Santa Clara County leaders are still trying to lift the curtain on how taxpayer money is used to pay for lawsuit settlements on issues such as jail deaths. The Board of Supervisors took action to publicize such settlements last year, but reports haven’t fully delivered. Now supervisors want to include even more details for the...
Sunnyvale drone show replaces fireworks on Fourth of July
In the heart of Silicon Valley and the middle of a heat wave, one city hopes to use new technologies to emulate a classic Fourth of July tradition. Instead of fireworks, Sunnyvale is hosting a drone light show at Baylands Park at 6:30 p.m. City officials said the drone show will be safer and more...
Want to fly from San Jose to D.C.? Here’s how to make it happen
The South Bay’s airport wants to offer a direct flight to Washington, D.C. — but it needs the public’s help. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) posted a pitch on X, formerly Twitter, asking travelers to help it compete for a nonstop route to Washington, D.C. Spirit Airlines will be the carrier if the airport can...
Nonprofit settles with Cupertino over lease dispute
An autism nonprofit will pay Cupertino thousands of dollars after settling a monthslong dispute over the closure of a group home for children. The Cupertino City Council unanimously approved a settlement between the city and nonprofit Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) last month after PACE stopped operating the group home at 7576 Kirwin Lane,...
San Jose development advances despite historical significance
A former North San Jose Japanese farming area found to have historical significance, especially during World War II, could become home to more than 1,000 multi-family residences and commercial space. The San Jose Planning Commission is recommending city officials approve the nearly 23-acre development and demolish the Japanese farming structures, including barns, sheds and the...
San Jose parents want new leadership in largest school district
Parents and community advocates are calling for new leadership in San Jose’s largest public school district following a county report that highlights numerous issues — which the district disputes. Community members spoke Thursday at a San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) board of trustees meeting, citing a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report that...
State bill affecting Santa Clara County landlines pulled after backlash
A state bill that would have let AT&T off the hook for emergency landline service — circumventing state regulators and affecting remote pockets of Santa Clara County — is on hold after public backlash. Assembly Bill 2797 has been pulled from the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee meeting slated for Tuesday. It comes...
Santa Clara County oversight office under fire over Tasers
As the Santa Clara County Sheriff pushes to arm deputies with Tasers, one local civil rights group argues the sheriff’s oversight office acts more as a rubber stamp. In May, the county Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring voiced support for a policy outlining how deputies would use Tasers if deployed in jails and certain...
San Jose LGBTQ+ center namesake embraced everyone
Not much is known about William Price, the drag queen whose name adorns the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center in San Jose. Price, an African American drag queen and activist who performed under the name “Billy DeFrank,” used his performances to fundraise for various causes, according to Gabrielle Antolovich, president of the center’s board of...
Familiar face withdraws from Milpitas mayor’s race
Long-time Milpitas politico Rich Tran is bowing out of his run for mayor, citing schedule conflicts as he works on launching a tech startup. He joined the race late last year after waiting to run again, since mayors can only serve six consecutive years and officials who serve their maximum term limits must wait two...