San José Spotlight is taking home five wins in a statewide journalism contest. The five awards are from the 2025 California Journalism Awards, an annual competition held by the California News Publishers Association. The contest highlights the best print and digital reporting and photography statewide. Print and digital news organizations compete in divisions based on...
Rod Diridon memorial recalls Santa Clara County transit legend
Friends, family, politicians and members of the community remembered a pioneer who never gave up his dream for mass transit in Santa Clara County. Rod Diridon, Sr.’s wife Gloria Duffy said the event was a celebration of community and collaboration, because that’s who her husband was. His life was inspired by his upbringing at the...
Downtown parking fee hike riles local businesses
San Jose has delayed a decision on whether to increase downtown parking prices after widespread pushback from local businesses and workers. The measure would have increased rates for hundreds of parking meters in the downtown core from $2 an hour to a maximum of $4 an hour, and also extended the machine’s operating hours further...
Silicon Valley lawmakers want to prepare students for AI workforce
Two Silicon Valley lawmakers want to reshape the AI narrative by connecting students with cutting-edge careers. Congressmembers Sam Liccardo and Jimmy Panetta have co-authored a bill that would award tax credits to companies partnering with colleges to train students in technologies such as artificial intelligence. Liccardo unveiled the Supporting Knowledge through Industry-Led Learning (SKILL) Act...
Parcel tax helps preserve Santa Clara County open space
A group that works to preserve open space in Santa Clara County will receive millions of dollars every year toward its efforts, following the approval of a parcel tax. Measure D will generate $17 million annually through a two-cent-per-square-foot of building area parcel tax to fund creek and water restoration, land stewardship, expansion of open...
South County families create their own livestock fair
Santa Clara County fairgrounds leaders caused an uproar this year for pushing the annual fair date to keep vendors happy and – as a consequence – some youth farmers out of contention for junior livestock shows. The parents’ response: Fine, we’ll organize our own. Preparations for an alternative fair are now underway among farmers in...
Santa Clara County leaders demand state funds for healthcare
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...
East San Jose school district redraws its boundaries
An East San Jose school district’s redistricting plans have left some community members frustrated. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees has redrawn its boundaries, shifting from at-large trustees to trustees representing specific areas of the district. The board on May 20 voted 3-2 — with Trustees Corina Herrera-Loera and Minh Nguyen voting...
California streamlines affordable housing funding
California is creating its first standalone housing agency to help streamline funding for affordable housing development — except it has no new money due to proposed state budget cuts. Starting July 1, the state will create the California Housing and Homelessness Agency to house various departments overseeing state and federal housing funding programs under one...
San Jose State at top of class when it comes to AI
San Jose State University has smoked the competition in a national computer science and technical skills assessment, beating out Stanford, CalTech and UC Berkeley. Since 2021, SJSU has jumped 47 spots to become No. 2 in the nation for data-driven programming and software engineering skills, just behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university offers...