New finance director Luz Cofresí-Howe was recently named finance director for the city of Milpitas. Cofresí-Howe comes to Milpitas from the city of San Jose, where she served as assistant director of finance for 4½ years. In San Jose she managed a team of 135 professional and technical staff performing accounting, revenue management, debt, treasury, purchasing, risk management and administrative functions. “Luz’s proven track record in financial management, strategic planning and collaborative decision-making positions her as an invaluable asset to our executive leadership team,” city manager ..read more

U.S. health officials are closely monitoring the recent leap of avian flu from birds to cattle — and earlier this month, to a Texas dairy farmer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses the current public health risk is low — the virus isn’t known to spread among people or through the food supply, is rarely caught from exposure to infected animals, and where human infections have occurred, is often mild and manageable. But the leap of the H5N1 influenza strain, widespread among wild fowl and a regular threat to domestic poultry, into cattle was unexpected, and a worrisome devel ..read more

In California, rattlesnakes bite about 800 people in a typical year; approximately two are fatal in a year. The threat usually begins in April and will decrease by September. Rattlesnakes are not confined to rural areas. They have been found near urban areas, rivers, lakes and golf courses. Rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking defensively. Related Articles Environment | Bird flu’s disturbing new turn Environment | Northern California dog owners warned by state wildlife officials to keep their canines away from raw fish Environment | Giving a hoot: How to protect owls in your b ..read more

A condo in Milpitas that sold for $650,000, is the most affordable real estate sale in Milpitas in the past week. For comparison, the overall average price of real estate in the area during that time was $1.5 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $964. A total of 14 home sales were recorded for the period with an average square footage of 1,567 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. The top 10 list below includes the best deals on real estate priced between $10-$10,000,000. The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week o ..read more

Atmospheric river storms are like punches in a boxing match. A flurry of weak ones are OK. But it’s best to avoid the big knockout blows. That’s exactly what happened in California this winter. Scientists say that from Oct. 1 to April 1, the state actually received more atmospheric rivers, the famous moisture-laden meteorological events that are critical to the water supply, than it did last year — 44 this winter compared to 31 last winter. But the intensity made all the difference. Statewide, California had just 2 strong atmospheric rivers this winter, compared with 7 last year. Many of the b ..read more

Police transparency portal Milpitas recently launched a Police Department Transparency Portal, an online platform aimed at providing the public with a deeper insight into police operations, policies and community engagement initiatives. “Our commitment to transparency is paramount in fostering trust with the community we serve,” Milpitas Police Chief Jared Hernandez said in a release. “The launch of this portal marks a proactive stride toward open communication, accountability and ongoing improvement within our department.” The portal’s resources include annual reports detailing department act ..read more

For the 20th anniversary of its Fur Ball fundraiser, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is honoring a longtime volunteer. Judy Marcus of Los Altos Hills was first elected to the Milpitas-based nonprofit’s board in 2000 after friends asked her to join. “I’ve always loved animals,” said Marcus, whose three dogs are HSSV adoptees. “They’ve been a constant source of joy and companionship, which fueled my passion for animal welfare.” This year’s Fur Ball will be held May 11 at PayPal Park in San Jose. Previously, the fundraiser was an invite-only event, but it went public in 2022. Attendees are e ..read more

672 Kevenaire Drive – Google Street View A 2,817-square-foot house built in 1979 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 600 block of Kevenaire Drive in Milpitas was sold on April 4, 2024. The $2,710,000 purchase price works out to $962 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Additionally, the home is equipped with a two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently. The property encompasses a generous 6,300 square feet of land. Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby: A 1,620-square-foo ..read more

OAKLAND — In a new settlement agreement approved by a federal judge Thursday, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District agreed to take specific steps toward improving train accessibility for riders with mobility disabilities, according to a news release from groups that pushed for the change. “This settlement ensures that people with mobility disabilities are not excluded from the Bay Area’s mass transit system and do not receive a level of service vastly inferior to nondisabled people,” said Jinny Kim, supervising attorney at Disability Rights Advocates. Joining Disability Rights Advocates in its s ..read more

Main Street in Milpitas is expected to gain 118 new affordable housing units. The City Council unanimously approved the development Tuesday and questioned the developer about the types of amenities that will be included. Encino-based AMG & Associates LLC plans to build two apartment complexes on the .97 acre lot at 1300 S. Main Street, half a mile from the VTA Great Mall light rail station. More than half of the units will be reserved for low-income families, while the remainder will be for those with moderate incomes. Overall construction is expected to cost $18.4 million and include ..read more