After COVID-19 scrapped their clinical rotations in 2020, five South Bay nursing students turned their focus to educating children about the virus. Elaine Pham, Liz Nguyen, Elaine Fu, Vivian Doan and Tina Tran created the 15-page book “Let’s Learn About COVID-19” containing coloring diagrams, crossword puzzles and other activities that explain the virus. Nguyen, Fu,...
Despite leaving Congress, Honda is working on politics behind the scenes
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Congressman Mike Honda lost his seat to Rep. Ro Khanna in 2016 but that hasn’t stopped the longtime legislator from playing a role in politics. Honda has stayed involved in politics over the past four years, supporting the Democratic party, working for immigrants’ rights and promoting other Asian American lawmakers. In...
San Jose Legends: Rod Diridon launched the city’s light rail but got into transit by accident
Editor’s Note: San Jose Legends is a new monthly series that tells the remarkable stories of the historic and legendary people who have helped shape and transform our city. Rod Diridon has a train station named after him and is widely renowned as the “father” of Silicon Valley’s modern transit system. But to hear him tell...
Trump signs COVID-19 stimulus package; South Bay nonprofits weigh-in
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After threatening to blow up a deal that provides relief to struggling Americans, President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a major coronavirus stimulus package along with an annual spending bill. The move avoids a government shutdown before a Monday night deadline. “I applaud President Trump’s decision to get hundreds of billions of...
Women of color denied promotion accuse SJSU president of discrimination
Seven women of color were passed over for promotions at San Jose State University in 2019, and they’re blaming university President Mary Papazian’s leadership for it. The women accused Papazian of discrimination against faculty of color after all of them were either denied tenure or promotion after passing through all the university’s required steps without incident during...
San Jose Assemblyman Ash Kalra wants to be the next Attorney General
San Jose Assemblyman Ash Kalra is jockeying to replace Attorney General Xavier Becerra as the state’s top law enforcement official. Becerra was tapped by President-elect Joe Biden to be the next U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, leaving California’s attorney general position vacant. If Becerra is confirmed, Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint the state’s next attorney general— and Kalra thinks...
San Jose transit chief was touted for Biden’s top transportation post
Before President-elect Joe Biden nominated former South Bend Mayor and presidential rival Pete Buttigieg to be his Secretary of Transportation, there was buzz that a notable local official might be in the running for the role. Nuria Fernandez, the CEO and general manager of the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority, made the short list...
Congress reaches deal on new COVID-19 relief bill as cases soar
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of failed negotiations, Congress reached a deal Sunday on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package. The bill is expected to pass Monday. “At long last, we have the bipartisan breakthrough the country has needed,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor. With the coronavirus pandemic accelerating, Congress...
Alum Rock school district begins search for new trustee, again
More than 150 people tuned in to the Alum Rock Union Elementary School district’s special meeting this week expecting to see more candidates emerge for the district’s latest empty board seat. The board had decided the week before to finalize interview questions and take pitches from prospective applicants. However, the Dec. 16 meeting was not...
South Bay schools delay reopening, weigh requiring teachers to take vaccine
San Jose’s biggest school district has put its reopening plans on pause over the resurgent coronavirus pandemic. San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD), which intended to return thousands of students to campus on Jan. 5, informed parents last week via email it will delay that effort indefinitely. “The pandemic continues to rage around us, dimming...