Free Republic

Two San Benito County sentinel chickens tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The tests were done in the last week of August, according to the California Department of Health. The West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in California. At least 347 deaths have been attributed to WNV since 2003 in the state. According to the department, in 2023, no human cases have been discovered on the Central Coast. Every county surrounding the Central Coast has at least one human or animal test positive for WNV. It's been a landmark year for the disease in California. Seventy-five...

Wandering wolf OR-93 crossed into San Benito County over the weekend after traversing the Central Valley and crossing Interstate 5 in what wolf biologists are calling a remarkable journey.The Central Coast can now call itself home to a Gray Wolf at least for now. Wandering wolf OR-93 crossed into San Benito County over the weekend after traversing the Central Valley and crossing Interstate 5 in what wolf biologists are calling a remarkable journey. The rolling hills and farmland of San Benito County are hardly wolf country, which raises the questions about what OR-93 is after and how he long he...

(04-09) 16:37 PDT SAN JOSE -- Vandals cut fiber-optic cable lines belonging to AT&T at two locations early today, knocking out phones and access to 911 emergency services to thousands of residential customers and businesses in southern Santa Clara County, in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties and along the Peninsula, authorities said. Four AT&T fiber-optic cables in an underground vault were severed shortly before 1:30 a.m. along Monterey Highway north of Blossom Hill Road in south San Jose, police Sgt. Ronnie Lopez said. Four more underground cables, at least two of which belong to AT&T, were cut about two...