Mountain View is facing nearly $1.2 million in civil penalties after a judge ruled on March 31 that the city has been violating federal law by allowing raw sewage to get into Stevens Creek through its stormwater system, posing serious health risks. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila fined the city for failing to comply with the requirements of...
Barnes & Noble plans store in Cupertino
In tech driven Silicon Valley, Barnes & Noble is bringing back its brick-and-mortar brand to Cupertino. The store, located at 20740 Stevens Creek Blvd., is part of a nationwide expansion aimed at launching 60 stores in 2026. The 19,200-square-foot bookstore will feature a modern design layout, along with curated selections of books, toys and more....
San Jose looks to cut homeless shelter operating costs
San Jose has doubled the number of homeless shelters it operates over the past year and a half — and with that comes staggering operational costs that will require creative cuts. The city is projecting its shelters will rack up $94 million in maintenance and operating costs in the upcoming fiscal year. This eye-popping figure...
Santa Clara County sheriff reports drop in use of force cases
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a continuous, year-over-year decline in instances of use of force. Sheriff Bob Jonsen‘s deputies used force on people in the jails and out in the community 603 times last year, a slight decrease from 621 incidents in 2024, according to an annual report for 2025. Deputies killed...
VTA could block ICE from using its properties
Property owned by a local public transit agency may become the latest territory federal immigration agents are blocked from using in Santa Clara County. VTA’s board of directors on Thursday asked staff to explore a policy to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on property it owns, including parking lots, and to continue...
San Jose wants to spin off AI policy initiative
For many public officials, artificial intelligence holds the promise to massively boost government operations. But the emerging technology also faces serious questions about how it can be used without compromising data security and user privacy or displacing workers. For the past two years, San Jose has been helping government agencies across the globe navigate this...
Silicon Valley teachers union leader faces ‘hostile’ conduct complaint
The Santa Clara County Office of Education has placed the leader of a teachers union on administrative leave over a whistleblower complaint about “hostile” conduct — right as the union considers a strike. Association of County Educators (ACE) President Riju Krishna — who frequently speaks at Board of Education meetings to advocate for better working...
Santa Clara County housing funds safe after federal court ruling
Efforts to upend federal grants for permanent housing to address homelessness have been blocked in court — marking a win for Santa Clara County in challenging President Donald Trump’s administration. A federal appeals court in Boston on Wednesday rejected an attempt by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to rewrite the rules...
Cupertino council approves housing in high fire risk area
A Cupertino housing development proposed in a high fire risk area is moving forward despite resident concerns about evacuation safety and traffic congestion. The Cupertino City Council on Wednesday voted 4-1 to approve a 51-townhome project on a 2.5-acre site along Linda Vista Drive, where residents say limited evacuation routes could take more than an hour...
Santa Clara businesses sue over shopping center displacement
A once-busy Santa Clara shopping center home to Asian-owned businesses is now nearly empty — and multiple tenants are taking their former landlord to court as the property moves toward redevelopment. Two businesses at the Homestead Shopping Center — Tous les Jours bakery and Fuheng Herbs — have filed separate lawsuits alleging they have been...