In response to looming federal and state funding cuts, Santa Clara County officials are taking decisive action to protect the viability of their vast public hospital system. The latest move involves a major shake-up of the Santa Clara Family Health Plan’s leadership, with the county seeking greater control over how Medi-Cal reimbursements are handled. At a Board of Supervisors meeting held on May 20, officials voted unanimously to replace a majority of the Family Health Plan’s gov

Amazon is under legal scrutiny after being accused of selling rice contaminated with harmful levels of heavy metals. A lawsuit filed in Columbus, Ohio, alleges that the tech giant failed to test various rice products for toxic substances like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, substances that pose significant health risks, especially to children. The lawsuit claims Amazon knowingly sold these products, including the Whole Foods 365 brand, without any warning about the potential dangers, vio

A 21-year-old woman from the United Kingdom has been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly smuggling a large quantity of "kush" — a dangerous synthetic drug made from toxic chemicals and ground-up human bones. Charlotte May Lee, a former flight attendant from south London, was apprehended earlier this month at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport after authorities discovered over 100 pounds (approximately 45 kg) of the drug in her suitcases. The haul, estimated to

A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, originally identified in China, has now reached the United States, prompting concern among health officials due to its rapid spread and high transmissibility. Detected first in travelers arriving between March and April in states including California, New York, Washington, Virginia, and Hawaii, the variant has since appeared in Ohio and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The variant has become dominant i

A new 2025 report from personal finance platform WalletHub confirms what many California residents already suspect: owning a home in the Golden State is becoming increasingly unattainable. In fact, nine out of the top ten least affordable cities for homebuyers in the U.S. are located in California. At the bottom of the list is Santa Barbara, which ranked 300th out of 300 cities studied, making it the least affordable city in the country. Other California cities in the bottom 10 include Santa

In a heartbreaking incident that has sent shockwaves across the country, seven members of a family from Dehradun were found dead inside a car parked in Panchkula, Haryana late Monday night. Police officials suspect a mass suicide triggered by deep financial distress. The deceased have been identified as Praveen Mittal, 42, along with his elderly parents, wife, and three young children two daughters and a son. The family had reportedly traveled from Dehradun to Panchkula to attend a

For decades, owning a house was seen as a proud achievement in Indian households symbolic of success, stability, and adulthood. Parents often pushed their children to buy homes early, even if it meant burdening themselves with heavy EMIs. But in 2025, the mindset of India’s younger generation is shifting. With rising property prices, changing work patterns, and a desire for lifestyle freedom, more and more young Indians are opting to rent rather than buy. The traditional belie

Santa Clara County is facing a significant structural budget deficit heading into the 2025-26 fiscal year, compelling leaders to make hard choices that could affect critical social services. With a projected $70 million drop in federal funding, plus anticipated state reductions, county officials are navigating how to minimize the damage to essential programs that serve the most vulnerable residents. One of the major outcomes of the budget proposal is the elimination of 279 full-ti

A fast-moving grass fire that broke out Thursday afternoon near Livermore, California, has scorched 261.8 acres but is now reported to be 60% contained, according to the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD). Known as the Midway Fire, it started around 2:51 p.m. near Patterson Pass Road and Midway Road, just outside of Mountain House. As of 6:03 p.m. on Thursday, forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Initial containment efforts were quickly escalated as the fire jumped the

Cleanup efforts continue across parts of Columbus, Ohio following a significant kerosene spill that began on Tuesday night near Whitehall. Authorities have confirmed that approximately 2,500 gallons of kerosene leaked from railroad tankers located on East 5th Avenue, resulting in contamination of nearby waterways. The fuel made its way through storm drains and surface runoff, first affecting Robinwood Avenue and Etna Street before traveling downstream to Kimberly Parkway, just north of Refugee R

  Valley Water continues its critical mission to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water across Santa Clara County, serving homes, farms, and businesses. While clean water is often taken for granted in daily life, it remains essential for public health, economic stability, and the innovation-driven ecosystem of Silicon Valley. However, much of the county’s water infrastructure was built several decades ago and is now in urgent need of upgrades. As challenges from climate

Fishing in the San Francisco Bay has long been a cultural and recreational tradition for local residents. However, new scientific findings have revealed a significant threat lurking beneath the surface. A comprehensive study has found that ten widely consumed fish species from the Bay are frequently contaminated with high levels of PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals also known as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breaking down in the environment and their ability to ac

In a strong show of community solidarity and mental health advocacy, over 100 residents, civic leaders, first responders, and youth representatives gathered at San Ramon's Central Park last week to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The event marked a countywide dedication initiative aimed at spreading awareness of the vital mental health resource across Contra Costa County during Mental Health Awareness Month. Hosted by the Leadership San Ramon Valley Class of 2025,

The Dallas and Texas A&M communities are mourning the tragic and unexpected death of Brian Williams, a former standout safety for the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Williams, just 24 years old, died after suffering a severe heatstroke while participating in a weekend half marathon, according to family reports. Williams, who was raised in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, graduated from Bishop Dunne Catholic High School, where he was a standout on the football field. His talent,

  Columbus, Ohio — A new specialty license plate designed to raise awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is now available to Ohio drivers, following a statewide initiative aimed at promoting mental health support and suicide prevention. Governor Mike DeWine announced the release of the plate during a press conference, joined by leaders from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF).

Indian men's shuttlers HS Prannoy and Satish Karunakaran produced stellar performances to enter the second round of the Malaysia Masters 2025, while double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu’s struggles continued as she suffered a first-round exit in the Super 500 event held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. In a thrilling men’s singles encounter, Prannoy pulled off a comeback victory over fifth seed Kenta Nishimoto of Japan. After losing the first game 19-21, Prannoy bounced b

In a startling revelation, Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the travel channel Travel with Jo, has allegedly confessed to Indian authorities that she was in direct contact with officials connected to Pakistan's intelligence network. The 33-year-old, who has approximately 4 lakh subscribers on YouTube, is currently under arrest on charges related to espionage and national security violations. Sources familiar with interrogation details told India Today

The 72nd Miss World Festival’s Head-to-Head Challenge kicked off today at T-Hub, Hyderabad’s renowned innovation and entrepreneurship hub. This pivotal event, which is live-streamed globally on YouTube, provides a platform for the contestants to showcase their Beauty with a Purpose initiatives, which lie at the heart of Miss World’s mission to empower women through charitable projects and community-driven endeavors. This segment of the competition focuses on the intelligence

A Filipino woman who arrived in San Jose alone in 2016 found herself trapped in a cycle of exploitation after accepting a job as a live-in caregiver at a residential care facility for elderly people. She had expected the opportunity to bring financial support to her family in the Philippines, but instead was subjected to relentless labor without overtime pay, limited freedom, and unwanted advances from her employer. The woman, who was in her 60s at the time and requested anonymity to protect