Schools

Hollister School District trustees approved $112,500 in architect contracts at their regularly scheduled meeting last week – the first step in planning widespread facility improvements.

San Benito County’s new Chief Probation Officer Ted Baraan is an Oakland native who grew up among friends teetering on the edge of trouble. Some grew up to be police officers, and others went to state prison.

In life, there's rarely a free lunch, but there might be more gratuitous meals for students in the Hollister School District next year.

Hollister resident Jacob Oates is reviving his effort from seven years ago to give away backpacks through his organization, FEED the FLAME – which stands for “Fueling Every Educational Dream" and "Future Leaders Are Made Early.”

The teacher held up an iPad and displayed a picture of a tropical beach to a cluster of five students.

Public schools in San Benito County won't be offering much white bread or whole milk in school meals following stricter U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition standards effective earlier this month.

This year, getting a free ticket to the Exploratorium in San Francisco could be as easy as going to the library and printing out a pass.

Every year, the Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Auxiliary works hard to raise money to provide scholarships for students in health-related fields. According to the hospital – over a span of 60 years, the auxiliary has awarded $353,920 in scholarships. This year, it awarded $30,000 to 35 recipients who are students studying in various medical fields.

If leukemia has taught Hollister resident Jose Rocha anything, it's that cancer teaches a kind of empathy that helps him understand other people. Rocha, 18, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia nearly five months ago. Since his diagnosis on Valentine's Day, Rocha experienced great acts of kindness and unkindness that left him wondering why people behave the way they do.

The spot of darkness in his right eye is growing. It gets bigger and bigger until he can't see out of that eye. He's also losing vision in his left eye.