The special election for Prop. 50 is expected to cost the state $282.6 million — more than the 2021 gubernatorial recall election, according to a letter from the Department of Finance obtained by @mercurynews.com. www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/12/h...

Santa Clara County hoped to build 4,800 new homes with the $950 million housing bond passed by voters in 2016. Instead, the county is projected to exceed that goal by 38%. Here's how they did it: www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/31/s...

A group of local voters filed a lawsuit on Monday to try to halt the Santa Clara County sales tax measure that is expected to help offset federal cuts made in Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill." www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/19/l...

Ex- Santa Clara city manager Deanna Santana is suing the city, accusing officials of not paying her full severance & alleging she was retaliated against and the subject of a harassment campaign by the San Francisco 49ers and several City Council members. www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/18/e...

California's Department of Housing and Community Development sent a notice to Cupertino last month informing the city that it was in violation of state housing law. www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/13/c...

A new report on the San Jose BART project says switching to a different tunnel design will cost $600 million more. But an independent expert hired by VTA to review the report is questioning its “validity” and says the numbers are “overinflated.” www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/11/v...

Former Assemblymember Evan Low was fined $106,000 by the FPPC in April for violating state campaign finance laws. New records show that Low paid the fine with campaign donations. www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/05/e...

Cupertino shelled out more than $20,000 on a previously undisclosed investigation into former City Manager Pamela Wu, who stepped down last month after being put on paid administrative leave for unknown reasons. www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/24/r...

A Santa Clara HOA that "engaged in extensive deception" over an abandoned well under a condo now owes $6 million in attorney fees. www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/22/h...

The cost of replacing Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, who announced he was stepping down earlier this week, will be hefty. County officials said it could cost at least $13.1 million, but as much as $26.2 million if a runoff is needed. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/26/f...

ICE agents have been using publicly available online portals and leaning on jail staff to pinpoint release times of people they are seeking to deport. Santa Clara County said it won't interfere. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/24/i...

Santa Clara County’s homeless population has hit a record number despite local efforts that moved more than 8,000 people into permanent housing over the last few years, according to preliminary results from the county’s “point-in-time” count. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/21/s...

Santa Clara County’s Rapid Response Network has seen a surge of calls this month as fear of ICE raids intensify across California. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/20/s...

Santa Clara County approved its $13.7 billion budget this week, but financial challenges still lie ahead as they brace for federal cuts to Medicaid and other social services. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/13/s...

This is the official bsky account for the Chicago Tribune Guild. We learned today that @chicagotribune.com is offering buyouts to our journalists. This move by Alden Global Capital, our rapacious ownership group, shows a total lack of vision and respect for the newsroom and the city we serve. (1/5)

The one year countdown for the FIFA World Cup is officially on. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara will host six matches next summer. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/12/d...

Santa Clara County is planning to use local dollars to continue funding gender-affirming care as the Trump administration threatens to revoke federal funding for programs that support trans people and the LGBTQ+ community. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/11/s...

VTA officials want to end the tunnel contract for the San Jose BART extension over the cost. Agency officials said it will delay the start of tunneling by about 18-months, but don't expect it to impact the overall project schedule. www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/09/v...

Santa Clara could start charging for parking in two different areas in the city. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/30/s...

ICYMI: Santa Clara County and San Francisco have become partners in the legal fight against Trump. Read more about how the partnership was formed and how both counties view themselves as the "first and last lines of defense."⬇️ www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/27/s...

San Jose is considering a proposal to place a temporary moratorium on new smoke shops in the city following a recent county health assessment that found the density of tobacco retailers in East SJ was more than double that of the rest of the county. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/29/s...

Santa Clara County and San Francisco have poised themselves as the "first and last lines of defense" against the Trump administration as billions in federal funds are at risk. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/27/s...

Santa Clara County wants to transition to a “single plan” model for Medi-Cal managed care in hopes of improving reimbursement rates. But the Santa Clara Family Health Plan is pushing back, calling the move a “hostile takeover” in a recently filed lawsuit. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/22/s...

Downtown College Prep will close its three remaining campuses next month, citing declining enrollment and financial problems. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/20/s...

The Trump administration has canceled three federal grants to Santa Clara County to the tune of $85 million. All of them related to public health. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/19/s...

VTA was supposed to release a report last year that compared the single bore and the twin bore tunnel design for the San Jose BART extension. The delayed release has raised concerns over transparency as officials try to close a massive funding gap. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/12/s...

As Santa Clara County braces for federal cuts, County Executive James Williams is recommending pulling nearly $70 million in federal funds they would typically anticipate from the upcoming budget. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/06/s...

Santa Clara County has released its first Latino Health Assessment in more than a decade. Here are some of the key findings ⬇️ ⬇️ mercurynews.com/2025/05/06/l...

Santa Clara County and San Francisco are a part of yet another lawsuit against the Trump administration. This time, they're suing over Trump placing "unlawful" conditions on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for homelessness. www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/05/s...

In case you haven't heard, MediaNewsGroup (the owner of The Mercury News) purchased the Santa Rosa Press Democrat this week. Our guild leadership has a few things to say:

Santa Clara County and San Francisco are suing the Trump administration once again - this time over Elon Musk's DOGE, which they say is unconstitutionally firing federal workers in mass. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/29/s...

Regional Medical Center downgrading trauma services last year heavily impacted nearby Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, with trauma cases surging - roughly 33% from 2023 to 2024 - a @mercurynews.com analysis found. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/27/r...

JUST IN: A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from jurisdictions that have declared themselves “sanctuaries” for immigrants living in the country illegally. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/24/b...

Santa Clara County was poised to follow in the footsteps of San Francisco & the state and repeal a restriction on travel to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws, but at Tuesday’s board meeting county officials reversed course and removed the item from the agenda. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/23/s...

Santa Clara County is looking to create a know-your-rights training program for fast food workers following a recommendation from Supervisors Betty Duong and Susan Ellenberg. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/09/s...

An attorney for ex-Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker has asked a judge to sentence him to probation - not jail time - tomorrow, arguing that his conviction has already damaged his reputation and ruined his career, according to a new court filing. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/03/a...

The federal government has canceled a contract with the city of Campbell to hold new citizenship ceremonies at the Heritage Theatre, saying they are "eliminating wasteful redundant services." Now, new citizens will take the oath in a parking lot. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/01/n...

Here's your reminder that if you haven't seen "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" yet, you should absolutely go watch it right now.

Santa Clara County has officially taken over operations of Regional Medical Center, reopening the Level II trauma center and cardiac and stroke services. www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/01/s...

Ex-Assemblymember Evan Low is being fined $106,000 for violating state campaign finance laws. The FPPC says Low used his tech nonprofit to pay Alec Baldwin ~$227,000 to appear at an event for the group & a fundraiser for Low, which he tried to conceal. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/31/e...

With Republican congressmembers not holding town hall meetings in their districts, some Democrats are seizing the opportunity to talk to voters in these red and purple districts. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/30/t...

Santa Clara County will now fly the transgender flag 365 days a year in front of its headquarters in San Jose. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/25/s...

tired: accusing a journalist of having certain views because they report on something wired: media literacy 😎

Santa Clara County leaders are criticizing a proposal from San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan to cite and arrest homeless individuals for refusing shelter, calling it "ineffective and a distraction." www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/18/m...

My Southwest loyalty leaving my body after they got rid of two free checked bags.

Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody, who led the local COVID-19 pandemic response, is retiring after 26 years. Her last day will be April 11. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/11/s...

The owners of a Santa Clara condo were awarded $1.8 million after a judge ruled their HOA “engaged in extensive deception” over an abandoned well under the couple's living room. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/10/a...

Me (a print reporter): spends two weeks researching and interviewing people for an article TV reporter: copies all of my sourcing and original reporting in one day without attribution or credit

A recent state law requires local jurisdictions to plan and assess evacuation routes. But several years after it took effect, Santa Clara County still hasn't completed that work in unincorporated parts of the county. w/@ishatrivedi.bsky.social www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/02/s...

Prosecutors are asking for "significant jail time" for ex-Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker, arguing the former official has “failed to take any responsibility for his actions.” www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/20/a...