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Santa Clara County Public Safety Articles



San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Cupertino Approves Plan to End Traffic Deaths

There's a car crash in Cupertino about every three days, city data shows. Officials and advocates are trying to change that.
The Cupertino City Council unanimously passed the city’s Vision Zero plan earlier this month, joining a network of more …

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Masten Station Goes Green With Solar Power

Santa Clara County firefighters and public officials from throughout South County last week celebrated an upgraded solar energy system at a key local station that will save money and better equip the first responders when dealing with their own emergencies.

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
City of Santa Clara to Place $400M Infrastructure Bond on November Ballot

Bond proceeds would pay for street, fire station, police, parks, storm drain and historic building projects across the city.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Heat Wave Highlights Silicon Valley Homeless Response Problems

Los Gatos' temperature hit 107 degrees as Mason, wearing a black coat and backpack, walked from his camp in the brush toward Highway 17. He started having heat-related symptoms and laid down, heaving. He didn't want to die on the …

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz Counties Report Measles Exposure

Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties may have been exposed to measles in recent days after an infected person from outside the region visited, according to public health officials.

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Fines Triple for Illegal Fireworks in Morgan Hill

An extreme heat wave is not the only risk that authorities are cautioning Morgan Hill residents to prepare for this holiday weekend. Illegal fireworks—in addition to posing a fire danger—can result in fines up $1,500 for local violators, Morgan Hill …

Los Gatan logo LOCAL NEWS
Local ISP Bringing Fiber Optic Service to Santa Cruz Mountains

One of the first dial-up internet providers has announced it’s now bringing fiber optic internet to remote areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Preps Plan to Reach Zero Traffic Deaths

A San Jose task force aimed at finding ways to eliminate traffic deaths is folding at the end of the year — and while road safety improvements have been made, the city still has work to do in reducing fatalities. …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
State Won’t Stop Closure of East San Jose Hospital Services

Despite urgent pleas by county leaders and local activists, state officials won't intervene in the closure of lifesaving hospital services in East San Jose.
The California Department of Public Health told Bay Area state legislators that the state has no …

Image caption: Many of Robert Kerbeck’s neighbors in Malibu Park lost their homes in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which left behind lots where only chimneys still stood.
Give Your Home a Fighting Chance in a Wildfire

California wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and more ferocious. ‘Malibu Burning’ author Robert Kerbeck shares simple steps you can take to protect your home.

Los Gatan logo LOCAL NEWS
Brush Fire vs. Prepared Neighborhood

On May 29 around 2pm, Shadi Allen, a resident of Mountain Laurel Lane in Los Gatos, became aware of a possible fire while she was on the second floor of her home. She smelled smoke wafting through the bedrooms, then …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara County Addresses Shigella Spread in Homeless Camps

A bacterial outbreak has emerged among homeless individuals living at San Jose encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks, but health officials say the risk to the general public is low.
Three confirmed cases of Shigella, a highly contagious intestinal bacteria, …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Fourth Time’s a Charm: Water Board OKs San Jose Waterway Plan

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has green lit San Jose’s plan through 2027 to tackle homeless encampment trash going into city waterways — further ensuring the city's compliance with environmental regulations.
Deputy City Manager Kip Harkness …

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Calforests Applauds Funding for Wildfire Prevention, Preparedness in Governor Newsom’s May Revision

On May 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the May Revision includes a proposed budget allocation to assist the State in achieving its fire prevention and fire suppression goals.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara County Open to Tasers Despite Drop in Uses of Force

Santa Clara County leaders may equip sheriff’s deputies with Tasers as uses of force trend downward.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-1 — with President Susan Ellenberg opposed — to explore implementing Tasers for deputies at a smaller …

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose to Install First Speeding Cameras in Late 2025

Local law enforcement will not have access to the camera footage to support criminal investigations, because regulations strictly prohibit the use of the cameras for anything but enforcing speed limits.

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
SJ Police Union Defends Action of Mayor’s Bodyguard, Criticizes NAACP Leader

One day after the downtown altercation, NAACP chapter President Rev. Jethroe Moore sent an email to acting Police Chief Paul Joseph critical of the arrest of the alleged attacker.

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
As May Approaches, Cal Fire Offers Fire Prevention Tips

With the month of May beginning this week, with its warmer weather, lower humidity and drying vegetation, Cal Fire is urging Bay Area homeowners to do all they can to protect against fire.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Bathrooms May Soon Have Sex Trafficking Signs

A local official wants to put an end to sex trafficking in San Jose.
San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan wants to create a sex trafficking awareness campaign in public restrooms throughout the city. Notices would be posted by bathroom mirrors …

Image caption: This 6,000 square foot structure, a two-boiler system, will help dispose of dangerous biomass by burning wood chips to boil water, providing heat to buildings in Northstar Village.
Transforming Waste Wood from Wildfire Hazard to Energy

For the good of Tahoe Truckee forests and communities, funders & local leaders rally to support Northstar Community Services District wood energy facility.

Featured

A Pyrocumulus cloud generated by the Dixie Fire in July, 2021.
What is Fire 'Containment?' That and Other Terms, Explained
What does it mean when firefighters call a fire "contained?" Here's a brief guide to commonly used fire prevention terminology.
States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The State’s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained
Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health.
California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained
Here's the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.
Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population
How local government tries to control the world’s deadliest wild animal—the mosquito.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
How Not to Feel the Burn
These groups help residents preserve their property, health and life.
Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era
As climate change causes more extreme and unusual weather, we need a new set of terms to describe the various phenomena
Though it’s the most famous, the San Andreas Fault is just one of more than 500 active faults in California.
Battening Down for the Big One
Making it through the earthquake is easy—the hard part comes later.
Many of Robert Kerbeck’s neighbors in Malibu Park lost their homes in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which left behind lots where only chimneys still stood.
Give Your Home a Fighting Chance in a Wildfire
Wildfires are larger, more frequent, and more ferocious—so be prepared.
Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners
The state tries persuading insurance companies to cover homes in fire zones.
With CERT training, volunteers can learn firefighting skills.
Emergency Teamwork
With CERT training, ordinary civilians can play critical roles in protecting their communities.
View of the flooded San Lorenzo River Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz, California on New Year's Eve 2022.
Communicating During Disaster and Crisis
Recent lessons learned over days of local disaster.
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