News

California residents want another chance to weigh-in on the state's controversial and expensive high-speed rail project, according to a poll of 1,000 voters released this week. And if given the opportunity, the majority of them wouldn't vote to approve the project again, the poll shows.

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors decided against implementing a change to the Williamson Act that would have brought in $230,000 in revenue to the county coffers while decreasing property tax savings by 10 percent for rural landowners who have contracts within the provision that allows for discounted tax rates in prime agricultural regions.

Pinnacles National Monument on Monday was informed that a climber was pinned under a boulder and in need of assistance. When National Park Service personnel arrived on scene the trapped climber was free from the boulder after his climbing partner dug out the talus from under him, allowing him to scramble out, according to a statement from Pinnacles.

Hollister officials Wednesday reviewed the city manager's "austerity plan" involving about $3 million in annual cuts that would be necessary if a Measure T sales tax extension fails at the polls.

Hollister council members Monday appointed Ray Friend as mayor and Robert Scattini as vice mayor.