A guide to state propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot
With election day approaching, voters have several state propositions from which to choose. Below is a brief description of each of them. For a deeper dive, visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions.
Proposition 2
Public School and Community College Facilities
Under Prop. 2, the state would sell a $10 billion bond...
Scientists race to save endangered shrub ahead of Anderson Dam retrofit
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...
County seeks applicants for commission to redraw supervisorial districts
Santa Clara County is now accepting applicants for the 2021 Advisory Redistricting Commission, an effort to redraw the county's five supervisorial district boundaries that occurs after every decennial census.
Applications close at 9am on June 1, and 10 commissioners will be appointed next month to...
A look inside: Anderson Reservoir diversion tunnel
Crews for Valley Water and various construction contractors later this month will finish digging a new 1,736-foot diversion tunnel for Anderson Reservoir—which has been about 80% complete since February.
In late May, crews will dig out the final 350 feet of the tunnel by opening...
County has ‘urgent need’ for fostering, adopting dogs
Santa Clara County officials say there is an “urgent need” for fostering and adopting dogs.
The county’s Animal Services Center in San Martin is over capacity, and officials there have announced that the public can help by adopting and fostering dogs.
Lisa Jenkins, program manager of...
State approves rules that turn sewage into drinking water
In a milestone for creating a major new source of drinking water, California has approved its first standards for turning sewage into potable water supplies delivered to homes and businesses.
The State Water Resources Control Board, in a unanimous vote Dec. 19, outlined for the...
Christopher field hockey team puts together dominating performance
Even after victories, coaches tend to nitpick on things their teams could have done better. But Christopher High field hockey coach Dani Hemeon admitted there wasn’t much—if anything—she could offer in constructive criticism after the host Cougars dominated Leigh 3-0 on Aug. 26.
“They did...
FAA investigates ‘unsafe’ conditions at Santa Clara County airports
Damaged runway lights, a non-functioning airport beacon, potholes and gravel in the taxiways, deteriorating hangar buildings, rats and snakes in indoor areas, a rampant ground squirrel problem—these are among the many issues that pilots at San Martin Airport have been reporting to county officials...
Sewer sludge shows rise of Covid
Wastewater readings in Gilroy show a rise of Covid-19 that is outpacing other areas of the county, possibly indicating a post-Thanksgiving surge in cases to come.
The quantity of SARS-CoV-2 genes, the virus that causes Covid-19, has doubled in Gilroy over the past two weeks,...
Undersheriff Rick Sung indicted in CCW case
A criminal grand jury has indicted Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung in connection to a suspected pay-to-play scheme involving concealed gun permits.
