Shaun Borland

California Ripped Fitness in East San Jose has defied county orders to close indoor operation since December racking up over $550,00 in fines and 35 complaints. The gym is protesting that gyms should be considered essential business since they promote a healthy lifestyle.

M8trix Casino opened its doors two days after Governor Newsom ended the stay-at-home orders allowing non-essential businesses to open in a limited capacity. And Bay 101 Casino, which also put up an outdoor gambling tent in September, reopened Thursday morning.

Google announced new initiatives to help more Americans get the COVID vaccine. The latest efforts include $150 million in donations to nonprofits and grants for Google Ads. The company will also be offering its sites for vaccination locations and add new panels to "vaccine near me" searches.

Phil Reynolds, an elected member of the Santa Clara County Republican Central Committee, is under pressure from Democratic leaders in Santa Clara to resign after posting "The war has begun!" on Facebook while the pro-Trump rioters were breaking into the Capitol Building in Washinton, D.C. last week.

Valley Christian High School is being sued by Allison Brown, a former athlete, who was sexually abused by her basketball coach, Gregory Marshall. Brown wants the school to be accountable after she said they "did nothing to protect me." Marshall is currently facing 24 felony counts of sexual abuse of minors.

The Silicon Valley Interreligious Council continued its annual tradition of temporarily erecting tombstones to honor those who didn't have a place to call home in Santa Clara County. This year's event featured 196 tombstones representing the highest number of unhoused people who died in Santa Clara County in the past year.

San Jose Unified School District unanimously votes to update the memorandum of agreement with SJPD. Protesters have been pushing the district to end relations with the police since protests in the summer for defunding the police and police reform. Advocates want more money for mental health services.

After a 28-year career serving the city of San Jose, Police Chief Eddie Garcia might be on his way to the top cop job in Dallas, TX. Garcia received high praise for growing the police ranks, building community, and creating progressive policies. Saturday will be his last day as police chief.

That fatal police shooting of a 26-year old murder suspect was justified, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. The suspect was covered in blood and armed with a knife after stabbing a 51-year old in the middle of the street. The police attempted multiple non-lethal tactics before firing their weapons.

As some report an exodus of technology companies from the Bay Area, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has added its San Jose HQ among those on their way out. HPE is relocating its home-base to Houston, Texas - a state with lower costs and a favorable tax structure.