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Santa Clara County Public Safety Articles



Image caption: A raging Oregon wildfire is bearing down on one of California's main power transmission routes.
Water, Energy Cutbacks Urged as Emergencies Mount

As fire, heat waves and drought threaten the state’s water and power supplies, the governor calls for consumers to cut back on use.

Image caption: Anderson Reservoir will be dry for 10 years due to a seismic retrofitting project.
Anderson Dam Retrofit Begins, Reservoir Drained

Work begins on what officials say is an essential seismic upgrade to Anderson Dam, draining the reservoir even though Santa Clara County is in the middle of a drought.

Image caption: California homeowners are fighting to get back cancelled fire insurance policies.
Insurers Still Fail to Reinstate Fire Policies

Homeowners whose fire insurance policies were not renewed remain frustrated in their fight to get them back.

Image caption: PG&E wants a new, 18 percent rate hike over five years starting in 2023.
PG&E Wants New Rate Hike For Fire Prevention

Pacific Gas & Electric is asking customers to pay more for protection from wildfires caused by PG&E.

Image caption: The Old Courthouse in San Jose has been in operation since 1868.
The Santa Clara County Superior Court System — Explained

The court system is our most direct contact with the government. Here's a brief explanation of Santa Clara County's Superior Court, how it works and what it does.

Image caption: Gov. Gavin Newsom has seen some of his pandemic emergency powers curtailed by a judge.
How Courts Ruled on the Governor's COVID Powers

A Superior Court Judge has placed at least some limits on the governor's power to impose health-related restrictions. Here's what that means.

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Jails Pushed to Release Inmates

Flurry of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County jails leads to calls for more inmate releases.

Image caption: Demonstrators in Oakland march to protest the police killing of George Floyd.
Context is king in news coverage of protests — here’s how California journalists provide it

California reporters covering the George Floyd protests often provided crucial context for confusing events. Here are some notable examples.

Image caption: Bay Area police officers were involved in three shooting incidents on Monday and Tuesday.
Bay Area police officers shoot three people in two nights

As protests continued in the Bay Area Monday and Tuesday, local police shot three people in separate incidents.

Image caption: A Santa Clara County law passed today requires gun owners to secure their weapons in a lock box and affix trigger locks when not in use.
Supes Pass Gun-Safety Law

The ordinance, authored by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, requires gun owners to secure their weapons when not in use.

Image caption: Almost 300 people participated in a day-long event that included round-table discussions about gun safety.
South Bay Takes Aim at Gun Violence

This timeline follows recent legislative activity regarding firearms and public safety in San Jose and Santa Clara County.

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.