Local News

By Jill Cowan, The New York Times Almost exactly a year ago, on March 7, 2020, officials in the Elk Grove Unified School District—Northern California’s largest—announced that schools would close for a week in response to concerns that the novel, unknown coronavirus could spread like...

The Gilroy City Council approved a $207.2 million budget June 2 that provides funding for new pickleball courts but will “delay” the hiring of three new recreation staff, according to city officials.  The 2025-26 budget includes a general fund of $75.6 million, and a full-time...

In an effort to address California's growing problems with wildfires, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 13 to allocate more funds for fire resources, including a drone fire detection program.   Supervisors unanimously approved a referral that funds 14 drone systems to be...

Authorities arrested three people—including a Morgan Hill man—for running a “sophisticated” ghost gun manufacturing enterprise that sold illegal firearms to criminals, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Joseph Cahoon, 31, of Morgan Hill, Jack Mahon, 38, of San Jose, and Amanda Bazzani,...

Two months after the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 21 years, the trophy and the festivities made its way 1,200 miles west to Gilroy’s Fortino Winery, where family and friends alike gathered to celebrate Brett Heimlich, the Avalanche...

Several local runners excelled in the Pacific Coast League Cross Country Championships at Toro Park in Salinas on Oct. 30.  Gilroy High senior Karina Rodriguez continued her outstanding season by running to victory in the Gabilan Division race, crossing the tape in a personal-record (PR)...

A group of employees at a Gilroy McDonald’s filed complaints to the county and state June 15, alleging that management endangered workers by not immediately notifying them of a staff member who tested positive of Covid-19. The owner/operator, meanwhile, said the restaurant took swift action...

The Gilroy City Council took another step recently to limit the operation of food trucks in the downtown area, especially along Monterey Road.  At the May 5 meeting, the city council unanimously approved a motion by Council member Carol Marques to direct city staff to...

In an ongoing legal dispute about the use and interpretation of a state housing law, the developer of a 501-unit project proposed on Las Animas Avenue now says the City of Gilroy must allow the residential complex to proceed.  The developer of the project, TenSouth,...

Janell Hillman remembers the first time she noticed the coyote ceanothus plant, more than 15 years ago after a 2003 fire on the ridge above Anderson Reservoir cleared the way for a strange little shrub that seemed to take over. “The next year the whole...