English
Spanish
Vietnamese
Santa Clara County health officials announced Monday they will amend the shelter-in-place order to allow in-store retail, outdoor dining, childcare for all families as well as religious, cultural and civic activities previously prohibited to reduce the spread of COVID-19. With the revised order effective Friday, Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said progress with testing,...
Public defenders rally against Santa Clara County court closures amid protests
More than 50 public defenders and others rallied against Santa Clara County court closures on Monday, following a weekend of heated protests in San Jose over police brutality, including the death of George Floyd. Standing in front of the county Superior Court’s Hall of Justice with signs like “Close the jails, not the courts,” advocates...
Santa Clara County elections officials dismiss Trump’s voter fraud claims
After President Donald Trump hurled a firestorm of tweets denouncing vote-by-mail elections, Silicon Valley election leaders insist the voting method is accurate and dispute the president’s claims of voter fraud. “Voters in our county are used to voting by mail,” Shannon Bushey, the Santa Clara County registrar of voters, told San José Spotlight. “They know...
Demand for food assistance soars in Silicon Valley during COVID-19 lockdown
James Foster lined up at the Di Lac Temple in San Jose, waiting for a hot meal, fresh groceries and face masks. Foster’s wife lost her job as a therapist during the pandemic and his relative who supported them financially recently died. “We’re hurting … These folks provide a life-saving service, especially for someone my age,” said...
Pools to remain closed in Santa Clara County amid heat wave
As a heat wave sizzles across the South Bay, those hoping to cool off by dipping into a public swimming pool must wait a little longer. While the county this week opened cooling centers to provide temporary relief, Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody on Wednesday said public pools will remain closed...
Santa Clara County extends eviction moratorium, approves COVID-19 cost tracker and outreach
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to extend a temporary moratorium on evictions for people who can’t pay rent due to the pandemic. The county’s moratorium, which was set to expire Sunday, will now be extended until Aug. 31 under a proposal authored by Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Joe Simitian. “The Santa...
It’s official: Rick Callender to be the next Valley Water CEO
Rick Callender will be the next CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District starting July 11. The agency’s Board of Directors on Tuesday voted 4-3 to appoint the longtime water district employee to the top position, where he’ll earn $326,352 annually to oversee the agency, tasked with the critical job of ensuring safe water...
Coronavirus fears grow for vulnerable Santa Clara County residents as economy reopens
As businesses across Santa Clara County begin to reopen, some officials worry poor communities of color hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic will experience a surge in new cases. To prevent a spike among some of the county’s most vulnerable residents, Board of Supervisors President Cindy Chavez penned a proposal to create an outreach team that...
Data gap complicates efforts to aid LGBTQ community during COVID-19
Local leaders are searching for more insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting members of the LGBTQ community in the South Bay.
‘A race against time:’ Silicon Valley nonprofits face uncertain future as deficits loom
Like everyone, nonprofits are hurting during the coronavirus pandemic, but local leaders are trying to find ways keep those organizations alive until the economy starts to rebound. Nonprofits offer some of the most critical services in communities, often on the frontlines of helping homeless, hungry and mentally ill residents. But as enormous city, state and...