Santa Clara County Local News

It has been eight years since California voters repealed a 1998 law directing public school districts to essentially eliminate their bilingual programs. But the fallout from the state’s vacillating history of bilingual education has led to California falling short of providing a quality education not only to non-English speakers but also to students who want to be bilingual.

The Public Policy Institute of California, a think tank that conducts vigorous and objective research into vital state issues, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a series of retrospective reports.

Each December there’s a new version of an old guessing game about how much water will be provided to agricultural and municipal users in the year ahead.

During Donald Trump’s first presidency, California tried and failed to ban new federal immigration detention centers from opening. As Trump returns to the Oval Office in January with pledges of mass deportations, the agency overseeing immigration enforcement has been scoping out locations for a new detention center — possibly near San Francisco.

Out-of-work residents fight new fraud battles. The system bleeds money. And a $1 billion technology overhaul marches on.

Birth centers are midwife-run facilities that deliver babies outside of hospitals. They have struggled to stay in business in part because of strict state licensing requirements.

Reflecting concern about too many bills, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas lowered the number legislators are allowed to introduce.

California Democrats have passed two dozen laws to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court in 2021 overturned Roe vs. Wade. New bills are on the table.

Palo Alto residents can expect an increase in utility rates of 9% in the coming months. Read on the learn why rates are going up and when they can be expected to show up on bills.

The developer of a seven-story builder's remedy project is threatening to sue Mountain View over delays and imposed requirements. Read on to learn what's behind the dispute.

In their November 21 meeting, the Mountain View Whisman Board of Trustees were presented with initial designs for new trees and outdoor green spaces on school grounds. Read on to learn more about the push to go green.

California and federal prosecutors have accused software company RealPage of enriching itself ”at the expense of renters who pay inflated prices.”

Read on to learn how the Palo Alto City Council is planning to revitalize the streetscape and retail experience on University Avenue.

Learn more about how the Milpitas Historical Society is preserving the past.

The City of Palo Alto is considering the development of a downtown parking garage. Read on to learn more.

The Santa Clara City Council voted to approve development of a 2,600-home neighborhood on Democracy Way. Read on to learn more about this massive project.

Learn how health officials and California dairies are responding, or not, to the explosive spread of bird flu through dairy herds across the state.

Many California cities offer their homeless residents one-way bus tickets to other places.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is urgently preparing to protect reproductive rights from the incoming Trump administration—and the looming possibility of Project 2025-inspired policies.

Most ships discharging ballast water into California waters are inspected, but state officials have tested the water of only 16 ships. Experts say invaders like mussels are inevitable under current rules and enforcement.