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Phil Watkins was 23 when he was shot to death by San Jose police after he called 911 saying he was going to kill himself and was holding children hostage. Sharon Watkins said her son was shot 10 times when he ran toward officers holding a pocket knife. Recalling the confrontation six years ago, she...
Supervisors seek to protect Coyote Valley from development
Santa Clara County lawmakers this week moved to preserve open space, flood plains and wildlife corridors in the Coyote Valley but stopped short of adopting a development ban, despite pleas by environmentalists. Although more than 1,000 acres are protected from development in North Coyote Valley, the middle and southern sections remain threatened. Based on a...
Kaiser cancels thousands of COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Silicon Valley amid low supply
Kaiser Permanente canceled more than 5,200 vaccination appointments in Santa Clara County due to a lack of supply, leaving some of the South Bay’s most vulnerable patients confused and frustrated. Janet Gillis, a Kaiser patient, had her vaccination scheduled for Feb. 1 — but it was abruptly canceled. She and her husband both received an...
Good Samaritan unveils new screening measures, struggles to provide second COVID-19 vaccines
Good Samaritan Hospital unveiled new screening measures to ensure it complies with county vaccination rules, after its COO in January encouraged a select group of teachers to skip the line ahead of more vulnerable groups. The hospital submitted a plan Jan. 28 to county health officials outlining on how it will follow the rules, a...
Santa Clara County’s long-awaited sustainability plan prioritizes economy, environment and equity
Santa Clara County is doubling down on addressing climate change as an emergency, rather than a far-off threat. At its last meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the county’s master plan for sustainability, which has been about five years in the making. The plan commits to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, electrifying more buildings and planting...
Santa Clara County DA ‘looking into’ South Bay hospital allowing teachers to skip line for COVID-19 vaccines
A South Bay hospital’s decision to allow affluent educators to skip the line for a COVID-19 vaccine could have legal implications. San José Spotlight has learned that the county District Attorney’s Office is examining whether any laws were violated when Good Samaritan allowed teachers and staff at the Los Gatos Union School District to receive...
New vaccine may be needed to fight COVID-19 strain found in Santa Clara County
In the midst of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, health officials warned that a new strain of the virus — linked to several large local outbreaks — is spreading across Santa Clara County. Many are left wondering what that means for the vaccine and its efficacy against the new strain. And will scientists need to make...
South Bay hospital won’t receive more COVID-19 vaccines after it allowed affluent school district to skip the line
Santa Clara County will not provide Good Samaritan any more doses of COVID-19 vaccine unless it follows the rules, a sanction issued by health officials after this news organization reported hospital leaders allowed an affluent school district to skip the line and get vaccinated ahead of seniors and other vulnerable populations. “Good Samaritan’s actions are...
South Bay hospital allowed teachers to skip the line for COVID-19 vaccines
Teachers and staff at an affluent South Bay school district can skip the line and get a COVID-19 vaccine — by pretending to be health care workers — at the behest of Good Samaritan Hospital, according to an email obtained by San José Spotlight. Teachers can’t get vaccines in Santa Clara County yet. The county...
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