Recent News
Saturday, August 24, 2019
New effort in the works to build trail from Bay to ocean
Land conservation agencies and local jurisdictions are teaming up behind a bold new plan to build a trail that would allow people to travel by foot, bicycle or horse from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean.
Saturday, 8:54 AM | 1 commentFriday, August 23, 2019
Webcast: The state of the Ravenswood school board
Palo Alto Weekly journalists discuss tensions between Ravenswood City School District board members and the implications for a district in transition.
Friday, 4:50 PM | No comments yetSanta Clara County, San Francisco win final ruling over Trump's threat against sanctuary counties
Santa Clara County and San Francisco won a final victory in a lawsuit Friday challenging President Donald Trump's threat to withhold federal funding for sanctuary cities and counties.
Friday, 4:10 PM | 1 commentPUBLIC AGENDA: School safety, Old Palo Alto parking program
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Aug. 26.
Friday, 8:36 AM | No comments yetBay Area: One-cent sales tax for transit could be on 2020 ballot
Bay Area voters may be asked to approve a one-cent sales tax in 2020 that would fund a wide array of transportation projects and improvements across the region.
Friday, 8:34 AM | 17 commentsEast Palo Alto board to study all school names β but first, Ravenswood Middle School
The Ravenswood school board voted unanimously on Thursday to form a board subcommittee to study and make recommendations on whether to change Ravenswood Middle School's name.
Friday, 8:27 AM | 3 commentsStanford is snapping up homes in College Terrace
New research by a group of media organizations has found that Stanford University's housing portfolio may be larger than even Palo Alto residents have imagined.
Friday, 6:54 AM | 51 commentsEditorial: With Castilleja project now in the public review process, can both sides work toward solution?
As it stands now, the proposal to redevelop Castilleja School in Palo Alto faces rough sledding unless it is revised to reduce its impacts.
Friday, 6:54 AM | 15 commentsGuest Opinion: It's time to address leaf blowers (again)
A longtime Palo Alto resident wants to take the fight over leaf blowers to the homeowners and property managers who hire gardeners often found using them in residential neighborhoods.
Friday, 6:54 AM | 24 commentsThursday, August 22, 2019
Palo Alto joins call for governance change at VTA
Palo Alto this week endorsed a scathing report calling for governance changes at the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority, though the city has yet to determine what reforms it wants to see.
Thursday, 9:55 AM | 6 commentsMenlo Park man accused of sexual assault of minors arrested again
Randolph Haldeman, who was arrested last month on allegations of sexually assaulting children and then released on bail, was arrested Wednesday at his Menlo Park home on 20 sexual assault charges.
Thursday, 8:48 AM | 4 commentsWednesday, August 21, 2019
Online program helps East Palo Alto mayor fulfill dream of earning a bachelor's degree
East Palo Alto Mayor Lisa Gauthier can officially add college graduate to her list of accomplishments after achieving her lifelong goal of earning a bachelor's degree earlier this month.
Wednesday, 4:05 PM | 2 commentsSurvey: Nearly one in three Santa Clara County teens have tried vaping
While cigarette use among high school students in Santa Clara County has hit an all-time low, vaping is on the rise, a survey released Wednesday has found.
Wednesday, 2:35 PM | 4 commentsPalo Alto looks to business tax to fund shuttles, rail improvements
As Palo Alto prepares to join the recent wave of cities that have adopted a business tax, transportation is emerging as the highest priority for how the revenues would be used.
Wednesday, 9:57 AM | 18 commentsA family came to Stanford Hospital chasing a lifesaving treatment for a rare disease. Now they may be forced to leave.
An Armenian family is trying to change their visa status to allow them to stay and work in the U.S. so their 19-month-old son can continue to receive treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
Wednesday, 9:50 AM | 8 commentsPalo Alto Festival of the Arts features functional, beautiful pieces for the home
The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, taking place this weekend in downtown Palo Alto, features the creations of 300 artists with works that can add up to many opportunities for that "double look."
Wednesday, 8:24 AM | 1 commentMonday, August 19, 2019
Hope fades for housing at Fry's site
With its ambitious effort to revitalize the Ventura neighborhood in danger of faltering, Palo Alto officials agreed on Monday to raise the budget and lower the expectations for the complex planning process.
Monday, 11:22 PM | 37 commentsNewsom signs landmark police use-of-force bill
California will soon have a tougher new legal standard for the use of deadly force by police, under legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Monday that was inspired by last year's fatal shooting of a young, unarmed man in Sacramento.
Monday, 3:14 PM | 22 commentsSchool district raises questions about Palo Alto's intention to renew Cubberley lease
The city of Palo Alto and school district's joint effort to redevelop Cubberley Community Center has hit a bump, with questions arising about whether the city intends to renew its $5 million lease.
Monday, 9:42 AM | 22 commentsSunday, August 18, 2019
'I don't think there is trust on this board.' Fissures emerge between East Palo Alto school trustees during retreat
Nine months after an election created new dynamics on the Ravenswood City School District Board of Education, the new and old trustees are struggling to find common ground.
Sunday, 9:08 AM | 8 commentsVTA board members support shake-up after scathing grand jury report
A new VTA subcommittee began discussions on potential tweaks to the governing board that would improve effectiveness at the beleaguered agency at a meeting on Aug. 9.
Sunday, 9:06 AM | 2 commentsSaturday, August 17, 2019
Caltrain strikes unoccupied vehicle in Palo Alto
A Caltrain struck an unoccupied vehicle in Palo Alto Friday night.
Saturday, 11:12 AM | 12 commentsAround Town: Auditor's office getting taste of its own medicine; Bay Trail work set to begin
The Palo Alto City Auditor's Office will face an audit by an outside firm to consider what other cities are doing and evaluate whether some of the functions of the office should be placed under the purview of the city manager.
Saturday, 7:38 AM | 5 commentsFriday, August 16, 2019
Longtime Palo Alto free lunch, dinner program for the needy ends
Homeless people who have been eating free lunches and dinners through the Breaking Bread program in Palo Alto now have to find a meal elsewhere, as the organizer switched to offering only breakfasts.
Friday, 5:39 PM | 12 commentsWebcast: Palo Alto's superintendent, one year in
Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Don Austin joins Weekly journalists to discuss his vision for the district and upcoming issues for the new school year.
Friday, 5:00 PM | No comments yetSuperintendent: School district to use data to solve ongoing issues
Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Don Austin said his staff will give timely and accurate reports on 12 districtwide goals throughout the year, enabling educators to shift tactics as they go to ensure progress.
Friday, 3:45 PM | 7 commentsPUBLIC AGENDA: City responds to VTA governance report; Study session on school facilities
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Aug. 19.
Friday, 3:34 PM | No comments yetShop Talk: After 39 years of cakes and pastries, Palo Alto institution Prolific Oven to close
One of Palo Alto's longest-standing bakeries, The Prolific Oven will close on Aug. 31 due to a "severe" labor shortage and increasing cost of doing business in the Bay Area, the owners said Wednesday.
Friday, 11:44 AM | 8 commentsAnother Spare the Air alert issued as heat wave continues across Bay Area
Bay Area communities can expect another hot day Friday, which has led the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to issue a third consecutive Spare the Air alert this week.
Friday, 8:31 AM | No comments yetWith clock ticking, city considers another rail committee
As Santa Clara County prepares to distribute funding for rail projects in north county, Palo Alto is looking to create yet another citizen committee to advise city leaders on the complex and contentious topic.
Friday, 6:56 AM | 34 commentsSmall retailers in limbo at Hotel California building
Only two retailers that remain in the Hotel California building in Palo Alto's California Avenue shopping district may need to find new homes if their landlord goes through with a plan to gut the first floor.
Friday, 6:56 AM | 13 commentsGuest Opinion: On Castilleja, be careful of what you wish for
If I were a neighbor of Castilleja School, I would be more concerned with the disruption during construction and the added traffic that additional students would bring to the area.
Friday, 6:56 AM | 30 commentsThursday, August 15, 2019
Church celebration Saturday to look back β and forward
In 2015, the Palo Alto Church of Christ faced a dilemma. Once a robust congregation -- with 200 members at its peak in 1968 -- by 2015, membership had dwindled to roughly 25.
Thursday, 4:58 PM | 1 commentTwo men arrested for car burglaries at Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto police last week arrested two men who allegedly broke into cars at Stanford Shopping Center and, in one case, stole two backpacks containing electronics, the department said Thursday.
Thursday, 2:49 PM | 11 commentsPlanning commissioners kick back Castilleja draft environmental impact report for additions
Finding gaps in the draft environmental-impact report for Castilleja School's proposed expansion, Palo Alto's Planning and Transportation Commission is seeking more specific details that might help answer many residents' questions.
Thursday, 9:57 AM | 41 commentsHeat advisory, Spare the Air alert in effect Thursday
A heat advisory that the National Weather Service issued remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday as temperatures climb to the 90s and 100s in parts of the Bay Area.
Thursday, 8:40 AM | No comments yetWednesday, August 14, 2019
Santa Clara County brings nonprofit aboard for teacher housing project in Palo Alto
A proposed affordable-housing project in Palo Alto exclusively for teachers gained momentum on Tuesday when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a developer to make the plan a reality.
Wednesday, 5:02 PM | 16 commentsPalo Alto elementary schools begin new year by getting a jump-start on goals
Palo Alto Unified's 13 elementary schools returned to class on Wednesday, kicking off both new priorities and continued focus on existing ambitions.
Wednesday, 12:10 PM | 4 commentsSanta Clara County, San Francisco sue Trump administration over 'public charge' restrictions on immigrants
Santa Clara County and San Francisco are challenging a new rule that makes it harder for low-income legal immigrants to stay in the U.S.
Wednesday, 10:27 AM | 22 commentsTuesday, August 13, 2019
High temperatures in forecast prompts heat advisory for parts of the Bay Area
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wednesday and Thursday for parts of the Bay Area. The announcement has led Santa Clara County to offer services to give the public relief from the hot conditions.
Tuesday, 8:06 PM | No comments yetClasses begin again at Palo Alto's middle, high schools
Tuesday marked the first day of a new school year for thousands of middle and high school students in the Palo Alto Unified School District, with the district's younger students set to return to classes on Wednesday.
Tuesday, 5:33 PM | 12 commentsCouncil urged to take tough stance on Edgewood Plaza developer over grocery store
It's been a year and a half since Edgewood Plaza's new grocery store opened for business, but Palo Alto and the plaza's developer remain embroiled in a legal standoff, with little signs of compromise.
Tuesday, 5:14 PM | 34 commentsPolice: Woman fights off two would-be robbers in Midtown
Palo Alto police are looking for two men who they said attacked a woman on Monday afternoon in the city's Midtown neighborhood, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
Tuesday, 4:48 PM | 19 commentsFamily fears for safety of missing disabled woman
A 20-year-old East Palo Alto woman with learning disabilities and a medical condition disappeared six weeks ago, leaving her family worried about her safety.
Tuesday, 2:07 PM | 1 commentSecond straight Spare the Air alert issued for Wednesday
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued another Spare the Air alert for Wednesday because of unhealthy levels of smog expected in the region.
Tuesday, 12:34 PM | No comments yetResidents urge more restrictions on cell antennas in Palo Alto
Palo Alto's shifting rules for installation of wireless communication equipment changed on Monday when the City Council revised a rule that limited the height at which cellular antennas could be placed on poles.
Tuesday, 11:30 AM | 35 commentsMonday, August 12, 2019
Spare the Air alert issued for Tuesday in Bay Area
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air alert for Tuesday, the eighth of the summer season, because of unhealthy levels of smog in the region.
Monday, 1:02 PM | No comments yetCondominium project tests the limit of Palo Alto's new housing law
Encouraged by the Palo Alto City Council's newfound appetite for housing along San Antonio Road, a local developer is moving ahead with a proposal to build 102 condominiums on a commercial site near the Mountain View border.
Monday, 12:33 PM | 28 commentsBay Area mayors call for Senate action on gun safety laws
More than 20 Bay Area mayors, including four on the Midpeninsula, are among 249 nationwide who have signed a letter calling for action on gun violence legislation in the wake of recent mass shootings.
Monday, 10:44 AM | No comments yetSunday, August 11, 2019
County supervisors call for federal assault weapons ban
Two Santa Clara County supervisors are urging a nationwide ban on assault weapons, calling it a common-sense action to curb gun violence in the wake of three deadly shootings, including one in Gilroy.
Sunday, 7:22 AM | 22 commentsAround Town: Ventura vision in trouble; City seeks greater voice on VTA board
In the latest Around Town column, concerns are rising over the process to create a new vision for Palo Alto's Ventura neighborhood and the city is proposing a new way to select who serves on the Valley Transportation Authority board.
Sunday, 7:18 AM | 3 comments
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Round Table Pizza bites the dust in downtown Palo Alto
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Local Transit to the Rescue?
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Eating Green on the Green – August 25
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Moral Panic, again on guns
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"The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman
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βOn Friday, October 11, join us at the Palo Alto Baylands for a 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run or half marathon! All proceeds benefit local nonprofits serving children and families.
