Santa Clara County Local News: Business, Economy & Jobs


All Local Business, Economy & Jobs News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: Long-duration energy storage, such as this thermal energy storage facility, allows renewable energy sources to operate at full capacity without overloading the power grid.
How California Leads the Race For Long Duration Energy Storage

Long-duration energy storage is essential if renewables are to become the basis for a future, carbon-neutral power grid. Here's how California is leading the race to store energy from solar, wind, and other clean sources for use whenever it's needed.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

Image caption: They help feed the whole country, but life for California’s farm workers remains a struggle.
How California Feeds the Country

California stands as America’s agricultural powerhouse, growing half of its fruits and vegetables. Here’s how California farming has shaped the state, from the early missions to today’s “factories in the field.”

Image caption: Though life expectancy has declined in recent years, Californians still live longer than most Americans.
Want to Live a Long, Healthy Life? Move to California

Life expectancy in California exceeds all but three other states, but how long you live depends on which county you live in. They're not all equal. Why? The answer may lie in political policies.

Image caption: Owning homes is the primary way the middle class builds wealth, and an option no longer available to most Californians.
Is California’s Housing Crisis Making Inequality Worse?

California has some of the worst economic inequality in the United States. Is the housing crisis a cause?

Image caption: Moss Landing in Monterey Bay is the world’s largest battery storage facility for solar and other renewable energy.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals

Solar power, and a network of giant battery storage facilities, are playing an essential role in moving California toward its goal of exclusive reliance on renewable energy sources.

Image caption: Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners

As California insurance companies have revoked the fire policies of thousands of homeowners, the state has taken steps to get them covered again.

Image caption: The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think

The links between homelessness and crime are complex, and the idea that unhoused individuals present a danger to their community seems to be exaggerated.

Image caption: Water is a human right under California law, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Agriculture and Water Shortages in the State’s Breadbasket, Explained

Residential wells are drying up in the state’s main agricultural region at the same time that agricultural businesses consume almost 90 percent of the water there.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/25/2024
After years of delay, a new California regulation to protect indoor workers from extreme heat is now in effect.

California Local Pin Marker From Local News Matters...

07/24/2024
California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.

California Local Pin Marker From SF Gate...

07/22/2024
On July 22, California Forever announced it was withdrawing its initiative to amend the Solano County General Plan off the November ballot and would instead begin working with the county through the normal, though less expeditious, process.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/19/2024
A judge has halted a union effort at the Wonderful Company, throwing into question a new state law designed to make it easier for agricultural workers to organize.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

07/17/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Hotel Workers Want Higher Wages as Industry Bounces Back

San Jose hotel guests looked on as hundreds of hospitality workers marched and picketed major hotel chains across downtown Tuesday — calling for higher wages, benefits and more staffing after their collective bargaining agreement recently expired.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/16/2024
California courts have long upheld below-minimum wage pay for prison inmates working a wide range of jobs. A 2024 ballot measure that would ban forced labor could alter those decisions.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/12/2024
A mother picks up her son from daycare in Richmond on Sept. 26, 2022. Photo by Marissa Leshnov for CalMatters

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

07/09/2024
Image for display with article titled 49ers Dole Out Millions in Santa Clara Community Benefits

For a decade, the 49ers have worked to help uplift the community surrounding the city the team calls home.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

07/09/2024
The weekly Cupertino Farmers Market is seeking a new location after losing their lease at the De Anza College's parking lot.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

07/08/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Spruces Up Downtown Signs Ahead of Super Bowl

San Jose is revisiting a plan to make the heart of the city more walkable and easy to navigate ahead of two major sports events.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/08/2024
Private-sector jobs in California have declined since their post-pandemic peak, while public-sector employment has shown gains, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office says.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/08/2024
A program for low-income, first-generation STEM students at community colleges is receiving millions of dollars to expand across the state.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

07/07/2024
A seven-story housing development has been proposed for an under 2-acre site on Los Gatos Boulevard, but will require the demolition of a longtime community fixture.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

07/05/2024
Patelco Credit Union restored some online services but is still working to unlock customer access to accounts following a crippling ransomeware attack on July 3.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

07/02/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Development Advances Despite Historical Significance

A former North San Jose Japanese farming area found to have historical significance, especially during World War II, could become home to more than 1,000 multi-family residences and commercial space.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

07/02/2024
Patelco Credit Union systems were crippled in a ransomware attack and unable to resume banking operations.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

06/20/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Wage Theft Policy Compromises With Developers

San Jose could withhold certifications from big developers who use contractors with unpaid wage theft judgments in California under a new construction policy.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

06/20/2024
Image for display with article titled Silicon Valley Voters Won’t See Anti-Tax Measure on November Ballot

The California Supreme Court has blocked an anti-tax ballot measure that faced fierce opposition from local officials, unions and activists in Santa Clara County.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

06/20/2024
Local real estate development company Lakeside Community shared feedback collected over several sessions expressing local resident input about desired uses for the 114-acre former golf course.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

06/20/2024
On June 19, California YIMBY announced support for the California Forever project going to the Solano County ballot in November.
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