Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith will not seek re-election
Facing corruption probes and a potential trial that could expel her from office, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said Thursday she will not run for reelection and will retire when her sixth term ends in January.
Smith, who was the first woman to be...
Statewide homelessness climbs 3%
California’s homeless population remains the biggest in the nation, but the crisis is growing more slowly here than in most of the rest of the country, according to new federal data.
The number of homeless Californians increased just over 3% last year compared to the...
Gilroy’s ‘Mr. Garlic’ dies after long battle with Alzheimer’s
Gerald Foisy—largely known to Gilroy community members and garlic aficionados as Mr. Garlic—died on Jan. 7 after a battle with Alzheimer's. He was 83 years old.
For 29 years, Foisy volunteered as Mr. Garlic, the happy, healthy ambassador of the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival who...
Dozens of map drafts submitted for Gilroy district election options
The City of Gilroy held its third public hearing on district based elections on April 7, where the city council reviewed and discussed draft maps submitted by the public more than a week earlier.
Extensive public input is designed into the city’s transition process to...
Christopher High boys basketball looks to continue sustained run of success
After the Christopher High boys basketball team produced an impressive 59-38 win over a solid Los Gatos squad on Dec. 23, first-year Cougars coach Adam Sax said he’s hoping the team “can all be on the same page by February.”
That’s a scary thought for...
Riverside man dies in traffic collision near Morgan Hill
A 36-year-old Riverside man died Wednesday after he was hit by a box truck while standing on the shoulder of Highway 101 near Morgan Hill, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The man was securing something to his vehicle on the side of southbound 101...
Gilroy Garlic Festival tickets go on sale May 31
Operators of the Gilroy Gardens and the Garlic Festival Association have been busy working together to finalize details for the 2025 Garlic Festival—which is returning this summer after a five-year absence.
Tickets for the event will go on sale 12pm May 31on the association’s website.
On...
Mission 10 Race scheduled for Jan. 25 in San Juan Bautista
The 41st annual Mission 10 Race will take place on Jan. 25, 2025. This year’s race will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Hollister, which sponsors and organizes the Mission 10 event.
Runners and walkers from all over are invited to...
Burn permits required as of May 1
Starting May 1, a permit from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) is required for any outdoor open burning in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and the western portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
The permit is required in CalFire’s State...
San Martin ‘treasure’ Kenneth Ludewig dies
Lifelong San Martin resident Kenneth Ludewig, a local “treasure” who brought joy to countless South Valley residents as the creator and operator of the former San Martin Country Park & Pumpkin Patch, died unexpectedly on Nov. 7, according to family members. He was 74...























