Santa Clara County leaders and advocates are calling on state lawmakers to protect the healthcare system from devastating federal cuts as it finalizes its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Latinas Contra Cancer, All Things Disability Equity, Fund Healthcare Not Billionaires, Regional Nurses Professional Association and others held a Friday rally at Valley Medical Center...
Thousands to lose Medi-Cal and food aid in Santa Clara County
New rules and work requirements for Medi-Cal and food stamps imposed by the federal government could strip benefits from thousands of people in Santa Clara County. As of Monday, work requirements for people receiving food stamps, known as CalFresh in California, have expanded to include adults ages 18 to 64, raising it from the prior...
Sunnyvale hits pause on new smoke shops
Sunnyvale leaders want to stop new smoke shops from popping up in town, especially near schools and other youth-oriented areas. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a 45-day emergency moratorium to temporarily halt new smoke shop permits and introduced a separate policy banning nitrous oxide sales citywide. The proposed regulations come as city...
Report shows child deaths in Santa Clara County were avoidable
Santa Clara County has seen an encouraging decline in child death rates, while simultaneously being marred by repeat tragedies and scandals as a result of bad homes and youth welfare leaders bungling foster cases. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday grappled with official findings that most deaths of children under the county’s care between 2021...
Santa Clara County nurses say no to pay raise delay
Santa Clara County displayed “Happy Nurses Week” banners across the hospitals of California’s second largest public healthcare system this month. But the nurses weren’t feeling the love. Instead, they’re up in arms as county leaders — grappling with a crushing budget deficit — have asked to delay cost-of-living wage increases that nurses went on strike for...
Santa Clara University to open region’s first medical school in 100 years
Santa Clara University is entering the medical field through a major partnership with Sutter Health aimed at training future physicians in the South Bay. University and healthcare leaders announced the launch of the Mark & Mary Stevens School of Medicine during a Friday event outside the future campus site at 2431 Mission College Blvd. in...
West Valley gets first mobile health clinic
Despite Santa Clara County having the second largest public hospital system in the state, West Valley residents have never had their own county-run health clinic. That’s changing with a new center in Cupertino — and it’s running on wheels. County officials and health leaders gathered at De Anza College on Friday to launch a mobile...
Silicon Valley Business Alliance calls for halt to gas-appliance ban
A coalition of South Bay business leaders and anti-regulation advocates is urging Bay Area air regulators to halt a forthcoming ban on gas-powered water heater installations set to take effect next year. Dozens gathered in front of the Santa Clara County Government Center on Monday to take part in an event organized by the Silicon...
Santa Clara County looks to fund Latino ‘health promoters’
Latino community health workers in Santa Clara County, known as promotores de salud or “health promoters,” have for years knocked on doors that others couldn’t. Now the county needs them again — and has plans to make them a permanent part of the region’s public health system. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously...
Silicon Valley mental health crisis team at risk of losing funding
People are seeking out Santa Clara County’s non-police mental health crisis team more than any other response program. But it’s about to run out of money. County leaders are looking for ways to keep the Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) program alive after state funding — which gave the program four years to evolve since launching...