San Jose Inside

A supermajority of Democrats and emboldened Republicans returned to the Capitol this week — at odds over the cost of living, the Trump presidency, state spending, tech innovations and reparations for descendants of people once enslaved.

With the new year comes increased benefits for millions of workers — in a landmark action, California is increasing paid family leave and disability benefits so more families can afford to take time off of work to care for an ill loved one, bond with a new child, or recover from an illness.

A conservative organization led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller sent letters to California leaders warning of ‘serious consequences’ over sanctuary policies that protect undocumented residents. San Jose became a sanctuary city in 2007. San Francisco also declared itself a sanctuary city in 1989.

A new California law responds to rising attacks on health care workers, despite concerns from progressives and prison-reform advocates.

New California laws taking effect Jan. 1 aim to make it easier to prosecute people accused of retail theft. Separately, voters passed Prop.

The state is allowing more on-street alcohol sales and food in cannabis lounges. Supporters say the laws will boost downtown economies.

The tech world was abuzz as President-elect Donald Trump announced his latest appointment: David Sacks, a Silicon Valley stalwart, as the new czar for artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency.

Voters said no to expanding rent control, but tenants facing evictions will have more time to fight to keep their homes under a new California law.

The California state budget has been a rollercoaster over the past few years. Big deficits generally mean cutting plans and programs.

The increase in lobbyists this year means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member.

DNA evidence tied Thomas Loguidice, 67, to a 1994 mall robbery, while he was serving a 40-year sentence in state prison after being convicted in 2012 of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 13 in San Benito County. 

San Jose police said Lucien Cabrera, 19, built illegal guns in his San Jose home and brazenly marketed them on social media.

A new California law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will prohibit state-chartered banks from charging fees for withdrawals that are instantaneously declined.

The last 150 feet of the wharf collapsed into the Monterey Bay at around 12:45pm, city officials said. The city had already determined that the end of the wharf needed to be taken down and repaired after it was damaged in storms over the past several years.

National and California experts say Trump’s mass deportation plans make filling out the federal financial aid application for college a risk to students with undocumented parents. California’s own application has more safeguards.