News

Local police, fire, school staff and even a construction crew joined forces to rescue a child who climbed into a dangerous situation at a Hollister school Jan. 15, according to authorities.

Police say the roadways are safer now that a suspect has been arrested in connection with a number of projectiles shot at vehicles traveling on Highways 156 and 101 through San Benito County and Prunedale. The California Highway Patrol Monterey office announced at a Jan....

The trial of the alleged killer of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas may become delayed again, as the suspect’s public defender disclosed a conflict of interest in the case at a January hearing, according to court files. At a Jan. 9 hearing for suspect Jose Antonio Barajas,...

Measure K is emerging as a defining line between growth and slow-growth factions in San Benito County. County officials advocate potential commercial development along Highway 101 as a way to capture new revenue from sales taxes, while rural landowners and environmentalists warn this would further...

Hollister city council members arrived at Tuesday’s meeting ready for combat. Most of a standing-room-only crowd of 200 showed up to plead with their elected representatives for peace. As the council considered a proposal to formally censure Councilmember Rolan Resendiz for repeated negative social media posts,...

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...