San Jose Inside

For nearly three years, an increase in federal aid has allowed California to issue higher-than-usual amounts in food stamps. That ends in April.

The victim was found dead in Michael James Russell's mother's residence in Corralitos on Nov. 12, 2021. An investigation by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office found that she died of an overdose of four separate narcotics. 

The city of Santa Clara ended a lengthy search when it hired a new city manager this week. The City Council voted 4-1 to appoint Jovan Grogan to fill the vacancy left by the previous city manager, Deanna Santana, who was fired last year. Grogan, who is currently the city manager of San Bruno, will start his new position in Santa Clara on May 1.

One in 10 state lawmakers is related by blood or marriage to other legislators past and present. State Sen. Dave Cortese, a Campbell Democrat, is one of these, who has benefited from name recognition: His father, Dominic, served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors before nabbing a seat in the Assembly.

Mounir Gad of Los Gatos sent a federal judge fake reference letters in hopes of getting a lenient sentence in a securities fraud case.

Communities, largely home to low-income Latino residents, still have dry wells. Restoring groundwater takes decades, with costly, long-term replenishment projects — and ultimately, much less pumping.

The state is expanding mortgage relief to more California homeowners who are struggling through the pandemic. The program now covers second mortgages and loan deferrals, with a maximum total grant of $80,000.

State legislators sometimes exempt themselves from the laws they pass, but this session, they could change course on an emblematic bill: To allow their own staffers to form a union.

Voluntary dismissal concludes years-long legal battle that successfully protected immigrant communities from xenophobic Trump immigration rule.

California's coronavirus emergency declaration will expire on Feb. 28, almost three years after it began. It gave Gov. Gavin Newsom broad power to issue mandates intended to slow the spread of the virus, as well as to bypass certain state laws.

In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

Independent political action committees were big spenders for the 2022 mayoral candidates.

On Saturday around 8am. a sheriff's deputy made a traffic stop in the area of Rutland and Parkmoor avenues in San Jose. During the stop, the driver-- later identified as Ramos-- allegedly fled on foot from the deputy. 

California Department of Justice can’t say how many cases it chose not to investigate during the past 18 months under a new state law, which aimed to ensure state oversight of police shootings.

The city’s shifting demographics, a continuing affordable housing shortage, endemic homelessness, a looming budget deficit and the reality of five council elections – plus another mayoral ballot – in just two years create additional uncertainties.