A judge denied a mental‑health diversion request in the Happy Happy Daycare case, clearing the way for a jury trial next week in the deaths of two toddlers. Families urged the court not to divert the case.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launched Garry’s List, a statewide nonprofit to publish voter guides, commission policy research and host events aimed at pro‑growth candidates.

Stanislaus Animal Services says about 30 dogs at its Modesto shelter face euthanasia as overcrowding overwhelms staff; adoptions and fosters are urgently needed.

A Hayward resident was among five people sentenced after a DoorDash phantom‑orders scheme that cost the company more than $2.5 million.

The Washoe Tribe’s Wášiw-šiw Land Trust has acquired 10,274 acres of Loyalton Ranch from the City of Santa Clara and will rename it the Wélmelti Preserve for cultural and conservation stewardship.

Jurors were shown Las Vegas group texts and pool‑party footage as prosecutors laid out evidence in the trial of Shannon O’Connor, the so‑called Los Gatos “party mom.”

Recovered doorbell footage in the Nancy Guthrie case shows a masked figure and raises new questions about what Nest, Ring and other cloud cameras actually keep. This could matter for Bay Area homeowners.

Rain and a window of afternoon thunderstorms will make today's commute wet in San Jose. Expect gusty SSE winds and brief heavy downpours; plan extra travel time.

Rikyu, from the team behind Hiroshi, will soft‑open mid‑February at 121 Lytton Ave with matcha lattes, Japanese sandos and chirashi in downtown Palo Alto.

Databricks pulled in roughly $7 billion in fresh capital, valuing the San Francisco company near $134 billion and giving it room to speed AI product work while delaying any IPO. The raise boosts employee liquidity options without forcing a public listing.

Psycho Donuts has closed its Winchester storefront; owners say they’re seeking a new Campbell location and fast-tracking a larger facility in Gilroy. Signs at the old shop suggest another bakery is moving in.

San Mateo supervisors approved a $2M initiative to subsidize wages for new hires and support local job growth. The county will issue an RFP to pick a program administrator.

Spot and options‑based XRP ETFs moved from filings to live products last fall, and Bay Area investors and fintech firms are now weighing income plays and custody implications. The wave reshapes how XRP is accessed through regulated markets.