry. Most recently, at a Jan. 15 county planning commission meeting, hemp growers pointed to language in the proposed ordinance that prohibits hemp operations within the...

First 5 San Benito celebrated the opening of its Family Impact Center Jan. 14, the same day the San Benito County Board of Supervisors declared January as Positive Parenting Awareness Month. The center, located at 351 Tres Pinos Road, Suite 103A in Hollister, is a...

The Free Lance takes a first look at the District Two county supervisor race. The Free Lance will look at the candidates in District One and District Five next week. Coverage of candidates’ views on top issues will follow. One year ago, four-term San Benito...

Local artists, art groups and art and cultural organizations are encouraged to apply for mini-grants of up to $2,500.  The San Benito County Arts Council’s Arts Express! Grant Program aims to support cultural and artistic growth, foster arts accessibility and equity and promote cultural diversity...

The San Benito High girls soccer team had just taken a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Pioneer High last Friday when Haybalers coach Becky Bonner gathered a couple of her players to talk strategy. Near the end of the non-league game, Bonner saw...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted to extend its hemp moratorium Jan. 14 with the goal of lifting it in February. Hearing concerns from the public about possible odors and theft, the supervisors on Dec. 10 enacted a 45-day moratorium on operations to...

Sheriff’s deputies responding to a reported assault uncovered an illegal marijuana garden and more than an ounce of methamphetamine at the suspect’s southeast San Benito County residence, according to authorities.