California has overwhelmingly approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to gerrymander congressional seats in favor of Democrats for the next several election cycles. His most powerful allies in Silicon Valley are tempering their zeal. Though Proposition 50 does little to local political boundaries, a whopping 71% of Santa Clara County voters went in favor of the...
Newsom signs off on Silicon Valley lawmakers’ bills
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed dozens of bills into laws earlier this month, tweaking bureaucratic processes to improve voter transparency, election accountability and workers rights. Several state lawmakers from San Jose and Santa Clara County had their bills approved. Here’s an overview of some new laws, which take effect Jan. 1, 2026 unless otherwise stated. Improving...
Feds to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English
By Josh Funk, AP Transportation Writer Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday he will withhold $40 million from California because it is the only state that is failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers. An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug....
California expands privacy protections for sidewalk vendors
Immigrants selling food, flowers and other merchandise along the sidewalks of California will have new privacy protections intended to keep their identities secret from federal immigration agents. The measure, signed into law this past week by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, comes on the heels of other recently enacted state laws meant to shield students in schools...
South County school district backs ultraprocessed food ban
Associated Press health writer JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, contributed. California will phase out certain ultraprocessed foods from school meals over the next decade under a first-in-the-nation law signed Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The law seeks to define ultraprocessed foods, the often super-tasty products typically full of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. The legislation...
Silicon Valley officials begrudgingly back Prop. 50
Governor Gavin Newsom’s bid to out-gerrymander Texas won’t affect Santa Clara County as much as other parts of the state – and some Silicon Valley leaders are swallowing their distaste while towing the line. As ballots are out and vote centers are open, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Congressman Sam Liccardo have both voiced reluctant...
What a government shutdown will mean for Californians, from Social Security to national parks
By Rachel Becker, Kristen Hwang, Alejandro Lazo, Cayla Mihalovich and Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. John Lauretig remembers the filthy bathrooms, the overflowing trash cans and the community of people who rallied to clean up Joshua Tree National Park the last time the U.S. Government shut down. For more than a month...
State bill could put Silicon Valley homeless shelters under scrutiny
A new state bill could bring more accountability to homeless shelters in Santa Clara County. Assembly Bill 750 aims to provide more oversight of homeless shelters across the state by requiring local governments to inspect facilities and produce yearly reports on their conditions. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, could also see California withhold funding...
San Jose school trustee enters race for California governor
San Jose is putting a hometown contender in the governor’s race. Just don’t expect the city’s political elite — or most people across the state — to recognize him. With the support of several Black community leaders, Mount Pleasant Elementary School District Trustee Derek Grasty declared his candidacy in the 2026 California governor’s race Monday...
California lawmaker doubts threats against Democrats are reviewed
After Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to prosecute threats of violence against public officials, Rep. Eric Swalwell was furious. “This is rich,” Swalwell posted to X on Tuesday. “AG Bondi has REFUSED to prosecute MULTIPLE direct death threats against me and my family.” Swalwell’s post gained traction — so much so that Bondi called him to ask “what I...