Santa Clara County is set to see a surge of investment in helping its hungriest residents obtain food thanks to millions of dollars from the state. California lawmakers passed a budget that provides $108 million for the CalFood program to allow food banks to purchase, transport and store produce. The budget also commits $20 million...
San Jose paramedicine pilot could provide timely intervention
The San Jose Fire Department is rethinking how it responds to emergency medical calls. Under a new pilot program, greenlit by the City Council as part of the recently completed annual budget process, the city is preparing to launch a “community paramedicine” team of firefighter paramedics trained to help patients with complex needs that can’t be...
East San Jose school district hires superintendent for one month
An East San Jose school board has appointed an interim leader — to serve for one month. The Alum Rock Union School District has hired George Sanchez as temporary superintendent to serve the struggling district during July. District leaders said Sanchez brings more than 30 years of experience in education from his time as a...
East San Jose charter school allowed to stay open — for now
An East San Jose charter school slated for closure has been temporarily saved by a court’s ruling. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Peterson issued a tentative decision directing the East Side Union High School District to keep the schools of Escuela Popular open, after the board of trustees on April 2 revoked its...
Local ride-share shuttle expands into North Santa Clara
Santa Clara residents and workers now have access to an on-demand shuttle service in the northern part of the city thanks to a regional effort to reduce car trips and improve transit connections. Silicon Valley Hopper has expanded its service into North Santa Clara as of July 1, allowing riders to travel throughout the city...
Bay Area public transit tax heads to November ballot
A highly touted Bay Area sales tax measure to fund public transit joins 14 other referendums that have qualified for the November election — and South Bay leaders said strong community support made it happen. The transit sales tax measure — which proposes a 0.5% increase in Santa Clara County — collected an estimated 241,964...
San Jose nonprofit gives school supplies to 3,500 students
Inequity remains a growing issue in Santa Clara County, but one nonprofit is trying to help. For families struggling to make ends meet, backpacks and school supplies can be out of reach. Sacred Heart Community Service — which tackles the systemic roots of poverty by offering essential service safety net services such as food aid,...
Demolition begins at controversial Santa Clara County cement plant
Demolition has started at the Permanente Cement Plant near Cupertino, a massive manufacturing site that repeatedly ran afoul of environmental regulations before it officially closed three years ago. Heidelberg Materials North America, a multinational corporation that owns the cement plant, recently announced that it secured the necessary permits and a contractor to move forward with demolition. The plan is...
State budget revisions save Santa Clara County from deeper cuts
Santa Clara County officials are exhaling as the state spending plan for fiscal year 2026-27 pares back steep cuts initially proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The state budget signed Monday includes $900 million for homeless services, nearly double what Newsom had initially suggested. The budget also keeps funding intact for in-home care and mobile mental health crisis...
San José Spotlight wins 5 state journalism awards
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...