View in Browser Our Journalism Needs Your Support Please Donate Today
California Local Logo
Graphic which spells out The Newsletter.

By Chris Neklason
Published May 05, 2025

A man dressed in shorts, a broad rimmed hat, blue tshirt and sunglasses assists a young boy on a mountain bike as he traverses a plank bridge at a bike rodeo in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz on April 11, 2015. This isn't his first (bike) rodeo. Image credit: Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious   CC BY-SA 2.0

The News: May 5 2025

Happy Monday, happy Cinco de Mayo, and thank you! Just so you know: Every single Monday, hundreds and often thousands of Californians click the link in their inbox that delivers The News—we are grateful that you are one of them and one of us. We hope the information you find here is useful.

The Headline: California is on the Move. Starting today (well, a couple days ago), we celebrate Bike Month and "biking as transportation, as recreation, as essential to our well-being and everyday lives"—(thank you, League of American Bicyclists). If you are happy on a two-wheeler, we honor you. Not yet? Now may be the time to start.

The Throughline: Up and down California, transporation projects funded by your tax dollars at work are gaining steam. Learn more in our News Digest below.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.

Bright and juicy salsa for spring

Fresh strawberry salsa is a bright spring accompaniment to tortilla chips, or to grilled chicken or pork.
New! Strawberry salsa perfect for May celebrations

California Local logo

San Benito County's Homepage
Our overview page for San Benito County is updated daily with the latest state and local news, weather alerts, local government announcements and local blog posts and news snippets from community groups and individuals.
Direct your browser to sanbenito.californialocal.com to catch up on the latest news in California and San Benito County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

Get to Know a Group

Dentistry4Vets logo Dentistry4Vets

Dentistry4Vets is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing dentistry care for veterans in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

→ Learn more

California Media Alliance logo

From Our Media Allies

 → View All
Benito Link logo San Benito County Clears Homeless Encampments Under Fourth Street Bridge

On May 5, a man who identified himself as Steve was instructed by county officials to leave his encampment along the San Benito River in Hollister. He stuffed what he could carry of his belongings into a black plastic trash …
Benito Link logo Healthy Kids Day Returns to San Benito County

To mark the spring season and promote healthy activities, Healthy Kids Day was celebrated on April 26 at the YMCA of San Benito County on Tres Pinos Road. According to Executive Director Crystal Canchola, the event drew more than 20 …
Local News Matters Stockton logo Solar Canal Pilot May One Day Help California Achieve Its Ambitious Climate, Energy Goals

AS YOU DRIVE through the Central Valley, it is hard to miss the iconic California Aqueduct, which moves millions of gallons of irrigation water through a large canal in the middle of the state. The canal is visible because it’s …
Benito Link logo Leadership Institute: Opportunities for Professional and Personal Growth

Three community members joined the San Benito Leadership Institute’s nine-month program to enhance their professional skills, but say they gained much more, including new relationships, more self confidence and a sense of being part of a larger community.
Benito Link logo Santa Clara County Confirms First Carfentanil Death

The County of Santa Clara Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed the first overdose death in Santa Clara County due to carfentanil last week. The deceased was a 39-year-old male who was found dead with M30 pills, counterfeit pills made …
Benito Link logo Fire Protection Services Contract Negotiations: A Timeline

For nearly a year, Hollister has sought to increase the rate it charges San Juan Bautista and San Benito County for fire protection services. City officials claim that Hollister has been subsidizing the firefighting services it provides the county and …
Gilroy Dispatch logo Gilroy Foundation Awards More Than $500k

The Gilroy Foundation awarded more than $540,000 in grants to Gilroy nonprofit groups and organizations during its 2025 grant cycle, says a press release from the foundation.
Benito Link logo Overnight Construction Continues on the Highway 156 Corridor Improvement Project.

Caltrans will reduce Highway 156 to one lane between Fourth Street and Union Road on Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6 and near The Alameda on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 between 7 pm and 5 am.
Benito Link logo Martha’s Kitchen Named 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 29

Martha’s Kitchen is proud to announce it has been named the 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 29, an honor that celebrates over four decades of life-changing impact across our region.

Gilroy Dispatch logo Gilroy Council Schedules Another Public Hearing for New Districts

The Gilroy City Council last week decided to add another public hearing to its scheduled outreach efforts to create new districts that will take effect in the 2026 and 2028 elections. The hearing will take place on May 5.
Benito Link logo County’s ‘Encampment Cleanup’ Now Set to Begin in May

Most of the year, San Benito County’s recently renovated homeless shelter runs close to full capacity. In the morning and evening the reception area, laundry room and a kitchen built to feed 44 people are always in motion. At night, …
Benito Link logo Hollister Farmers’ Market Kicks Off Another Season

Hollister’s weekly Farmers' Market reopened on April 16 on San Benito Street and drew a fine turnout despite the cold weather. Bri Rodriguez, who manages the market, said it has been in operation for 38 years and has grown to …
Benito Link logo Five Local Artists Selected for Inaugural Monterey Biennial

Five San Benito County artists have been selected to participate in the inaugural Monterey Biennial: Celebrating Central California Artists at the Monterey Museum of Art (MMA).
Sacramento News and Review logo As Transitional Kindergarten Programs Grow in Roseville, Other Communities Look to Expand Offerings

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget provides $2.4 billion in ongoing Proposition 98 funding to permanently expand Transitional Kindergarten, or TK, which has been gaining steam in Capital area communities like Roseville.
Benito Link logo It’s Fentanyl Awareness Day. Do You Know Where the Naloxone Is?

Little metal stands, reminiscent of newspaper boxes or Little Free Libraries, have been stationed across San Benito County. There’s one just outside the San Juan Library, one inside the Community Food Bank, and a few carefully placed around downtown Hollister. …
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

 → View All
● Many Californians Can’t Get Mental Health Help. Is It Too Hard to Become a Therapist?
In her home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Eboni Moen, 42, struggled to find help. Some days she would rock back and forth in her shower, crying uncontrollably and thinking back to her son’s murder. She needed a therapist, she said, someone who could help her process what happened and find appropriate medication. Read more.
(05/06/2025) CalMatters
● Kaiser in the Hot Seat as California Lawmakers Blast Company for Skipping Mental Health Hearing
California lawmakers called an informational hearing on mental health services at Kaiser Permanente, but the company didn’t attend. Read more.
(05/06/2025) CalMatters
● Inmate Firefighters Battled LA’s Wildfire. Now a Lawmaker Wants to Help Launch Their Careers
As the Los Angeles fires raged in January, about 1,000 inmate firefighters labored on hand crews alongside professional firefighters battling the blazes. Read more.
(05/06/2025) CalMatters
● California Regulator Weakens AI Rules, Giving Big Tech More Leeway to Track You
Tech that helps businesses make decisions or target ads will be given freer rein following pressure from the governor. Read more.
(05/06/2025) CalMatters
● An Overdose Killed Her Son. Then, California Lawmakers Asked Her to Help Save Others
Ryan Matlock died of a fentanyl overdose after seeking addiction treatment. Today, his mother is urging lawmakers to get tougher on health insurance plans. Read more.
(05/05/2025) CalMatters
● When Will Democratic Lawmakers Make California More Affordable? Later, Leaders Say
It’s been five months since California’s legislative leaders deemed affordability an “urgent” issue for the session. So far: committees, bills, but few results Read more.
(05/04/2025) CalMatters
● California Democrats Backed Into a Corner Over Teen Sex Solicitation
California Republicans are increasingly pushing Democrats on child sex crimes bills. The supermajority is growing more divided about it. Read more.
(05/02/2025) CalMatters
● California Lawmakers Kill Bid to Force HOAs to Follow Open Meeting Laws
A Republican bill to require more transparency from California’s 50,000 homeowners associations failed to advance out of committee despite bipartisan support. Read more.
(05/01/2025) CalMatters
● Covered California Pushes for Better Health Care as Federal Spending Cuts Loom
Faced with potential federal spending cuts that threaten health coverage and falling childhood vaccination rates, Monica Soni, the chief medical officer of Covered California, has a lot on her plate — and on her mind. Read more.
(05/01/2025) California Healthline
● Reintroduced Condor Update
An update on the endangered condors released in California three years ago. Read more.
(04/30/2025) CapPublicRadio
● Yosemite Reservation Rules Released
On April 29, the administration released rules for Yosemite Park Reservations in the coming months. Read more.
(04/30/2025) The Mercury News
● They Found Their Homeless Loved Ones After Years Apart. But That Was Just the Beginning.
After reading a CalMatters article, two people were able to reconnect with their homeless relatives. Here’s what happened next. Read more.
(04/30/2025) CalMatters
● What to Do if Your Loved One Is Homeless
Finding a homeless loved one can be difficult. So can helping them once you’ve found them. Here are some tips from people who’ve been there. Read more.
(04/30/2025) CalMatters
● Unprecedented Vote Shows Dems Fractured Over Housing Policy
Two consecutive committee chairs getting overruled by their committee members signifies a growing rift among California Democrats about how to address the housing crisis. Read more.
(04/30/2025) CalMatters
● The ‘Science of Reading’ Won’t Be Required in California Schools, at Least for Now
The original proposal would have mandated phonics instruction in K-12 classrooms. The latest version makes that optional. Read more.
(04/30/2025) CalMatters
● Welcome to the First Fire-Resistant Neighborhood. Now What About the Rest of California?
Dixon Trail is the first purpose-built “wildfire resilient neighborhood” in the United States. Making that a reality for the millions of Californians who already live in harm’s way is a daunting and costly challenge that lawmakers are only just beginning to grapple with. Read more.
(04/29/2025) CalMatters
● Judge Restricts Border Patrol in California: ‘You Just Can’t Walk Up to People With Brown Skin’
‘You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers,’ a federal judge told Border Patrol attorneys at a hearing challenging recent immigration sweeps. Read more.
(04/29/2025) CalMatters
● California Sent Investigators to ICE Facilities. They Found More Detainees, and Health Care Gaps
A California law empowers state investigators to check on conditions at ICE detention centers. A new report raises concerns about health care inside them. Read more.
(04/29/2025) CalMatters
  California Local Pin Marker  

Government Announcements

 → View All
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/02/2025)

Ray & Mascari Inc. Recalls 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes Because of Possible Health Risk
Ray & Mascari Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana, is recalling 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes packaged in clam shell containers [20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz) 567g] with UPC# 7 96553 20062 1, and a master case label with Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B because of the potential for them to be contaminated
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/02/2025)

Vietti Food Group Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy in 15-oz Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans
Vietti Food Group of Nashville, TN is recalling 4,515 cases of its Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans (15 oz.) due to the presence of undeclared soy. Individuals with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/02/2025)

Williams Farms Repack LLC Recalls Tomatoes Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Williams Farms Repack LLC is recalling Tomatoes sizes; 4x5 2 layer, 60ct 2layer, 3ct trays in the Williams Farms Repack label, and 5x6 25lb, 6x6 25lb H&C Farms Label, due to a potential contamination of Salmonella. Salmonella an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in you
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/01/2025)

East Trading Inc., Issues Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in "Licorice Plum"
East CK Trading, Inc. of Long Island City, NY, is recalling its 8-ounce packages of "Licorice Plum" food treats because they contained undeclared sulfites and unallowed color, Amaranth (E123). Consumers who have severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reac
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (05/01/2025)

Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29:
Speaker Robert Rivas Issues Statement on New Actions to Punish Child Predators and Strengthen Protections for Survivors
Speaker Robert Rivas Issues Statement on New Actions to Punish Child Predators and Strengthen Protections for Survivors sanchema Thu, 05/01/2025 - 14:00 Thursday, May 1, 2025 SACRAMENTO Today, Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) issued the following statement on new California State Assembly actions to punish child predators and strengthen protections for survivors: "Protecting children, standing up for trafficking victims and stopping …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (04/30/2025)

Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29:
Speaker Robert Rivas, Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Blanca Rubio Advance Major Child Literacy Legislation
Speaker Robert Rivas, Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Blanca Rubio Advance Major Child Literacy Legislation vincelty Wed, 04/30/2025 - 13:14 Assembly Bill 1454 makes sure educators are equipped with the tools they need to help all students succeed in reading Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Wednesday, April 30, 2025 SACRAMENTO, CAToday, Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (04/29/2025)

Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29:
Speaker Robert Rivas Joins Community Leaders in Salinas to Protect Immigrant Workers and the Central Coast Economy
Speaker Robert Rivas Joins Community Leaders in Salinas to Protect Immigrant Workers and the Central Coast Economy vincelty Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:37 Nonprofits and groups from the four-county region discussed solutions in the face of reckless, harmful immigration policies from Washington and the White House. Speaker Rivas vowed to protect workers, businesses, schools, and families. Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov …
Image of United States seal. United States   (04/28/2025)

Food Co. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Monkfish Liver - Ankimo
JJWV Marketing Corporation of Santa Fe Springs, California is recalling Ankimo Monkfish Liver because it may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
Image of United States seal. United States   (04/28/2025)

Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon Voluntarily Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 2025 - A limited quantity of Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon is voluntarily being recalled because the topping packet may potentially contain an undeclared milk allergen. The product may contain milk that is not declared on the label. 500 units of the sal
Image of United States seal. United States   (04/25/2025)

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds and Cashews in Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6OZ and 4OZ)
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC of Kea'au, HI is voluntarily recalling Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6oz and 4oz bags), due to the possible presence of undeclared almonds and cashews.