News Archives

Mipitas Unified’s Innovation Campus

Illustration of future Innovation Campus. Photo courtesy of MUSD.

Milpitas Unified’s Innovation Campus slated for completion in 2024
By David Newman, Milpitas Beat, July 31, 2021
Programs will include new high school and alternative high school classes that will be dedicated to 11th- and 12th-graders needing special guidance to help them become successful. The campus will be located at 1331 E Calaveras Blvd., where the old Ayer High School site and district offices currently reside.

MUSD Innovation Campus Campaign
Partner with us today! Let’s build a brighter future together.

In Nov 2018, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office, Milpitas Unified School District made history as it passed its largest school district bond – $284 million – by the largest margin of voters – 71%. This community investment will provide $66.8 million toward the development of the MUSD Innovation Campus, accommodating enrollment growth and ensure healthy learning environments. The campus will include education and research centers for students. $25 million more is needed to complete the full campus. Partner with us and take part in completing the vision. ​

Milpitas Innovation Campus

Milpitas Unified School District

Milpitas School District Office
1331 East Calaveras Boulevard
Milpitas, California 95035
408-635-2600

Our MUSD Alliance Partners (MAP) for Ready Future Learners program includes a unique alliance of partners who will have the opportunity to expand the possible shaping workforce development. When you partner with us, you:

  • Become a Founding Member of MUSD Alliance Partners (MAP)
  • Invest in Cooperative Facility Branding
  • Invest in Classroom Development Programming
  • Increase numbers of resident workers in Milpitas, high school through adult
  • ​Propel Milpitas forward as a global Silicon Valley leader in shaping the 4th & 5th Industrial Revolutions
  • Develop the global workforce for years to come

Current Partners

  • KLA Corporation
  • ​City of Milpitas

Suits on and by Michael Tsai vs School Board

Two Milpitas Unified school board members file police reports against Michael Tsai over “harassing messages”

By Rhoda Shapiro & Eric Shapiro, August 31, 2022
“We’re no longer in a state of emergency,” Yip-Chuan said, explaining the reason for her vote in an interview with The Beat. “We’re all back in person.”

Following the meeting, Trustee Tsai texted the three board members who didn’t vote with him this message:

“Think very carefully about what you are doing. Trust me, you should hope that nothing you do causes me to lose my race.”

He fights back…

Michael Tsai, Milpitas School Board Trustee

I’ve received a number of deceitful, threatening, and abusive messages from other board members and their cronies over the years. I’ve patiently endured and given them the professional courtesy of giving them privacy and not publishing their harassing messages, despite being told by multiple people that I should go public about the lies and workplace bullying.

Maybe I should have. I technically still could.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Updates for Milpitas

As the Coronavirus COVID-19 has hit our city and county particularly hard, I will use this post to keep you updated on important information you will need right here in town. Some posts here will be updated with extra links to Covid-19 information related to their usual topics.


COVID-19 Case Rates by City
Zoom in and click on “Milpitas.” Updated 9/1/2022. There has been a huge jump in Covid cases in Milpitas in the past couple of weeks, so I will be updating more often. This map summarizes counts and rates of cumulative COVID-19 cases by cities within Santa Clara County. Cities with higher rates of cases per 100,000 residents appear as a darker shade of blue than cities with lower rates of cases. Date above is the last I saw I checked, but not the last it changed. Do realize that if you drive outside our city borders, or people come to your home or business from other areas, you become part of of a far larger population, and your risk increases. Since this number is cumulative, assume that many of these people have recovered. Compare to other cities in Santa Clara County.

FIELD NAME MILPITAS COVID-19 CASES
Cumulative case count 14,918
Population 77,457
Rate per 100,000 people 19,260

Due to a significant and unresolved problem with the State of California’s CalREDIE reporting system, the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, as well as county public health departments statewide, are experiencing significant underreporting of COVID-19 testing results. Because of this problem, the information presented in this dashboard/these dashboards since mid-July 2020 is incomplete. We will provide updates on the status of these reporting delays as soon as they are available. Additional information about these delays may be available from the State of California.

COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in all of Santa Clara County
The data on this dashboard provide a look at the number of new cases of COVID-19 and related deaths over time. A case is someone who tests positive for COVID-19 using viral testing performed in a lab. Deaths are listed separately for patients at Long Term Care Facilities because patients in these facilities are more isolated than the general public and represent a particularly vulnerable population. The Public Health Department closely tracks the number of cases and deaths that are being reported each day. Data on deaths will be updated on Fridays.

Most Recent Santa Clara County Risk Reduction Order

ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA REQUIRING USE OF FACE COVERINGS INDOORS BY ALL PERSONS
DATE OF ORDER: August 2, 2021 This Order is made in light of the recent significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Santa Clara County (“County”), due primarily to the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Emerging evidence indicates that the Delta variant is more transmissible than prior variants of the virus, may cause more severe illness, and that even fully vaccinated individuals can spread the virus to others. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) now both recommend that all persons—regardless of vaccination status—wear face coverings indoors. Vaccination remains the best and most effective tool in preventing COVID-19 and its harms; evidence shows that even against the Delta variant, fully vaccinated individuals have substantial protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In considering options to stem the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, a continued increase in the proportion of the population vaccinated is the best measure available. However, universal indoor use of face coverings is the least disruptive and most immediately impactful additional measure to take.

Covid-19 Testing Available in Milpitas

See EVENTS Calendar on this site for more free pop-up covid testing sites.

Rapid COVID-19 Home Tests Go on Sale at Major Retailers
CVS, Walmart, Walgreens now stock no-prescription kits offering results in 15 minutes. Both are antigen tests — meaning they look for specific proteins from the virus — and both have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A doctor’s prescription is not required to purchase the rapid home-test kits.

OptumServe at the Milpitas Community Center
457 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035
Mondays and Thursdays, 10am – 2pm (Lunch break) 3pm – 6pm
We are happy to share that the Milpitas Community Center will offer COVID-19 testing. Appointments no longer required. You may schedule an appointment at LHI. Those with appointments are taken in first. Register here to get a patient ID. Even if you go without an appointment, you will need this ID number. You will return to the LHI site to get your results after they text you that it is available.

Kaiser Permanente Testing
Offers Diagnostic testing for a current infection, and antibody testing for a past infection. Does not reimburse for other testing sites. Members only.
770 East Calaveras Blvd.

City Services Available or Closed

COVID-19 Availability of City Services
The City has not updated its page yet since the May 17th move to the YELLOW TIER. Hopefully they will edit this page and its policies soon.

Milpitas Library
Library services are available. With the health order update, opens a new window that took effect on May 19, 2021, SCCLD welcomes our patrons to visit the library anytime during open hours to browse the full collection, use the public computers and printers, and utilize library resources and services. Face coverings and social distancing are required to enter the building. This page describes the services available to the community. Most Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) locations offer expanded building access in addition to contactless curbside service Monday through Saturday from 1pm – 6pm. These options are offered at the Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga Libraries during specific hours (see current schedule), and are described in detail lower on this page.

  • Curbside Holds Pickup
    Staff will deliver your holds to the trunk of your car by appointment.
  • Walkup Holds Pickup
    Staff will leave your holds on a table outside the library and we’re testing lobby service at limited locations. No appointment needed.
  • Library Returns
    You can return library materials into library book drops at all hours, seven days a week (24/7). Please allow up to 10 days for the returns to complete quarantine plus processing, before they are removed from your account. No late fines are incurred on any materials that are returned at this time.
  • Santa Clara County Library District has added free Wi-Fi in the parking lots of the Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga Libraries.
  • Consider using the app “Libby” to check out eBooks and Audiobooks.

Milpitas Sanitation
Currently, scheduled collection services are not affected. Please have your containers ready for service between the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on your regular collection day. If your containers are not serviced on their regularly scheduled day, we will return on the next service day.

Financial Resources for those suffering financially because of Covid-19

Housing Resources

  • Financial Assistance
  • Rent Relief
  • Ban on Evictions

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness
Notice: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31, 2021. Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.

Milpitas Business Support Resources

The Milpitas Chamber of Commerce wishes to see that all businesses make it through these tough times. Information here is to get you quickly to sources of support for many aspects of your business and your employees.

Milpitas Restaurant Availability
Looking for takeout? A number of local restaurants are offering drive-thru, take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery for Milpitas residents. Ordering from local businesses is one way to support our community during the current stay-at-home health order (Has been extended).

Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources during Covid19
At a meeting of the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce I heard several speakers on the topic of financial relief to small businesses because of economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Milpitas Unified School District Services

Coronavirus Information, Alerts, and Updates

Milpitas High School (MHS)
Exemption for 2020-2021 Juniors and Seniors of District Graduation Requirements | AB 104 Bill Information
The law requires that high school students who were in their third or fourth year of high school during the 2020-2021 school year, and who were not on track to graduate in four years, may be exempt from our district’s graduation requirements that exceed statewide requirements. It also requires high schools to provide credit recovery support for these students, including the option to retake courses, or to enroll in a fifth year of high school, to complete state graduation requirements. Milpitas Unified School District will contact students eligible for this exemption.

Process for K-11 Students to Request to Repeat the 2020-2021 Grade | AB 104 Bill Information
This law provides a process for parents and guardians to request that their student repeat the grade they were enrolled in during the 2020-2021 school year. Parents and guardians of students who were in grades Kindergarten – 11 in the last school year would be eligible to make this request if their student received a D, F, or No Pass grade for at least one-half of their coursework in the 2020-2021 school year. This request would trigger a personalized consultation with representatives of the district to review and discuss all learning recovery options and supports that the student could access.

How to apply: Parents/Guardians may submit a written request through the Milpitas Unified School District Learning and Development Office by completing this form (Español / Tiếng Việt). The district will schedule a consultation within 30 days of submitting the form.

Santa Clara County County Services

County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Live
Videos produced by the Santa Clara County Health Department about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Data Dashboard
This data dashboard provides detailed information about cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Santa Clara County and is intended for educational purposes only. Because of limited testing capacity through the Public Health Laboratory, the number of cases that we detect through testing represent only a small portion of the total number of likely cases in the county.

COVID-19 Dashboards

Cases, Death, and Testing Dashboards

  • COVID-19 Cases and Deaths
    Provides detailed information about cases and deaths from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 Case Rates by Vaccination Status
    This dashboard shows the 7-day daily average COVID-19 case rate by day for Santa Clara County overall, for unvaccinated residents, and for fully vaccinated residents.
  • Demographics of Cases and Deaths
    Provides information on characteristics and demographics of COVID-19 cases and deaths, including: age, gender, race/ethnicity, source of transmission for cases, and underlying conditions for deaths.
  • COVID-19 Testing
    Provides information on the total daily testing for COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 Variants
    This dashboard provides the cumulative count of COVID-19 variants that have been identified and reported in Santa Clara County to date.

Vaccination Dashboard

  • COVID-19 Vaccinations Among County Residents 
    This dashboard provides information about vaccine administration to Santa Clara County residents who are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. This includes residents who have been vaccinated by providers within Santa Clara County and residents who have been vaccinated outside of the county.

​Mapping Dashboards​

​Hospitalization Dashboard​

  • Hospitalizations
    Provides the number of patients in acute hospital beds, intensive care unit beds.

COVID-19 Response Dashboards

  • SARS-CoV-2 Sewage Monitoring Data
    Provides an overview of the results of SARS-CoV-2 measurements in wastewater over time.​​​
  • Cost Tracking 
    Provides an open and transparent accounting of the County’s COVID-19 expenditures.
  • COVID-19 Data Sets​
  • COVID-19 Data Tables
    Please visit to download data related to the Dashboards listed above.​

Silicon Valley Strong
On March 18th, 2020 San José Mayor Sam Liccardo announced a new effort, driven by San José and Silicon Valley community and business leaders, to offer financial assistance, mobilize volunteers, and connect residents to critical COVID-19 resources. San José has developed a countywide food distribution partnership with Santa Clara County, non-profits, and the private sector. The movement is known as #SiliconValleyStrong
Silicon Valley Strong also provides resources in

Covid-19 Information from the state Covid-19 site

Current safety measures
Thanks to millions of vaccinations, California’s economy is open. There are no county tiers, capacity limits, or physical distancing requirements. But we still need some common-sense safety measures until more people are vaccinated.

  • What to do now
    COVID-19 has not gone away. To safely go about our daily lives, we need to continue:Vaccinations
    Masking
    Testing if you feel sick
    Other measures to keep ourselves and others safe
    Do’s and don’ts for daily lifeRestaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, and most everyday places are open. Protect yourself and others by keeping these common-sense safety steps in mind.

See essential jobs and status of your county and open sectors
See Older Santa Clara County Shelter-in-Place (SIP) Orders Archive

Covid-19 Humor

Neil Diamond vs CDC on Hands, Touching Hands
Neil Diamond sings “Sweet Caroline” with updated lyric for safety during Covid-19 pandemic. And then advice on how to wash your hands thoroughly.
More Covid-19 Jokes

Chick-fil-A creates Controversy in Milpitas because of anti-LGBTQ stance

Chick-fil-A opening in Milpitas on June 16

By Rhoda Shapiro, June 13, 2022

This Thursday, June 16, Chick-fil-A will be opening in Milpitas. Located in the Town Center at 755 E Calaveras Blvd, the new restaurant will be operating Monday-Saturday from 6:30am-10pm.

Chick-fil-A’s Owner Is Bankrolling Hate Groups Targeting Trans Kids

“They’re doing hardcore, extreme stuff, but they make it seem like it’s a bunch of soup kitchens.

Nearly a decade after Chick-fil-A was called out for donating to anti-LGBTQ+ groups, its owner is still funding efforts to discriminate against the community.

According to a new report from The Daily Beast, an organization called the National Christian Charitable Foundation (NCF) is bankrolling many of the groups hoping to kill the Equality Act. If signed into law, the landmark legislation would mandate equal protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in all walks of life, including health care, housing, education, and public accommodations.

The Daily Beast report sparked online backlash, with watchdog organization Citizens for Ethics tweeting: “FYI: the billionaire owner of Chick-fil-A, which promised to stop donating to anti-LGBT causes last year, is participating in a dark money operation fighting to keep the Equality Act from passing.”

Uber Eats lists the best friend chicken places in and near Milpitas where you can get chicken meals brought straight to your home or business. There are dozens.

Inmates Injured Following Fights at Elmwood Jail in Milpitas

Injuries are reported following two large-scale fights involving inmates at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

Several inmates have been transported to a hospital for treatment and no injuries are considered life threatening, sheriff’s officials said, adding no deputies were hurt during the incidents.

Sources within the jail tell NBC Bay Area at least one of the fights took place around 4:30 p.m. in an area called “the camp.” The sources also said deputies had to set up a medical triage area for injured inmates.

Authorities need help identifying man who assaulted bus operator in Milpitas

By Eric Shapiro, June 14, 2022

On Wednesday, May 25, at 5:50PM, a VTA bus operator was violently attacked at the Milpitas Transit Center. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Transit Patrol (which heads up VTA security) has put out word that they’re seeking help identifying the attacker.

When the operator got off his bus to take a break, he found himself getting knocked hard to the ground. He suffered a concussion as a result. Photographs released by law enforcement to the public show the assailant to be a Hispanic male, 5’10”, 160 pounds, with black hair, a mustache, and a sparse beard.

Read more

Milpitas High School Robotics Team wins State Championship

In early March, four Milpitas High School (MHS) students from the Milpitas Xtreme Robotics Team 1669X went out to Redding, California, to compete in the 2022 Northern California VRC High School State Championship in Redding.

What transpired there exceeded their wildest expectations. They won the State championship across three categories: Excellence Award, Tournament Champion, and Robot Skills Champion.

“This achievement is a culmination of the past 4 years we’ve spent in robotics,” said Eugene Ng, a senior who is part of the team. “I’m happy. And I feel accomplished to have been able to achieve this.”

Eugene, along with seniors Chenghao Li, Kathan Sheth, and Eusern Ng, prepared extensively to secure this accomplishment.

“We took our experiences from past competitions, and practiced as much as we could,” said Kathan, who discovered his love for programming in the seventh grade.

By Rhoda Shapiro, Milpitas Beat, March 24, 2022

Read more in the Milpitas Beat

Homeless on Railroad Ave., Milpitas, prepare to have their Vehicles Towed.

Photos by Ann Zeise, GoMilpitas.com, March 12, 2022

Homeless Encampment Pano
Homeless Encampment Pano
Unpacking Vehicle
Homeless residents preparing to have their vehicles towed by moving out belongings to the street.
Allysson McDonald and Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal wait as witnesses
Allysson McDonald and Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal wait as witnesses
Allyson and Resident
Allyson McDonald and a Resident

Mayor Tran announces that vehicles parked behind library will be towed on March 12

By Eric Shapiro, MilpitasBeat, March 11, 2022

Earlier this week, on Mayor Rich Tran’s Facebook page, the Mayor posted that the “abandoned, inoperable, and unregistered” vehicles parked behind Milpitas Library were being given notice by the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) to move or risk being towed in another 72 hours.

The Mayor’s post and plans come in the midst of an active discussion on homelessness in Milpitas, during which the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advised the City of Milpitas that its planned sweeps of homeless encampments were unconstitutional and the City’s homelessness task force provided recommendations to the Milpitas City Council. Last week, Councilmember Karina Dominguez headed up a sleep-out outside of Milpitas City Hall to draw attention to the plight of the city’s homeless residents.

In an email exchange with The Beat, when asked what the City would do to help the unhoused residents whose cars will be towed, Assistant City Manager Ashwini Kantak wrote, “The issues that cause homelessness are complex. The City’s role is to balance the rights of those who are homeless with the need to ensure proper safety, hygiene, and impact on the entire community – and strictly enforce City laws.

Read more in the Milpitas Beat

Mayor Tran calls Councilmember Dominguez a “disgrace” & threatens her with a censure

By Rhoda Shapiro, February 18, 2022

After a couple of hours spent focusing on the item, things took a turn when Councilmember Karina Dominguez expressed her thoughts on the issue and delved into her personal story. As she spoke, Mayor Rich Tran repeatedly interrupted her, saying she was “intrusive” and a “disgrace.”

“I don’t make $100,000. I don’t own a home. I am one of two renters that sit on this council,” said Councilmember Dominguez. “I share that with you…because I am the voice of the missing middle in the city of Milpitas. Because it’s so expensive to live here.”

The issue on the table was important to Dominguez because, as she said, she exists two paychecks away from homelessness, which is something she believes many in the city can relate to. Her goal, as she told The Beat in an interview, is to work with Council to find solutions to bring affordable housing into the city so that residents don’t have to leave.

“I am your children,” said Councilmember Dominguez at the meeting. “Literally, Councilmember Chua and Vice Mayor Montano, I could be your daughter.”

At that point, Tran interrupted Dominguez, asking her not to attack anyone on the dais.

“You’re a disgrace. Either you’re going to carry on or focus on the business at hand, or you’re going to keep attacking people,” said Mayor Tran.

Dominguez stated that she wasn’t attacking, just sharing her personal story. She continued on, as the mayor interrupted her by banging his gavel and at times raising his voice.

Follow discussion here on Facebook: Mayor threatens to limit all discussion to 2 minutes per council member on any issue.

Read more on The Milpitas Beat

Milpitas man charged with murder after woman’s body found buried in his yard

Neighbors told officers they heard a woman screaming early Saturday but did not notify police.

MILPITAS – A Milpitas man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of a woman who was found buried in his yard Wednesday, police said.

Micah James Dovlet, 34, was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on Wednesday and remains in custody, Milpitas police Capt. John Torrez. said in a news release.

Prosecutors said in a criminal complaint that Dovlet was charged with murder, the victim was “particularly vulnerable” and the way the killing was carried out “indicates planning, sophistication or professionalism.”

On Monday, officers went to Tuyet Anh Phan’s home on the 1500 block of North Milpitas Boulevard to do a welfare check because the 59-year-old had not been heard from in several days, Torrez said. They didn’t find her or anything suspicious at the residence.

Neighbors told them they had heard a woman screaming in the area early Saturday. “This information was not reported to the police department at the time,” Torrez said.

On Tuesday, officers found evidence of a crime of violence involving the victim near her residence, Torrez said. Detectives went to the scene and took over the investigation.

Dovlet, who lived near Phan, was detained during the investigation, Torrez said.

Torrez said detectives served a search warrant at Dovlet’s home and collected evidence of a possible homicide, but they didn’t find the victim.

Torrez said detectives returned to Dovlet’s home Wednesday and exhumed the victim’s body from the yard. … Read More in Mercury News or in The Milpitas Beat.

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