Santa Clara County is considering $290 fees for most homeowners and $675 for larger commercial appeals to cover the cost of its assessment appeals program.

Sen. Scott Wiener will step down as co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus amid backlash over his Gaza comments.

Michael Doty has returned as Santa Clara County undersheriff, rejoining Sheriff Robert Jonsen with a focus on training, custody care and staff support.

Longtime Los Altos trustee Vladimir Ivanovic will step down in March, saying the board’s plan to place Bullis Charter School on the 10th site privileges the charter and risks bond support.

Milpitas’ council unanimously named Police Chief Jared Hernandez acting city manager as the city restarts a search for a permanent hire. The move aims to steady City Hall after recent turnover.

Oakland officers released a suspected illegal dumper after a call from Councilmember Ken Houston — a move that clashes with the city charter’s no‑contact rules.

A bipartisan group of California senators pressed Gov. Newsom for detailed budget numbers Thursday, citing conflicting forecasts and volatile AI-driven revenues.

Nearly 100 people packed the Marin supervisors’ chamber on Tuesday to demand a debate over the county’s participation in a federal program tied to ICE. Activists say oversight and a petition of thousands should force action.

Alexandra Shepard, the federal prosecutor who helped convict Mohammed Nuru, is San Francisco’s first inspector general with new powers to probe city contracting and misconduct.

The Education Department asked an appeals court to drop its challenge, leaving a federal judge’s decision that blocked anti‑DEI funding threats in place. Educators called it a win.

Vallejo receives additional law enforcement support from the Solano County Sheriff's Office to patrol specific city areas, as announced by the Vallejo PD.

Most CalPERS retirees remain in California, but a rising share of pension dollars now goes to beneficiaries living out of state. That shift is small but growing and matters for local economies.

A Mellman Group survey paid for by opponents finds support under 50% for California’s proposed billionaire tax, complicating the SEIU‑UHW signature drive.