Recent News
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Here's how the Stanford Graduate School of Business plans to address racial inequity 'within our own corridors'
Spurred by the Black Lives Matter protests and an acknowledgment that there is racial inequity "within our own corridors," the Stanford Graduate School of Business has published a plan for creating a more inclusive culture.
Wednesday, 1:10 PM | 1 commentSanta Clara County imposes fines on public health violators as COVID-19 cases surge
Violating public health orders in Santa Clara County now carries a hefty fine of up to $500, giving teeth to mask requirements and social-distancing rules in Santa Clara County that have been in effect for months.
Wednesday, 9:53 AM | 13 commentsSpecial education families want their kids in school as soon as possible. The unions don't.
Parents of students with disabilities are approaching the start of a new online school year with deep apprehension, pleading with the district to find a safe way to offer in-person instruction to their children.
Wednesday, 9:30 AM | 13 commentsAs Target eyes former Fry's building, Palo Alto rethinks its housing plan
With prospects for housing at the former site of Fry's Electronics fading, city leaders and residents are weighing a more modest proposal for the old cannery on Portage Avenue: a small Target store.
Wednesday, 8:55 AM | 22 commentsSanta Clara County supervisors extend eviction moratorium past Aug. 31
Amid a ticking "eviction time bomb" in Santa Clara County, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an extended eviction moratorium for private and commercial tenants.
Wednesday, 8:25 AM | No comments yetTuesday, August 11, 2020
Incumbent Todd Collins, parent Jesse Ladomirak detail campaigns for school board
The race for three open seats on the Palo Alto Unified school board continues to expand with President Todd Collins and parent Jesse Ladomirak.
Tuesday, 5:22 PM | 6 commentsPac-12 Conference postpones all sports through 2020
The Pac-12 Conference announced Tuesday that it has postponed all sports through the end of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision affects two Bay Area schools in the conference: Stanford University and UC Berkeley.
Tuesday, 3:14 PM | No comments yetPalo Alto extends Summer Streets program until winter to promote outdoor dining
Seeking to provide a lifeline to businesses and further enhance the city's outdoor dining program, the City Council has agreed to keep University and California avenues closed to cars through Dec. 31.
Tuesday, 9:53 AM | 4 commentsMeet the seven candidates vying for two seats on the Ravenswood school board
Seven candidates have pulled papers, to date, in the Ravenswood City School District Board of Education race, including one incumbent and six newcomers.
Tuesday, 9:38 AM | 5 comments'Unattainable' or 'necessary'? Palo Alto City Council spars over new housing target
A state push to more than double Bay Area's housing production in the next eight years is stoking opposition, with some City Council members saying the new goals are unrealistic.
Tuesday, 12:49 AM | 22 commentsMonday, August 10, 2020
Newsom: State can't afford White House unemployment benefits plan
The state of California does not have the financial wherewithal to afford the White House's plan to extend expanded unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.
Monday, 3:54 PM | No comments yetPalo Alto Speaks forum aims to shed light on race, equity
Palo Alto is seeking input from members of the Black and brown communities regarding their experiences in the city with race and equity, issues that have been under the limelight in recent months.
Monday, 1:53 PM | 5 commentsHere's what the state recommends for reopening colleges and universities
The California Department of Public Health has released its reopening guidance for higher education institutions, which detail a very different picture of college life in the age of COVID-19.
Monday, 12:08 PM | No comments yetWith new, virtual school year around the corner, board to discuss special education
The Palo Alto school board will discuss on Tuesday special education services, supports for struggling students and other facets of distance learning.
Monday, 10:43 AM | 4 commentsSunday, August 9, 2020
Faced with dying Californians and withering businesses, Gov. Newsom steers a middle path. Can it last?
As COVID-19 infections and deaths rise dramatically, the governor navigates pressure to tighten restrictions and ease up on businesses.
Sunday, 1:24 PM | 11 commentsSaturday, August 8, 2020
Palo Alto's COVID-19 numbers are growing
Nearly five months into the coronavirus shutdown and the number of new COVID-19 cases in Palo Alto is rising sharply after almost completely plateauing in May, according to county data.
Saturday, 10:44 PM | 60 commentsPolice are searching for two suspects in armed robbery of Midtown 7-Eleven
Police are searching for two suspects in the armed robbery Friday night of a convenience store in Midtown Palo Alto.
Saturday, 2:19 PM | 9 commentsWith SF's 11th-hour vote, three-county sales tax measure to fund Caltrain can go before voters
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an eighth-cent sales tax measure for the November election to fund Caltrain during a special meeting Friday -- the last agency needed to place the measure on the ballot.
Saturday, 10:42 AM | No comments yetAround Town: Bay Trail extension gives nature lovers more room to roam
In the latest Around Town column, a rundown of a new place for Midpeninsula nature lovers to roam, the lack of local measures on the November ballot in Palo Alto and a growing website where teens can connect while sheltering at home.
Saturday, 8:56 AM | 1 commentFriday, August 7, 2020
Anxiety mounts over an eviction 'time bomb' in Santa Clara County
A new report finds Santa Clara County could soon face an unprecedented wave of evictions due to COVID-19, which threatens to displace tens of thousands of residents and more than triple the homeless population.
Friday, 4:46 PM | No comments yetSanta Clara County considers fines for COVID-19 health code violations
Neglecting to wear a mask in public could soon carry a hefty fine of up to $500 in Santa Clara County, according to a new proposal cracking down on those who violate COVID-19 public health orders.
Friday, 2:27 PM | 8 commentsShop Talk: Midpeninsula loses Muji, Jos. A. Bank
In the latest Shop Talk column, news about Japanese retailer Muji and men's clothing company Jos. A. Bank closing their Palo Alto stores, plus MacArthur Park's plans to temporarily suspend its downtown restaurant until 2021.
Friday, 1:19 PM | No comments yetWhat can you do to fight racism in your community? These young activists have some ideas.
Three young Black women expressed on a virtual panel Thursday a mix of optimism and pessimism, motivation and anger about the roles they've assumed as activists for racial and social justice.
Friday, 9:16 AM | 2 commentsHealth officers face unprecedented threats, intimidation
While working long hours to lead the fight against the coronavirus, health officers nationwide, including Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody, have been subjected to mounting threats.
Friday, 7:00 AM | 11 commentsGuest Opinion: City's flavored tobacco ban a win for our children
The Palo Alto City Council last week gave final approval to a measure prohibiting retail sales of flavored tobacco products. I am grateful that the city took this important step.
Friday, 7:00 AM | 7 commentsAfter 50 years in a gym, cardiac program pivots to Zoom
Knowing that regular, medically supervised exercise is, literally, a lifeline for many cardiac patients, cardiac-wellness program HeartFit for Life has resurrected some of their offerings via Zoom.
Friday, 7:00 AM | 1 commentThe digital drop-off: Some seniors shy away from Zoom, virtual classes
With cardiac wellness program HeartFit for Life now pivoting from in-person classes to virtual ones on Zoom, only about 90 members are still attending, Executive Director Robin Wedell said.
Friday, 6:59 AM | No comments yetThursday, August 6, 2020
Safeway janitors seek more compensation, protective gear in the face of COVID-19
Citing the risk of getting COVID-19 at their workplaces, janitors who clean Safeway stores across the Bay Area protested in Palo Alto on Thursday to demand safeguards for their health and financial security.
Thursday, 4:58 PM | No comments yetPUBLIC AGENDA: Summer Streets extension plan; fall reopening plans at schools
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Aug. 10.
Thursday, 4:55 PM | No comments yetSchool district and union reach tentative agreement on distance learning, reopening conditions
After months of negotiations over working conditions for the new school year, Palo Alto Unified and its teachers union have reached a tentative agreement on a new memorandum of understanding.
Thursday, 1:09 PM | 26 commentsPalo Alto mayor will not seek reelection to City Council
Mayor Adrian Fine, a housing advocate who has frequently clashed with his council colleagues on issues pertaining to growth, will not seek another council term.
Thursday, 12:54 PM | 26 commentsTobacco retailers sue Palo Alto over new ban
Four Palo Alto tobacco-shop owners are suing the city, claiming its new ban on vape and flavored tobacco products violates the retailers' rights to conduct lawful business.
Thursday, 9:41 AM | 11 commentsSanta Clara County lines up appointment-based COVID-19 testing sites
Beginning this week, Santa Clara County will provide appointment-based testing sites on a consistently scheduled, rotating basis, according to County Supervisor Joe Simitian.
Thursday, 8:40 AM | 3 commentsWednesday, August 5, 2020
Violent assault leaves elderly man with several stab wounds
A teenager accused of violently assaulting a man in his 80s in Palo Alto's Crescent Park neighborhood, leaving him with multiple stab wounds, was arrested on Friday evening, police said Wednesday.
Wednesday, 5:19 PM | No comments yetBay Area legislators call for Senate to pass stimulus bill
Rep. Anna Eshoo was among a group of Bay Area federal legislators on Wednesday that called on the U.S. Senate to pass a COVID-19 stimulus bill that includes relief funding for local governments.
Wednesday, 5:16 PM | No comments yetNonprofits in need of back-to-school supplies for distance learning
As schools go back into session through distance learning, families will have to create a proper learning environment for their children at home and provide some of the educational supplies themselves.
Wednesday, 3:42 PM | 1 commentCraving more outdoor dining, Palo Alto prepares to extend 'Summer Streets' to end of the year
Buoyed by rave reviews of the city's new outdoor dining scene, Palo Alto leaders are considering keeping California and University avenues closed to traffic until the end of the year and adding a car-free zone on Ramona Street.
Wednesday, 3:24 PM | 4 commentsFish and wildlife officials confirm outbreak of deer disease in Santa Clara County
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Monday confirmed an outbreak of a disease affecting deer in several Northern California counties, including Santa Clara County.
Wednesday, 1:59 PM | No comments yetGoing down? Maybe not. State reports technical glitch led to COVID-19 undercount
California's daily count of COVID-19 cases appears to be falling, but that may be due to underreporting caused by technical issues, state health officials said Tuesday.
Wednesday, 11:45 AM | 2 commentsStanford announces layoffs, workforce reductions to address budget concerns
Stanford University continues to tighten its budget to address lost revenue due to the shutdown, including laying off 208 employees, 30 additional furloughs and eliminating over 400 vacant positions.
Wednesday, 9:26 AM | 4 commentsTuesday, August 4, 2020
State outlines waiver process for schools seeking to hold classes in person
State epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan on Tuesday outlined the state's waiver process for K-6 schools that seek to hold classes in person even if they are in a county on California's coronavirus watchlist.
Tuesday, 4:59 PM | No comments yetDespite looming deficit, Santa Clara County supervisors reject sales tax hike for the November ballot
Santa Clara County's board of supervisors will not place a sales tax measure on this November's ballot, after two supervisors on Tuesday pushed back on the idea of taxing residents to offset the deficit.
Tuesday, 2:42 PM | 1 commentCaltrain gets a lifeline after counties strike compromise on tax measure
A three-way deal between supervisors in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties over presenting voters this fall with a tax measure to fund Caltrain operations offers the transit agency a lifeline after weeks of uncertainty.
Tuesday, 1:28 PM | 14 commentsSupervisor: Federal relief, mediation needed to avoid large scale evictions in Santa Clara County
Delays in the Senate over a new stimulus package will likely have detrimental effects in Santa Clara County, said county Supervisor Dave Cortese.
Tuesday, 12:04 PM | 1 commentEast Palo Alto tenants worried about evictions amid pandemic
Hundreds of families in East Palo Alto have been unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to get assistance, housing advocates said at a briefing Monday.
Tuesday, 11:30 AM | No comments yetShould Palo Alto extend its street closure programs for outdoor dining and retail?
The city of Palo Alto is hosting a community meeting today at 5:30 p.m. to gather feedback on the Summer Streets program to support local businesses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuesday, 9:25 AM | 6 commentsStanford revises campus sexual violence policy to comply with Trump administration's controversial new rules
Stanford is seeking feedback on draft Title IX policy revisions for how universities respond to reports of sexual violence and harassment.
Tuesday, 9:14 AM | No comments yetPalo Alto moves to expand access to 'residents-only' Foothills Park
Palo Alto's prolonged and polarizing debate over whether nonresidents should be allowed to visit Foothills Park moved toward a compromise on Monday, when the City Council agreed to expand access to the pristine and exclusive preserve.
Tuesday, 1:02 AM | 62 commentsMonday, August 3, 2020
Palo Alto teen starts music organization for COVID-19 relief
A Palo Alto high school student has developed a new, and melodic, way for parents to keep fidgety and stir-crazy kids occupied during quarantine.
Monday, 3:52 PM | 1 commentNew section of Bay Trail opens this week in East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto and Menlo Park residents will have improved access to the San Francisco Bay Trail as a new 0.6-mile section of the trail opens to the public this week.
Monday, 3:27 PM | No comments yetPolice find 2 men fatally shot in car in East Palo Alto
A double homicide investigation is underway in East Palo Alto where two men were found shot to death in a car on Sunday night, a police spokesman said Monday.
Monday, 1:39 PM | No comments yetParent organization to host two town hall webinars this week
The Palo Alto Council of PTAs is hosting two town hall webinars on Monday and Tuesday to give families an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about reopening schools.
Monday, 9:21 AM | 8 commentsSunday, August 2, 2020
Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing guru quit last job amid pressure to reopen economy
The head of COVID-19 testing for Santa Clara County was at the center of controversy in San Benito County where a supervisor urged the county board to cut ties with Dr. Marty Fenstersheib over reopening local businesses.
Sunday, 3:45 PM | 3 commentsAround Town: Palo Alto firefighters return after nine days at the Hog Fire
In the latest Around Town, news about a Palo Alto fire crew that helped deter a Lassen County wildfire, East Palo Alto's new grant to build granny units and a funding opportunity for local nonprofits.
Sunday, 9:16 AM | 2 commentsSaturday, August 1, 2020
San Mateo County salons, gyms and churches cease indoor operations
Officials in San Mateo County announced Saturday that certain indoor businesses and activities were ordered to 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 | 1 commentFriday, 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 | 18 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 | 41 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 | 70 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 comments
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Fresh from the water: Popular local fishing boat starts selling seafood at Port of Redwood City
By Elena Kadvany | 1 comment | 4,824 views
Constantly coping with the virus: We need a total lockdown now
By Diana Diamond | 36 comments | 2,553 views
Traffic Lights for the Whole Family
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 2,330 views
Did a hedge fund just steal your EV rebate?
By Sherry Listgarten | 0 comments | 1,787 views
Easing Back to School Anxiety
By Cheryl Bac | 0 comments | 553 views
