San Benito County Local Public Safety News Articles and Digest

Public Safety Elections & Politics Government

Protesters Expected Outside of Biden LA Fundraiser

12/08/2023
A large gathering of protesters sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people is expected outside a fundraiser Dec. 8 in Westwood for President Biden. Police have warned that any violence won’t be tolerated.

From Benito Link...

Public Safety Transportation

Rep. Lofgren Announces Funding for Safer Roads in Hollister

12/08/2023
U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren announced Dec. 8 that the Department of Transportation will distribute $1,080,000 to the city of Hollister for a comprehensive roadway safety action plan.

From Gilroy Dispatch...

Business, Economy & Jobs Public Safety City of Gilroy

Gilroy Studies, May Change Downtown Food Truck Regulations

12/07/2023
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Gilroy officials are looking at updating a decades-old ordinance on food trucks, but some business owners are cautioning city leaders to not make it restrictive for those wanting to sell their wares downtown.

From The Mercury News...

Public Safety Health Crime & Justice

Stolen Blue Shield of California Data Could Hit Dark Web

12/01/2023
Hackers stole data this week from Blue Shield of California. Historically, this type of data has sometimes wound up for sale on what’s known as the dark web, the part of the internet not typically included in search engine results.

From Capital & Main...

Public Safety Education Families & Children Government

Right-Wing Takeover of SoCal School Board Stirs Angst

12/01/2023
Students and teachers alike are decrying the actions of the Temecula Valley Unified School District board, which became conservative in majority following the recent elections of three members. The board’s actions include banning critical race theory and mandating parental notification if their child is transgender.

From Gilroy Dispatch...

Public Safety Land Use & Development City of Gilroy

Gilroy Puts Glen Loma Developer ‘On Notice’ Over Fire Station

11/29/2023
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The city of Gilroy could pursue legal action against the developer of Glen Loma Ranch, suggesting that it is reneging on its agreement to build a fire station in the housing development.

From SFGate...

Public Safety Environment Health

Sewage Spill Closes Southern California Beach

11/29/2023
Two miles of public beach were closed in Laguna Beach following a spill of 94,500 gallons of sewage. Orange County is testing water to determine when the beach will be safe to reopen.

From New York Times...

Public Safety Health Government

More Migrants Getting Hurt Climbing Border Wall in California

11/27/2023
Seven times as many patients have been admitted to the trauma unit at UC San Diego Health since the Trump administration raised the height of the border wall to 30 feet in California. The hospital also notes that 23 people have died in falls from the wall since 2019.

From SanBenitocom...

Public Safety Crime & Justice City of Hollister

Hollister Police Receive Traffic Safety Grant

11/17/2023
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The Hollister Police Department will use a $79,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to help make local roads safer, authorities said.

From New York Times...

Public Safety Crisis & Personal Support Government

Why It’s Taken So Long for the Golden Gate Bridge to Get a Protective Barrier

11/14/2023
Workers are in the final stages of a long, $217 million project: Install a protective barrier at the Golden Gate Bridge. Roughly 2,000 people have died by suicide jumping from the bridge since it opened in 1937.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Environment Community Service & Support Government

Families Struggle to Pay Power Bills, but California Regulators May Hike Prices

11/14/2023
Millions of people across the state struggle to pay electric bills as California regulators decide on proposed rate increases. PG&E wants a rate hike to bolster the safety and reliability of its services.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Education Elections & Politics Government

Backlash Politics: How Conservatives Have Success Rolling Back California Progressivism

11/14/2023
Lacking power at the state level, conservatives are leaning into local governance to protest California’s progressive politics. The fight in Huntington Beach could be a harbinger of what’s to come.

From The Guardian...

Public Safety

WW2-Era Southern California Blimp Hangar Destroyed by Fire

11/07/2023
Tustin Air Base was destroyed Nov. 7 in a raging fire that could last for days. Authorities said letting the 1942 hangar collapse was the only way to contain the fire.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Public Safety Health Crime & Justice Government

California Sues Meta for Damaging Kids’ Mental Health

11/05/2023

Is the controversy over social media just another moral panic, or something to really panic about?

From SanBenitocom...

Public Safety

Aromas Fire Destroys Three Structures, Closes Roads and School

10/31/2023
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A wood pile along Quarry Road in Aromas that caught fire Oct. 31 led to power lines down and road closures.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Public Safety History Crime & Justice Government

California Gun Control Laws and Mass Shootings

10/26/2023
Image for display with article titled California Gun Control Laws: Mass Shootings Have Sparked New Legislation for Three Decades

How a series of mass shootings has made California the toughest gun control state in the nation.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Public Safety Transportation Government

State DMV and CPUC Both Pull Self-Driving Cruise Taxis From Road

10/25/2023
Image for display with article titled State Pulls Self-Driving Cruise Taxis From Road After Terrifying Oct. 2 Incident

State DMV claims Cruise company was not fully forthcoming with information about a recent accident.

From Benito Link...

Public Safety City of Hollister

Hollister Fire Chief Bob Martin Del Campo Retires

10/17/2023
The Hollister City Council celebrated Martin Del Campo’s 21 years of service.

From SanBenitocom...

Public Safety Resilience County of San Benito

San Benito County Launches New Alert System

10/11/2023

San Benito County and the Santa Cruz Regional 911 system this week announced the launch of SBCAlert, an automated alert and warning system.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Public Safety Health Homelessness Crisis & Personal Support Government

Californians’ Mental Health: Newsom Signs Law to Overhaul System

10/11/2023
Image for display with article titled Sweeping Mental Health Reform Now California Law After Newsom Signs Bill

But opponents fear that new involuntary treatment rules violate civil liberties.

San Benito County Local News: Public Safety