Newsom signs 10 bills targeting retail theft in CA
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a stack of bills Aug. 16 aimed at curtailing organized retail, property and auto theft in California.
Newsom appeared at a Home Depot in San Jose with state, business and law enforcement officials, signing 10 bills that he said go “to...
Amah Mutsun files complaint to stop Betabel project
The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band last week announced that it has filed a lawsuit against San Benito County to halt development of a new commercial project on Betabel Road, which sits on property that “holds significant historical, cultural and religious value” to the tribe.
The...
Fiber brings high-speed internet to South County
High-speed internet is coming to South County, as local providers have been installing fiber internet lines and infrastructure underground and on utility poles in recent months. This work will continue well into next year in an effort to expand the availability of fast, reliable...
Supes deny appeals of Betabel commercial project
San Benito County Supervisors at a recent meeting approved a conditional use permit for the Betabel commercial project, after hearing two appeals against the proposal due to its likely impacts on the environment and tribal lands.
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Nov. 8 to...
Calmatters: Top Democrats say they’ll make California affordable
The leaders of the state Legislature have a message for voters: We know you’re frustrated with how expensive California is—and we’re going to fix it.
After a painful election that sparked recriminations and soul searching among Democrats across the country, state Senate President Pro Tem...
Cat declawing, book censorship among new 2026 laws
Every year, lawmakers in Sacramento introduce a flurry of bills, most of which are eviscerated during the legislative process and end up on the Assembly or Senate trash heap. A select few make it to the governor’s desk, and assuming they dodge the veto...
Theme park is a boon for local education, economy
Gilroy Gardens has offered educational programs and youth jobs to thousands of students and generated millions of dollars to the local economy over the past 25 years, according to a recent impact report released by the theme park’s directors and staff.
The inaugural 2024 Gilroy...
Hundreds in South County tell Trump, Musk ‘Hands Off!’
Hundreds of people in Morgan Hill and Gilroy hit the streets April 5 to deliver the message that they are not happy with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests.
On just the 76th day of Trump’s presidency,...
Market factors lead to increase in renters in South County
With home ownership increasingly surpassing the reach of many Californians and residential real estate prices going up across the board, more people in South County are renting their homes in recent years.
As of earlier this year, the average two-bedroom home rental in Morgan Hill...
Valley Water celebrates $727M in EPA loans for Anderson Dam, other projects
With a cold winter storm bearing down on Morgan Hill, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrators joined local and regional representatives Feb. 23 at the top of Anderson Dam to announce the availability of $727 million in low-cost loans that will fund the rebuilding of...























