Local News

Authorities are investigating a Sept. 5 emergency incident in San Martin where hazardous materials were found at a residence, prompting the sheriff’s bomb squad to conduct a controlled explosion near Rucker Elementary School. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of a medical...

A Morgan Hill veteran and his service dog have earned national recognition as part of a campaign to promote pet adoption. And Chau Pham’s story of how his service dog, Apollo, changed his life shortly after they met helped San Martin-based Operation Freedom Paws win...

A 57-year-old Gilroy man died in a two-vehicle traffic collision on Highway 152 early in the morning Jan. 23, according to authorities.

Happy October, the month when being a cyclist truly rocks. Our calorie-burning passion pays off perfectly when we’ve partaken in a little too much Halloween candy! And speaking of sweetness, thanks for the feedback on last month’s column item regarding bicycle donations. If you missed...

City of Gilroy officials are in the thick of the process to find and hire a new police chief, with Pedro Espinoza set to retire as of May 22.  The city is working with a nationwide search firm to recruit a new police chief. So...

Four San Jose non-citizen permanent residents received Santa Clara County 2022 election ballots even though they are not U.S. citizens, according to a concerned family friend and copies of documents reviewed by this newspaper. The four were sponsored by their brother to live in the...

A San Martin man was sentenced this week to more than 33 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of a slew of violent crimes—some involving firearms—dating back to 2018. The most recent charges against the defendant, Alfonso Castillo Navarro, 37, are related...

The California State Assembly Select Committee on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction and Overdose Prevention on Aug. 12 during an informational hearing discussed the urgency of combating the rise in overdose deaths among youth in recent years primarily due to ingesting fentanyl.  Between 2019 and 2021, drug...

Gilroy Police are investigating a razor blade that was found in a piece of a child’s Halloween candy, authorities said this week.  The night of Nov. 5, a teenage girl bit into a Milky Way candy bar and discovered a razor blade that had been...

For many, the San Benito Oriana Chorale’s holiday concerts are the kick-off to the Christmas season. “It sets the tone for a beautiful Christmas season,” said Director Rachel Romina. “This traditionally is the launching pad of Christmas. It’s going to be phenomenal.”  But for the past...