Politics

California's $98.5-billion bullet train project has become "increasingly risky" because of uncertainty about where the money will come from to finish even the first phase, the state auditor warned Tuesday.

The Gilroy City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to raise residents' and business owners' sewer rates more than 40 percent over the next five years, and city staff say the increases will help fund more than $30 million in repairs and replacements for the region's wastewater system.

Gilroy City Councilman Dion Bracco filed a public records request last month for information on mayoral opponent and Councilman Perry Woodward's private home security system, including billing records and whether police have ever responded to his Eagle Ridge residence for false alarms, according to documents obtained by the Dispatch.

Gilroy residents and business owners have until Monday to formally protest the city’s plans to raise sewer service rates more than 40 percent over the next five years – a necessary spike, officials say, that will fund anticipated rising costs in maintenance and wastewater operations.

In 1870, the not-yet Garlic Capital of the world was actually considered the Tobacco Capital of the United States.

A proposed sewer fee hike isn't the only item up for debate at Monday's 6 p.m. Gilroy City Council meeting.

SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Jerry Brown will give his State of the State speech to the Legislature Wednesday morning, then immediately hit the road.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has confirmed it will hire longtime San Jose Mercury News crime reporter Sean Webby as its new media coordinator.