San Mateo County is taking decisive steps to combat the recreational abuse of nitrous oxide, with the Board of Supervisors unanimously approving the drafting of an ordinance to ban its sale in unincorporated areas. Board of Supervisors President David Canepa and Supervisor Ray Mueller are co-sponsoring the proposed legislation, which targets the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide canisters, often referred to as laughing gas or whip-its, in these parts of th

A high-stakes contest is unfolding in Santa Clara County as candidates scramble to replace longtime Assessor Larry Stone in a special election scheduled for November 4. With the nomination period closing on Friday, a growing roster of hopefuls has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive race. The victor will temporarily fill Stone’s seat until December 2026, with a formal reelection campaign required in 2025 for a full term.

Santa Clara County officials are preparing to propose a sales tax increase to voters in an effort to safeguard the county’s public hospital system from severe federal revenue losses. The Board of Supervisors is expected to convene a special meeting around August 7 to decide whether to place the measure on the November 4 ballot. The proposed five-eighths cent sales tax would raise the current rate from 9.125% and is seen as a crucial step to help offset billions in anticipated funding cu

In a historic gesture of recognition and cultural respect, the California State Assembly has unanimously passed a bill to rename a significant stretch of Highway 101 in San Jose as the "Little Saigon Freeway." Authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, the bill designates the portion of Highway 101 between the Story Road exit and the I-280/680 interchange—just under half a mile in length—for this honor. The renaming serves as a tribute to the vibrant Vietnamese American commu

  Santa Clara County’s expansive public hospital system, the second largest in California, is now facing a financial crisis as sweeping federal budget cuts threaten to erase over $1 billion in vital revenue over the next few years. Just months after the county celebrated the expansion of its health system with the acquisition of Regional Medical Center in East San Jose, leaders now confront a bleak future triggered by President Donald Trump’s recent signing of H.R.

California families who rely on food assistance and other social safety nets may soon find themselves without critical support as the federal government moves forward with sweeping cuts to key programs. A Senate-backed budget reconciliation bill now under consideration in the House would slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next ten years, representing the largest funding cut in the history of the program. Know

Santa Clara County property values have reached a historic high, with the total net assessed value of real estate and personal property now approaching $726 billion. This rise, however, comes with a significant caveat: it reflects the county’s slowest year of growth in more than a decade. Economic uncertainty, mounting construction costs, and a steep drop in demand for commercial space have created strong headwinds for the region's development. Despite the record-setting

A persistent rat infestation has kept a Cupertino grocery store closed for more than two months, marking one of the most severe health enforcement cases in Santa Clara County this year. Located on Stevens Creek Boulevard, the store initially suspended operations in its deli, juice bar, and bakery in late March after health inspectors found evidence of rodent contamination in areas visible to customers. Despite multiple pest control efforts, including baiting and capturing at least one roof rat,

A new era has begun in Prince George’s County as Aisha Braveboy officially stepped into the role of county executive during a landmark inauguration ceremony held at the University of Maryland. Though the public ceremony took place on Thursday, Braveboy was formally sworn in during a private event the day before, marking the beginning of her leadership with both personal reflection and widespread public support. Community members, state officials, and civic leaders gathered t

Santa Clara County supervisors have taken a major step toward adopting a $14 billion budget that attempts to preserve essential public services amid mounting state and federal funding threats. The unanimous preliminary approval followed weeks of hearings and workshops, with final adoption expected on June 17. However, the mood among county leaders was far from celebratory, as they confronted the reality of declining external support and growing local demand. Supervisors acknowledg

Commuters in Prince William County faced significant delays Thursday morning following a traffic crash that resulted in multiple lane closures on a major thoroughfare. Authorities confirmed that only one lane remained open on the Prince William County Parkway as police responded to the incident. The Prince William County Police Department issued a public advisory just after 7:15 a.m., alerting drivers through social media that a crash had severely impacted the flow of traffic.

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

A controversial proposal to build a slaughterhouse in Wonder Lake, Illinois has triggered a wave of strong opposition from local residents, who voiced their concerns during a recent McHenry County zoning board meeting. The project, proposed by Sergiy Bazlyuk, aims to process chickens and pigs on a parcel of land located within one mile of at least two residential subdivisions and less than a mile from Greenwood Elementary School. Many attendees at the meeting expressed alarm over the potentia

Tarrant County’s proposed redistricting plan, spearheaded by County Judge Tim O’Hare, is drawing intense opposition from Arlington Mayor Jim Ross and a coalition of other city leaders. The redrawn district map, set for a vote on June 3, could split Arlington into three separate precincts foa move critics argue is being rushed without sufficient public input or legal clarity. Mayor Ross, who initiated a formal letter of opposition signed by nine other Tarrant County mayor

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

  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

Legendary England fast bowler James Anderson is all set to make a much-anticipated return to competitive cricket on Friday as Lancashire take on Derbyshire in the County Championship at Old Trafford. This marks Anderson’s first professional appearance since his emotional farewell Test match at Lord's in June 2024 against the West Indies. With 704 Test wickets under his belt, Anderson remains the most successful fast bowler in the history of red-ball cricket and the top wic

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

Zscaler, a leading cybersecurity company, has entered into a sublease agreement with Airbnb for a major office property in Santa Clara, marking a significant real estate shift in Silicon Valley’s post-pandemic office market. The sublease covers two buildings located at 4301 and 4401 Great America Parkway, a combined space of approximately 300,000 square feet. Originally leased by Airbnb in 2020, the twin 150,000-square-foot buildings are connected by a skybridge and feature modern design e

After years of planning, revisions, and community debates, the second phase of the North 40 development project in Los Gatos is finally gaining momentum. The proposal, spearheaded by developers Grosvenor and Eden Housing, would bring 450 new housing units and more than 15,000 square feet of retail space to a prime 15.6-acre site located along Los Gatos Boulevard and Burton Road. At the heart of the project is a focus on affordability and accessibility, two issues that have long been points of