SB 501 would make makers pay to collect and recycle mid‑size lithium packs used in e‑bikes, tools and power stations, shifting costs off local governments. The bill has cleared the Senate and is moving through the Assembly.

Silicon Valley Business Journal’s new Book of Lists counts 913 Greater Bay Area employers and names Kaiser Permanente as the largest with about 62,840 local workers.

A landlord sued Gregorys Coffee at Stanford Shopping Center, alleging unpaid rent and liens that could lead to eviction of the Palo Alto location.

Wednesday’s Powerball draw produced numbers 2-6-26-39-68 (Powerball 6) and a California ticket matching the five white balls is worth $1M; local reports say it was sold in San Jose.

A webinar startup says Koi Security’s December report wrongly tied its domains to a Chinese hacking operation, and Palo Alto Networks — which acquired Koi — is now a defendant.

Onsemi will acquire San Jose‑based Synaptics in an all‑stock deal valued near $7 billion, folding Synaptics’ Edge AI and connectivity technology into onsemi’s platform.

Venture cash and steady biotech postings give Peninsula life sciences room to hire, and local leaders say some laid‑off tech workers could land in labs. But space and skills gaps mean the shift will take time.

Chick‑fil‑A filed plans to convert a Westgate Center parking outparcel into a roughly 4,800‑sq‑ft restaurant with indoor seating, a patio and a drive‑through; city review is pending.

Robinhood will cut about 10% of its full‑time staff — roughly 290 roles — and take roughly $20M in Q2 restructuring charges as it tightens operations while expanding products.

A San Jose class action says Robinhood packaged sportsbook‑style bets as ‘prediction markets,’ seeking refunds and disgorgement for potentially billions in losses. The suit joins a national regulatory clash over whether these products are gambling or federally regulated derivatives.

Fox agreed to buy Roku for about $22 billion, pairing Fox’s live content with Roku’s San Jose-based streaming platform and ad business. The deal centers on Roku’s reach and first‑party data.

Google.org is committing $50 million to train 300,000 U.S. skilled‑trade workers through unions and trade groups as data‑center demand surges. The funds will back union training pilots and updated apprenticeships.

A Santa Rosa maker and national data show small Bay Area firms are pausing hiring as investor caution and new benefit work rules collide.