South County growers are walking a tightrope between trusting the Trump administration to support them while hoping their workers aren’t caught in ICE raids. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in East San Jose have led to concerns about whether immigrant farmworkers will feel safe enough to work during the approaching harvest season, namely...
Silicon Valley BART tunnel launches construction
The whir and thunks of heavy equipment hauling clay and soil from underground could be heard throughout the Newhall Maintenance Yard on Monday, as VTA begins construction on the BART expansion through Silicon Valley. Contractors have been working in the yard 22 hours a day since June 9 pulling bentonite — a clay-like material —...
Silicon Valley lawmaker may punt bipartisan Iran war powers resolution
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie are taking a “wait-and-see approach” on their bipartisan resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to further involve the U.S. in Iran without congressional approval. But as a tenuous ceasefire agreement appears to be in place between Israel and Iran, Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley,...
Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone resigns
Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone is stepping down next month after 30 years on the job. Stone, 84, announced Monday he’s leaving office July 6, well before his term ends in December 2026. He’s overseen the region’s property values for three decades, through an economic recession and pandemic. A news release from Stone’s office said...
Santa Clara County homelessness hits new high
Homelessness has increased in one of the most expensive regions in the nation, a tell-tale sign of what could come. Santa Clara County has 10,711 homeless residents, up 8.2% from two years ago, according to preliminary results from this year’s point in time count conducted in January 2025. This has happened despite significant investments in temporary...
Santa Clara County approves budget amid Trump cuts
Santa Clara County supervisors took their first step toward adopting a $14 billion budget that weighs the region’s critical services against federal funding losses under President Donald Trump. After weeks of workshops and hearings, supervisors tried to close their budget talks on a high note. But their unanimous vote Thursday – with the final one...
Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs is a lifeline
With a nationwide rise in anti-transgender sentiment and a federal government stoking the flames, local leaders say supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more necessary than ever. The federal administration has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, issuing orders against transgender athletes and gender affirming care, and suggesting same-sex marriage could be overturned. Amid the unrest, the Santa...
Santa Clara County opens new residential mental health facility
A new residential treatment facility in Santa Clara County will provide people with a safe place to heal and recover. County officials announced the opening of 1072-1082 Vermont St. in San Jose, known as Vermont House, at a Thursday news conference. The two houses can hold up to 15 people who have a mental illness...
Silicon Valley transit agency looks for solutions to looming deficit
VTA plans to get more aggressive expanding its revenue sources with reserves expected to be depleted by the mid-2030s. The VTA board of directors on June 5 unanimously approved its $599 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and a $610 million budget for 2026-27. Deficits up to $14.9 million are expected by 2027. Plans include...
Silicon Valley lawmakers sound alarm on Trump’s military mobilization
Northern California’s representatives are keeping a close eye on the swell of militarized law enforcement sent to Los Angeles this week, predicting that President Donald Trump may expand his use of the tactics in the coming days. While many Democratic lawmakers call for peace as more troops move in, one Northern California lawmaker said the...