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News in Gilroy, CA

San José Spotlight · Gilroy, CA

Gilroy homeless plan lacks details for next steps

A South County committee on homelessness — funded by a nonprofit dedicated to solving the problem — spent thousands of dollars to develop a plan to support homeless residents, but showed up empty handed at the Gilroy City Council meeting last week. Destination: Home provided $54,557 in funding to Gilroy to pay for Homebase, a nonprofit adviser that helps cities build plans to end homelessness. The funds covered costs for six meetings that included outreach to supportive service providers, research into cities such as Tulare and San Jose on their approaches to homelessness and documentation of the committee’s priorities and next steps. But at the Nov. 2 council meeting, the only recommendation brought forth by ad hoc committee was to build a stable and managed site for unhoused people — with no specifics on how or where it would be built, how much it would cost and where funding would come from.

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New Hampshire Bulletin · Watsonville, CA

Nearby: Watsonville, CA

States are counting on battery farms. Some towns don’t want them.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — In the race to meet the nation’s growing power demands, states and utilities are rapidly building new “battery farms” that can store energy for when customers need it most. But as the facilities grow, so too does community opposition. The systems store banks of batteries in buildings or shipping containers. While they can take many forms, developers are increasingly building large, multi-acre projects designed to meet the needs of local utilities. The electricity stored by such systems nationwide has grown tenfold since 2022, and it’s projected to double again by the end of 2028. State lawmakers and renewable energy advocates say battery storage is urgently needed to stabilize the grid and support the transition to clean power. But in some communities, residents are wary of proposals to build industrial battery systems in their neighborhoods, noting that battery fires can produce toxic smoke and are difficult to extinguish.

The Stanford Daily · Santa Clara County, CA

Nearby: Santa Clara County, CA

Two voting locations open on campus through Tuesday

Two official Santa Clara County voting centers are open on campus at Tresidder Memorial Union’s Oak Lounge and the Graduate Community Center’s Havana Room. Students can also submit mail-in ballots and conditional voter registration applications. Both locations have been open for early voting since Saturday morning and will remain open through Tuesday. The election centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Election Day. Students, faculty and staff who are registered to vote in Santa Clara County can officially submit their ballots at either of these locations. Santa Clara County voters with mail-in ballots can also submit their votes there. Those submitting mail-in ballots for other California counties or other states can mail their ballots at official post office locations and mail drop sites. These ballots should be submitted with postage.

Calaveras Enterprise · Aptos, CA

Nearby: Aptos, CA

Barbara Dee Boeding Capitanich

Barbara Dee Boeding Capitanich, age 80, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026. Barbara was born on March 3, 1946, in Eugene, Oregon, to Iris Barbara Owen and Glen Howard Owen. Throughout her life, she was known for her strength, kindness, independence, and deep love for family, friends, and animals. Barbara was married to Ken Capitanich in Aptos, CA. She was a wonderful mother to her three children, Wendee Christine Woodson, Brandee Christine Vietz, and Weston Christopher Boeding. She was also a proud grandmother and great-grandmother whose grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her immense joy. She treasured every moment spent with them. For many years, Barbara worked as an executive secretary and bookkeeper, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues through her dedication, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Good Times · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

Beached whale draws hundreds

Hundreds of people gathered on Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz Thursday morning after a large fin whale washed ashore. Witnesses said the whale appeared to be alive before it reached the shore, and that it was moving its flippers and blowing water out of its blowhole. Officials from Long Marine Laboratory, the National Oceanic and […]

Good Times · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

Letters

From young athletes making waves to a free run club making connections, readers celebrate Santa Cruz community and call for more support for public dancing.

San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

It Starts With Anger - An Interview With Filmmaker / Author James Spooner On His New Book

Interview with James Spooner - filmmaker, author, graphic novelist and tattoo artist. His new book was released in the summer of 2026 and is titled “It Starts With Anger: A Punk Beginning, An AfroPunk Ending.” Spooner will be presenting his new book in Santa Cruz, California on Friday, November 13 at 6:00 PM at the UC Santa Cruz Institute for Arts and Sciences. The evening will be a conversation moderated by cartoonist Johnny Damm.

San José Spotlight · Los Gatos, CA

Nearby: Los Gatos, CA

Waymo expands further into South Bay

Waymo’s driverless cars are serving more South Bay destinations, including the Berryessa Transit Center in East San Jose, giving commuters another option for getting to and from public transportation — though some residents remain wary of the autonomous vehicles. The expansion on Nov. 3 also brings the ride-hailing service to the Great Mall and San Jose Fairgrounds, as well as additional neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. Company representatives said the move expands Waymo’s Bay Area service area to 350 square miles. While VTA officials welcome additional transportation options, they have no plans to coordinate with the company. Some commuters also remain skeptical of driverless vehicles, citing concerns about safety, affordability and the technology’s impact on human jobs.