Santa Clara County Public Safety Digest

A look at the burned down, boarded up and deserted properties increasing urban blight in San Jose.

The chemical, used for decades, can harm babies’ developing brains. Farmworkers and people living near fields are most at risk. The EPA issued a rare emergency order.

The City of Palo Alto is working out how to shift parking to accommodate bike lanes on El Camino Real.

Testing of wastewater shows sharp increases of COVID circulating in Santa Clara County.

So many intense wildfires all at once require an intricate chess game for maneuvering firefighters and equipment around the U.S.

About 80 Californians die every year after contracting Valley fever, a fungal disease that typically affects the lungs. A recent outbreak was traced to a music festival in Kern County.

Arson is the suspected cause of four Santa Cruz Mountain fires over 11 days.

Whether they mean to or not, people are responsible for about 95% of the state’s wildfires. While arson accounts for about 10% of the fires, others can start in a myriad of ways.

The Los Altos Hills County Fire District is urging residents to take steps to create and maintain defensible spaces around their homes.

Following the confirmation of West Nile virus in tested mosquitos, pesticide spraying was ordered for neighborhoods in the 95111, 95112, 95121 and 95122 zip codes in San Jose and unincorporated Santa Clara Valley.

In his 2018 campaign, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would create 500,000 new apprenticeships in the decade after taking office. So far, the state has registered more than 180,000 new apprenticeships. Many of them are firefighters.

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

The first two human cases of West Nile virus this season were reported in Yuba and Stanislaus Counties.

Assemblymember James Gallagher speaks during the floor session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 13, 2024. Photo by Cristian Gonzalez for CalMatters

Following an increase in homeowner insurance rates earlier this year, State Farm is seeking regulator approval to raise rates again for 1.2 million California home insurance policy holders.

Almost 400 suppliers, two-thirds in communities of color, don’t meet safety and reliability standards. Fixing them would cost billions.

Before the first official day of summer, almost 90,000 acres have been burned in California wildfires.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board voted to move forward with a $38 project to provide a safe crossing of Highway 17 near the Lexington Resrvoir for both people and wildlife.

A proposed new housing development of 25 single-family homes on a 72.45 acre site on Pierce Road has raised concerns from local residents about traffic and blocked wildfire evacuation routes.

In their June 17 meeting, the Gilroy City Council voted 6-1 to put a 1/4 cent sales tax on the November ballot to fund increased fire and police staffing.

In its June 18 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council approved a plan for the addition of bike lanes on El Camino Real.

With multiple fires already burning in the state, forecasters predict the coming fire season will be "very active."

A June 15 magnitude 3.1 earthquake centered east of San Jose and north east of Morgan Hill shook the area briefly at 11:29 PM.

More COVID cases are being reported and Santa Clara County wastewater samples show increasing virus levels.

A mountain lion sighting was reported near Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and Kelley Park on Senter Road in San Jose on June 6.

In his June 1 State of the City speech, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan asserted a need to find clean and safe places to move over 1,000 homeless from unsafe conditions on the streets and along waterways in the coming 12 months.

Upon the retirement of the fire chief, the Gilroy City Council reluctantly hired former police chief Scot Smithee as temporary director of the Gilroy Fire Department.

In its May 14 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council heard from the fire department chief about plans to staff an additional engine at the College Terrace station by July 1.

Updates to address improved safety and dark streets.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to reduce brush and vegetation along a 16-mile stretch of Skyline Boulevard between Los Gatos and Palo Alto.

A new license plate reader has been installed in East San Jose at the intersection of King Road and Wilshire Boulevard.

License plate readers have been placed and active in Los Altos since March 1 as an assistance in solving crimes.