The Silicon Valley Voice is dedicated to the independent community news of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Community news, public news in Santa Clara.
With the election and the holidays behind them, the California Legislature returns to Sacramento today to kick off a new session in earnest. It will be several more months before the political wrangling over the state budget and thousands of proposed bills truly ramps up, but priorities are emerging as lawmakers try to stake their … Read more
Californians who try to withdraw money but don’t have enough in their bank accounts won’t fall deeper into a financial hole from having to pay a fine, thanks to a new state law. The law covers instances in which banks charge customers when their withdrawals are declined instantaneously, such as at ATMs, because of insufficient … Read more
Southern California’s cataclysmic fires were only 36 hours old, but by Thursday afternoon, firefighters from Sunnyvale and Santa Clara were on the ground in Southern California. They are part of a Santa Clara County strike team joining the fight against five wildfires that have, in two days, burned a path of devastation and tragedy across … Read more
According to the state’s first snow survey of 2025, Northern California has much more precipitation than Southern California, and that pattern may persist with climate change. As of Jan. 2, there is 24 inches of snow depth in the northern Sierra Nevada, according to the California Department of Water Resources. That amounts to 9 inches … Read more
The Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department has arrested a pair of San Jose men for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of meat from a Safeway store on Homestead Road. Herson Almeyda-Patino, 39, and Anderson Tolozavargas, 34, both of San Jose, have been charged with grand theft and conspiracy, both felonies. Neither man has a criminal … Read more
The Humane Society of Silicon Valley, or HSSV, is waiving adoption fees for all animals after a fire damaged half of its Milpitas shelter in mid-December. “Fire damage has impacted animal housing, limiting space at the shelter,” HSSV said in a post to Facebook after the fire. “If you’ve been thinking of adopting a new … Read more
The regional body that sets toll rates for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges voted this week to raise tolls by another $1.25 to $3 for two-axle vehicles, starting in 2026, introducing a “tiered” tolling rate. Changes were also made to carpool lanes, known as high occupancy lanes, with a third person per vehicle now … Read more
Brigida—called Birdie—Pacelli did something she loves and does to perfection. She threw a party in November with a little help from her friends. It was at the Santa Clara home where she and her husband, Bay Area native Jim Pacelli, have lived for more than three decades. Pacelli has a wide, inclusive social circle, and … Read more
City officials in Santa Cruz are working with state and federal partner agencies to clear a massive debris field that has stretched 10 miles south to Manresa State Beach following the collapse of a portion of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on Dec. 23. In the meantime, structural assessments of the wharf will be conducted … Read more
Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) and its big-hearted supporters lightened Santa’s sleigh and brought joy to 2,700 children and their families for the holidays. They are Sunnyvale families—clients of SCS—grateful to have food on the table, much less toys for their children. “This is a time for sharing joy with our community. As food prices and … Read more