California introduced the first phase of its ambitious Cradle-to-Career data system April 22, making it one of the few states with education data easily accessible to everyone. Now, parents, students and others can go to the Cradle-to-Career (C2C) website to learn how many graduates from each school district earned a bachelor’s degree each year, how … Read more
My childhood growing up in Santa Clara was probably typical of many other innocent childhoods. At Pomeroy Elementary School, my classmates came in all shapes, sizes, and abilities: small, big, short, tall, skinny, fat, smart, dim, academic, artistic, and athletic. Among my schoolmates were boys and girls having family origins in Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, … Read more
In the shadow of federal cutbacks, the Sunnyvale City Council will continue to fund U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. At its most recent meeting, the council got a five-year and yearly forecast for federal money funneled into its HUD programs. That money is predominantly used for two programs: the city’s Community … Read more
Bay Area firefighters are preparing for a difficult fire season this summer. The latest seasonal outlook report from the National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services, released on May 1, predicts an early fire season, with significant fire potential for June, July, and August, further complicating difficulties created by federal budget cuts. Brett Lutz, fire meteorologist … Read more
Miss California 2024 Kimberly Vernon, a Santa Clara native, experienced firsthand the evolving truth about competing in the Miss America Pageant. “The Miss America Pageant of the 21st century looks a lot different than it did 100 years ago,” said Vernon, who competed for the 2025 title in January in Orlando, FL. “Yet people still … Read more
One of the most controversial housing bills of the year has lived to be voted upon another day, but only by surviving the Legislative equivalent of two back-to-back prison breaks. On April 22, Senate Bill 79, a bill by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener to boost apartment and commercial construction around major public transportation … Read more
A long-standing arts program is featuring a slew of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara artists, allowing the public to view their studios and highlighting local art. Put on by the nonprofit Silicon Valley Visual Arts, Silicon Valley Open Studio is now in its 39th year. The behind-the-scenes art show takes place across the Bay Area, the … Read more
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner on May 2 confirmed the county’s first overdose death due to carfentanil, a drug 100 times more potent than fentanyl. A 39-year-old man was found dead in late April with fake M30 pills made to look like prescription oxycodone. The medical examiner warned that M30 pills may be laced … Read more
California is touted now as the nation’s largest economy and also the most populous state. If you look at the headlines, you would think our state is booming. Is doing well good enough? When you read the fine print of the state budget, it has ballooned to a whopping 300 billion dollars. Governor Gavin Newsom … Read more
Proving its versatility, the Santa Clara Players (SCP) switches from comedy to drama for the close of its 2024 – 2025 season, staging two provocative one-act dramas by British playwrights. The world premiere (yes, in Santa Clara!) of “The Seventh Suitcase” by Phil Mansell and “Heaven’s Paradise” by Derek Webb run for eight performances, May … Read more