Greetings, friends—and happy holidays to those of you celebrating the 12th day of Christmas–the feast of the Epiphany. And to all y’all—welcome to the first workweek of the new year (ouch… I feel ya).
In today’s edition of The Newsletter, we are celebrating local news, as we do 52 weeks a year. Today, we turn our attention to a couple of local news initiatives that serve people in rural California communities.
Just below, I share my own story about work I’m honored to be doing in San Benito County, in the little city of Hollister—a farm town a stone’s throw from Silicon Valley. As you’ll see if you click the link (please do; it’s a relatively short read) BenitoLink, an independent nonprofit newsroom, is providing its community with the essential information that they need for self-governance.
I also want to make you aware of important work being done by our friends at Bay City News and their newly acquired outlet, Mendocino Voice. Up on California’s North Coast, there are important issues being decided, and Mendo Voice is the only place people up there can find out about this important stuff.
Please follow this link to see what Mendocino Voice is up to. And read on here to get local news about what’s happening in your county, and, as always, a recipe to help you make life just a little bit better in your kitchen and dining room.
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By Eric Johnson
Published Jan 06, 2025
This ad for BenitoLink's NewsMatch fundraiser proved somewhat successful--and you can still contribute.
Rural California Local News Matters
BenitoLink: A Community's Connection
Founded by the Community Foundation for San Benito County, this nonprofit newsroom brings indepenendent journalism to a rural community in the shadow of Silicon Valley.
Greetings from San Benito County
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Santa Clara County's Homepage |
| Direct your browser to https://santaclara.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Clara County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community! | |
Recipe of the Week
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Winter! cookbook.
Get to Know a Group
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Big Brothers Big Sisters |
Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The organization believes that all children can achieve success when given the proper tools and resources—and volunteer mentors are among the most important of those resources.
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From Our Media Allies |
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San Jose Homeless Camps Spark Safety Issues for Railroad Workers |
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Homeless residents living along train tracks pose an unsafe and dangerous problem for railroad workers across California cities, including San Jose. |
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Silicon Valley Commercial Vacancy Rates Pass 20% |
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Silicon Valley companies are adjusting their needs for in-person work spaces as employees refuse to go back to the office. |
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Rental Listing Scams Are Up in Santa Clara County |
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Rental listing scams are becoming more elaborate, with local authorities warning residents to take caution. |
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New Palo Alto Rules Would Curb Parklet Extensions |
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Facing criticism from downtown merchants, Palo Alto is preparing to drop a policy that allows restaurants to extend their dining areas into adjacent properties, even without consent from neighbors. |
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Mountain View Looks to Trim Down Cost of $210M Public Safety Building |
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Mountain View is taking steps to close a massive funding shortfall for a new public safety building after the cost shot up to $210 million, an amount that far exceeds what the city budgeted for it. |
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Cupertino Renters May Get a Reprieve From Losing Their Homes |
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Cupertino residents facing displacement because of rising costs and expiring contracts may find a reprieve through new city policy. |
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Santa Clara County Increases Funding for Children and Family Services |
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Santa Clara County has increased its commitment to the well-being of children and families. |
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Court Announces New Leadership |
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On Jan. 1, the Julie A. Emede official became Presiding Judge, while the Eric S. Geffon was named an assistant presiding judge, with the Santa Clara County Superior Court. |
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California Law Sparks VTA Workplace Violence Prevention Plan |
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Tragedy and a lack of workplace safety measures led one Silicon Valley lawmaker to call for tighter regulations to protect employees. |
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Did Sunnyvale Leaders Reach Their Goals in 2024? |
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Each year, Sunnyvale officials prioritize certain projects. |
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New Laws Affecting Silicon Valley in 2025 |
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A new year brings new state laws, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing hundreds of bills addressing many of California's pressing issues. |
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2024 in Review: Santa Clara’s Top Stories |
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From a shakeup on the city council to an elected official's conviction, Santa Clara had no shortage of major stories this year. |
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Happy New Year From the Immortal Ginko |
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An inspirational creature card with a message of ‘fortitude, endurance, and badassness.’ |
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Fight Over San Jose Vietnamese Museum Puts Future in Limbo |
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Charges of nepotism and suspicious bank withdrawals surround a fight for control of San Jose’s Viet Museum in History Park – a crown jewel for Little Saigon. |
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2024 in Review: Little Saigon Had a Roller-Coaster Year |
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A courtroom battle over an alleged ‘Godfather.’ A City Hall protest against one San Jose mayoral staffer. A fight for control of a Vietnamese cultural garden. The takedown of a renowned charity organization. |
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Recent Local News |
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• Milpitas Mayor's Second Term Agenda
Read on to learn to learn what newly reelected Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano is planning for the coming term.
(01/07/2025) → Milpitas Beat• Mountain View Year in Review
A look back at the events of 2024 in Mountain View.
• As Santa Clara County Divvies Up Its Housing Bond, Some Cities Winning More Than Others
A $950 MILLION affordable housing bond has helped build thousands of affordable homes across Santa Clara County, though its efforts have focused on some parts of the region more than others.
(01/01/2025) → Local News Matters|
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Recent Statewide News |
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• Too Wet and Too Dry: The Crazy North-South Gap in California’s Rain
Some Northern California cities have been soaked with almost twice their average rainfall, while southern cities are bone-dry. This season’s huge — possibly unprecedented — disparity works in favor of the state’s water supplies.
(01/07/2025) → CalMatters• California’s $20 Billion Unemployment Debt Is Looking Like a Political Hot Potato
The legislative analyst has a plan to fix the “structural insolvency” of the unemployment benefits fund — but businesses aren’t happy and it’s unclear if lawmakers will get on board.
(01/07/2025) → CalMatters• California Study Finds Climate of Fear Driving Local Officials to Quit Amid Harassment, Abuse
THREATS AND HARASSMENT are pushing some politicians out of office, scaring off some would-be candidates and even compelling some elected officials to change their vote.
(01/04/2025) → Local News Matters• 4 New Laws Strengthen Cities’ Abilities to Impound Vehicles Involved in Sideshows
While cities in California continue to pass ordinances to combat illegal sideshows, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws that go into effect this year statewide to give municipalities more legal tools to address them.
(01/03/2025) → Local News Matters• California to Launch Amsterdam-Style Cannabis Cafés, Blending Weed and Coffee Culture
Those in California who’d like a latte with a side of weed have gotten their wish now that a new law goes into effect that permits licensed cannabis dispensaries to add sit-in cafes to their sites.
(01/03/2025) → Local News Matters• Can California Keep ICE Away From Schools? Lawmakers Want to Try as Crackdowns Loom
California legislators want to limit deportation actions at schools, but they can’t ban immigration officials.
(01/02/2025) → CalMatters• As California Tribes Sue Their Gambling Rivals, Cities Could Be the Losers
After winning a costly legislative battle last year, California’s casino-owning tribes have sued their rivals in the gambling business. Cities could lose money if the tribes prevail in court.
(01/02/2025) → CalMatters• Two New California National Monuments To Be Declared
Read on to learn about the two new California National Monuments to be declared by outgoing President Biden.
(01/02/2025) → Los Angeles Times|
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Government Announcements |
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City of Morgan Hill (01/06/2025) "Ready Together" Emergency Prep Series |
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Join us at the MH Library on Mon., Jan. 13, 5 p.m. for a four-part series based on the City's Do 1 Thing Emergency Preparedness program. Presented by the Office of Emergency Services Coordinator, Jennifer Ponce, and co-hosted with the Morgan Hill Library.
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City of Morgan Hill (01/06/2025) Lifelong Learning: Simple Fixes at Home |
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Next presentation: Monday, January 13, "Simple Fixes at Home" presented by Ace Hardware. South County Lifelong Learning is a monthly program designed by and for our 50+ community. Join us at 12:30 p.m. in the CRC Multipurpose Room. Attendance is free!
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United States (01/05/2025) FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen, Raw Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination |
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of frozen, raw ground beef...
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United States (01/03/2025) Dierbregs Markets Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Product |
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Dierbergs is recalling all 16oz Premium Home-Style Mashed Potatoes with a Sell By Date of January 09, 2025. The product carries an undeclared allergen of Wheat. The affected product is identifiable by a label ID number of 92 in the lower left-hand corner above the UPC code.
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United States (01/03/2025) Abbey Specialty Foods Recalls Wicklow Gold Cheddar Nettle & Chive 5.2 oz and Wicklow Gold Cheddar Tomato & Herb 5.2 oz Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Abbey Specialty Foods of Fairfield, NJ is recalling Wicklow Gold Cheddar Nettle & Chive 5.2 oz product and Wicklow Gold Cheddar Tomato & Herb 5.2 oz product because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infecti
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City of Saratoga (01/01/2025) Mayor's Office Hours |
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Meet Saratoga Mayor Belal Aftab at the Saratoga Farmers' Market on Saturday, January 4 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Talk with him about your ideas for the community, ask questions about City programs and projects, and get to know our new Mayor!
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City of Campbell (12/31/2024) Volunteers Needed |
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The County of Santa Clara is seeking volunteers for the upcoming 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.
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Town of Los Gatos (12/30/2024) Los Gatos Creek Trail Closures January 6 -10 & 13, 2025 |
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Heads up Los Gatos Creek Trail users!
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United States (12/27/2024) Braga Fresh Issues Voluntary and Precautionary Advisory Due to Possible Health Risk |
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Soledad, Calif. - Dec. 27, 2024 - Braga Fresh is voluntarily issuing a precautionary advisory of a single production lot of washed and ready-to-eat 12oz Marketside Broccoli Florets with best if used by date.
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United States (12/27/2024) Gardners Candies Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts in Cappuccino Meltaway® Bars and Gardners Meltaway Treat Boxes Containing Cappuccino Meltaway Bars |
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Gardners Candies of Tyrone, PA is recalling its 1.25 ounce packages of Gardners Candies brand Cappuccino Meltaway Bars because they may contain undeclared tree nuts (cashews). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction
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