The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to explore the legality of creating a county-operated public bank in support of a California bill that, if passed, will allow local governments to form their own banks. Advocates say that public banks would help strengthen local institutions, keep public money within the local economy...

More assault weapons were received in 2016 and 2018 than years prior. Last year, LaCap said her department capped buybacks at $400 maximum because “we had these people that would bring in like 40 guns, and they would wipe out all of our funds on one person.” “A lot of it was gun dealers who...

Amid a brewing battle on immigration, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday that it will explore changes to the county’s sanctuary city policy following immense backlash from the community. After an emotional meeting that included three hours of public testimony, county lawmakers voted 4-1 in favor of requesting county staff to come...

Santa Clara County ranks third overall in public health in California, beating San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego counties on the list of 58, according to annual county health rankings released last week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Santa Clara County has been ranked third since 2013, with Marin and San Mateo counties...

For thousands of years, indigenous tribes near San Jose have hosted ceremonial practices, prayer and festivities on the land they refer to as Juristac — more commonly known as Sargent Ranch — that they consider as their most sacred spiritual site. But that might soon be coming to an end, as developers who own the...

After failing to meet response times amid a spike in 911 call volume, San Jose firefighters are asking the county to consider opening an ambulance contract to competitive bidders. The county contract, which was extended for three years in December, follows a model in which the county works with a private, for-profit ambulance company to provide services...

The vital need for healthcare dominated this year’s State of the County address with Board of Supervisors President Joe Simitian stressing the need for quality mental health and homelessness services. His address called for creating a better system where the many facets of healthcare — lack of insurance coverage, homelessness, mental illness and texting while driving —...

Santa Clara County lawmakers on Tuesday voted to approve a transfer of $8 million to cover overtime in the Sheriff’s Office, agreed to allocate money for refugee programs and discussed moving the Hope Village homeless encampment. The board approved a one-time transfer of roughly $3 million to cover overtime payments in the Sheriff’s Office, while...

Citing much-needed jail reforms implemented over the past four years, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is asking county lawmakers for more than $8 million to cover growing overtime costs. The request, which will be considered at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, would allocate $8.1 million from the Special Programs Labor Reserve. With little discussion, a county supervisors’ committee last week accepted a report from...

Santa Clara County officials on Tuesday voted to add an additional half million in funding to the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, a move that was applauded by all across the political aisle. Labor activists and former victims of wage theft, sexual harassment and human trafficking were among those in the crowd advocating for the...