Recent News
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing guru quit last job amid pressure to reopen economy
Three months ago, Dr. Marty Fenstersheib was pressured to reopen the economy in San Benito County.
Sunday, 3:45 PM | 2 commentsAround Town: Palo Alto firefighters return after nine days at the Hog Fire
In the latest Around Town column, news about a Palo Alto fire crew that helped deter the Hog Fire in Lassen County, a $2 million grant to build granny units in East Palo Alto and a grant opportunity for Midpeninsula nonprofits.
Sunday, 9:16 AM | 1 commentSaturday, August 1, 2020
More San Mateo County businesses must close starting Sunday
Officials in San Mateo County announced Saturday that certain indoor businesses and activities must shut down or move to outdoor operations beginning Sunday.
Saturday, 8:30 PM | No comments yetCalifornia's clean-air programs take a hit in new funding squeeze
Some of California's key environmental programs for battling smog and climate change have lost nearly $105 million as the state grapples with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, 8:53 AM | No comments yetFriday, July 31, 2020
School board race expands with two newcomers, one incumbent
The Palo Alto Unified school board race is heating up, with two additional newcomers in the running and an incumbent announcing her reelection bid.
Friday, 5:21 PM | 6 commentsPalo Alto leaders could decide Monday whether to open Foothills Park to nonresidents
A thorny issue that has created controversy for decades is about to get a hearing on Aug. 3 before the City Council: whether the city should launch a pilot program to allow non-Palo Alto residents access to Foothills Park.
Friday, 6:58 AM | 38 commentsPanel discussion to be held on Generation Z and racial justice
Five young adults who've led recent efforts to bring about social change along the Midpeninsula will share their perspectives on racial justice and advocacy in a virtual panel discussion on Aug. 6.
Friday, 6:58 AM | 2 commentsIn experiment, Town Square forum commenting will be limited to registered users
Starting Aug. 1, participation in Palo Alto Online's Town Square discussion forum will be limited to those who register on the site.
Friday, 6:58 AM | 65 commentsAn Alternative View: Going stir crazy — but still wearing my mask
We have no real solution yet to ridding this country of the virus, except by a yet-undiscovered vaccine. The only temporary solution is wearing a mask. So wear a mask. Don't harm others.
Friday, 6:57 AM | 19 commentsThursday, July 30, 2020
To get OK for school expansion, Castilleja proposes plan with lesser traffic impacts
A new alternative that seeks to reduce traffic impacts of Castilleja School's proposed expansion is included in a much-anticipated final environmental impact report released Wednesday evening.
Thursday, 5:04 PM | 26 commentsPUBLIC AGENDA: Consideration of Foothills Park pilot program; discussion on fiber network expansion
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Aug. 3.
Thursday, 4:01 PM | No comments yetCommission approves permit for Drew Health Foundation office in East Palo Alto
After eight years, the Drew Health Foundation, a historic nonprofit in East Palo Alto, is now fully operational as the city approved their conditional use permit application on Monday.
Thursday, 3:30 PM | No comments yetHead of Menlo Church steps down over 'poor judgment'
The senior pastor of Menlo Church has resigned following an outcry over the church board's investigation that some current and former parishioners found inadequate.
Thursday, 9:49 AM | 28 commentsFormer Palo Alto City Councilman Grant Spaeth dies at 88
Grant Spaeth, a former Palo Alto city councilman, died on July 28 at 88 years old. His wife, Lori Spaeth, said the cause was from complications of Parkinson's disease.
Thursday, 9:43 AM | 4 commentsSchools seek waiver so kids can return to campus
More than 80 local schools have contacted the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Operations about filing a waiver to reopen their elementary campuses in person in the fall, including several on the Midpeninsula.
Thursday, 9:00 AM | 38 commentsWednesday, July 29, 2020
Former venture capital CEO sentenced in college admissions scam
Manuel Henriquez, the former CEO of a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm, was sentenced Wednesday to six months in prison in a national college admissions scam.
Wednesday, 3:25 PM | 4 commentsIf feds let jobless benefits drop, California Dems may 'backdoor borrow' to extend them
Democrats have found a loophole to help stimulate the economy: "borrowing" federal dollars to continue unemployment benefits.
Wednesday, 9:43 AM | No comments yetOpen Foothills Park to all? The costs are high, panel says
More visitors -- regardless of ZIP code -- and the behaviors they exhibit would affect the health of Foothills Park, a panel of five experts said Tuesday before the Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission.
Wednesday, 9:34 AM | 31 commentsTuesday, July 28, 2020
Activist's portrait on Palo Alto Black Lives Matter mural sparks ire
The Black Lives Matter street mural in front of Palo Alto City Hall on June 30 had barely dried before it became the center of a controversy that has some calling for the removal of one of its images.
Tuesday, 4:57 PM | 33 commentsPanel to shed light on whether Palo Alto should expand Foothills Park access Tuesday night
Seeking to provide deeper insight into opening Foothills Park to non-Palo Alto residents, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission will host an online panel discussion Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, 3:33 PM | 3 commentsSanta Clara County rolls out UBI program for youth transitioning out of foster care
Santa Clara County has rolled out the country's first Universal Basic Income program for young adults transitioning out of foster care that provides a monthly stipend of $1,000 for a year.
Tuesday, 8:47 AM | No comments yetMonday, July 27, 2020
Four firms contend for auditor contract as Palo Alto moves to outsource one of city's key functions
Looking to save the city a considerable amount of money, Palo Alto's Council Appointed Officers Committee on Tuesday is taking the next step toward hiring an independent contractor to operate as the Office of the City Auditor.
Monday, 4:01 PM | 8 commentsRep. Eshoo, mental health advocates push for suicide prevention legislation
The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed three bills related to suicide prevention, which Rep. Anna Eshoo said is even more urgently needed due to COVID-19.
Monday, 12:34 PM | No comments yetSunday, July 26, 2020
New check-in system aims to reduce waiting in line at COVID-19 testing sites
Santa Clara County is implementing a new check-in system at walk-up COVID-19 testing sites that provides wristbands to reduce the amount of time waiting in line.
Sunday, 2:00 PM | 3 commentsCaltrain's future in limbo after Santa Clara County defers tax measure
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to defer the decision for a Caltrain ballot measure to a special meeting on Aug. 6 -- the last day to approve measures for the November ballot.
Sunday, 8:57 AM | 35 commentsSaturday, July 25, 2020
Protesters rally against federal troops in Oregon and Oakland
A rally to support protesters in Portland, Oregon, was held in Palo Alto on Saturday, with a second protest scheduled for downtown Oakland in the evening.
Saturday, 1:34 PM | 14 commentsAround Town: T-shirt fundraiser utilizes Black Lives Matter mural to assist nonprofit
In the latest Around Town column, news about Palo Alto's Black Lives Matter mural now on T-shirt being sold to support a local youth group and actor Dave Franco's first feature film as a director.
Saturday, 8:16 AM | 3 commentsFriday, July 24, 2020
Santa Clara County supervisors vote to endorse Proposition 13 reform measure
A state ballot measure that would upend decades of property tax protections for large commercial owners will soon have another proponent, after Santa Clara County supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to support Proposition 15.
Friday, 1:33 PM | 22 commentsExtended moratorium protects East Palo Alto renters from residential evictions through Sept. 30
East Palo Alto's City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to extend the city's moratorium on residential evictions to Sept. 30, a month longer than the San Mateo County moratorium.
Friday, 1:23 PM | No comments yetPUBLIC AGENDA: Evaluation of auditing services proposals; discussion on Foothills Park residents-only policy
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of July 27.
Friday, 10:02 AM | 6 commentsSanta Clara County supervisors propose sales tax to fill $250M deficit
The board of supervisors is looking into a sales tax measure to patch up a massive hole in the county's budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it may not have enough support to reach voters.
Friday, 8:38 AM | 20 commentsOn again, off again: State's watchlist creates uncertainty for businesses
With 37 of California's 58 counties under state monitoring, questions have surfaced about what will happen when a county gets off the watchlist -- questions that Santa Clara County health leaders so far are unable to answer.
Friday, 6:55 AM | 24 commentsViews on school reopenings: Students, parents and educators weigh in on the coming academic year
With plans constantly changing for Palo Alto Unified schools this fall, the Weekly asked local residents to share their concerns, questions and hopes once classes resume at the district.
Friday, 6:55 AM | 66 commentsGuest Opinion: Now's not the time for full Foothills Park discussion
It makes no sense to be discussing the issue of expanding access at Foothills Park during these unusual times, especially when we have no solid data regarding the preserve.
Friday, 6:54 AM | 42 commentsThursday, July 23, 2020
Stanford researcher and others allegedly concealed Chinese military ties
A Stanford University researcher who allegedly failing to disclose that she was working for the Chinese military on her visa application has been arrested, the U.S. Department of Justice said this week.
Thursday, 4:28 PM | 30 commentsPalo Alto commission calls for more restrictions on use of force by police
Palo Alto's effort to discourage excessive force by police officers advanced on Wednesday night, when the city's Human Relations Commission recommended a series of revisions to Police Department policies.
Thursday, 9:42 AM | 14 commentsBlack Lives Matter activist Raven Malone contends for City Council seat
Raven Malone, an engineer who wants to bring a community-led approach to policing in Palo Alto, has added her name to the City Council race.
Thursday, 8:32 AM | 102 commentsWednesday, July 22, 2020
Greg Tanaka, Palo Alto's leading fiscal hawk, seeks another four years on City Council
Greg Tanaka, a tech CEO who over the past four years has been a persistent critic of the City Council's budget decisions, announced Wednesday is seeking a second term.
Wednesday, 4:15 PM | 75 commentsSanta Clara County will no longer seek death penalty, DA says
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said Wednesday that his office will no longer seek the death penalty, that it will form a new unit to investigate police misconduct and that it will work to eliminate cash bail.
Wednesday, 1:39 PM | 7 comments'This is a pandemic of trauma. Everybody is feeling the pain.'
As COVID-19 surges in California, some of the state's leading mental health professionals warned of long-lasting psychological fallout that will require enormous investment to help those who are suffering.
Wednesday, 12:14 PM | 17 commentsPalo Alto Unified middle, high schoolers to get later school start times
When Palo Alto Unified middle and high schoolers log on for distance learning in the new academic year, they won't have to do so until 9 a.m. or later.
Wednesday, 9:34 AM | 49 commentsTuesday, July 21, 2020
Seeking a more 'progressive' government, human relations commissioner joins council race
Steven Lee, an outspoken critic of the City Council's recent record on human rights, is joining the increasingly crowded race for a council seat.
Tuesday, 8:04 PM | 30 commentsNew 'pooled' COVID-19 testing could expand access
Demand for diagnostic tests has risen to a level that has pushed back California's mass-testing expansion plan due to a strain on resources. Now, "specimen pooling" could be a game changer.
Tuesday, 5:25 PM | 1 commentMayor defends letter backing Caltrain tax, accuses vice mayor of favoring 'do-nothing' approach
A dispute between the mayor and vice mayor over a proposed Caltrain tax measure escalated Tuesday when Mayor Adrian Fine fired off a letter disputing claims that he had overstepped his authority.
Tuesday, 3:59 PM | 30 commentsPalo Altan Grace Mah seeks fourth term on county school board
Grace Mah, a Palo Alto resident, parent and longtime community volunteer, is seeking a fourth term on the Santa Clara County Board of Education this November.
Tuesday, 9:21 AM | 28 comments
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Palo Alto's Mayfield Bakery & Cafe permanently closes after 11-year run
By Elena Kadvany | 18 comments | 14,974 views
City staff is running Palo Alto
By Diana Diamond | 24 comments | 3,140 views
Foothills Park: City does NOT want to hear from most of you
By Douglas Moran | 19 comments | 2,592 views
Couples: Are you Committed to your Vows or Dysfunction?
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 1,362 views
Kids and sugar: A cautionary tale
By Sherry Listgarten | 8 comments | 1,300 views
