As the sweeping promises of a new behavioral health court take shape slower than expected across California, Santa Clara County is one of the last to roll it out. A new civil court process known as the CARE Program — or CARE Court — allows anyone from a family member to a first responder to...
Silicon Valley water district will fine people living on its property
Homeless people are barred from living along regional waterways owned by Santa Clara County’s largest water agency — and could be charged with an infraction or misdemeanor and face up to $500 fines if they’re caught camping there. The Valley Water board of directors voted 6-1 on Tuesday to enact the Water Resource Protection Zones...
Di Salvo: Retired Santa Clara County school trustee pushes for better education
In the last 16 years, I have been privileged to serve as an elected trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education. My last board meeting was Nov. 20. Some voters in my trustee area will cheer that declaration, particularly those who were opposed to my charter school approval votes. As a core value...
Cupertino City Council race recount begins
A tight West Valley city council race is headed to a recount with fewer than 10 days until the vote must be certified. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began a manual recount of the Cupertino City Council race Monday because of the slim margin separating candidates R “Ray” Wang and Rod Sinks. Wang...
Los Gatos stables stay open amid millions in needed repairs
More than 60 people, some who traveled all the way to Los Altos from San Martin and Woodside, piled into a packed meeting, decked out in multi-colored plaid, cowboy hats and boots. They anxiously wrung their hands and wiped away tears as they advocated to save Bear Creek Stables from the threat of closure. For...
LaFortune: San Jose makes the best whiskey sour in the world
This holiday season, Visit San Jose, in partnership with Vine Hospitality, is telling the story of San Jose through your taste buds — for a limited time only. We are proud to introduce San Jose’s first-ever signature drink, The San Jose Sour, created with Silicon Valley innovation and a nod to our city’s rich agricultural...
Medi-Cal to cover Indigenous traditional care in Silicon Valley
Starting next year, Medi-Cal will cover traditional healing practices for Native Americans seeking treatment for substance use. Medi-Cal will expand its coverage to services provided by Native American traditional healers, including herbal medicine, music therapy and spiritual interventions like rituals. It will also cover services provided by natural helpers, including counseling and trauma support. A...
Where Silicon Valley residents can get free Thanksgiving meals
Numerous organizations are making sure people looking for a hot meal this Thanksgiving don’t go hungry. CityTeam is preparing 50 turkeys, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes and 200 pounds of vegetables for Santa Clara County residents facing food insecurity, along with other nonprofits and faith groups that have banded together to distribute free food with...
Silicon Valley NAACP to get new leadership
One of Silicon Valley’s biggest civil rights groups is changing leadership. The Rev. Jethroe Moore II has made his second and likely final exit from the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley after buying a home in Douglasville, Georgia six months ago. It’s opened the door for someone new to take the reins — a former county correctional officer....
Santa Clara official testifies about colleague leaking 49ers report
Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker’s perjury trial has gone on for nearly two weeks — and the judge said it’s running behind schedule. Becker is accused of lying to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury about leaking a 2022 report on the city’s relationship with the San Francisco 49ers to former team executive...