Recent News
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Parents: Fill out county survey on 2020-21 school year plans
The Santa Clara County Office of Education is asking for parents of students in the county to fill out a survey that they said will help assist in plans for the 2020-21 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sunday, 8:23 AM | 5 commentsHow lottery money for disks and video tapes could help California's community colleges
State community colleges may be more than $1 billion dollars poorer next year, but $81 million that could save some classes from being cut are locked up in antiquated legal language, preventing colleges from tapping into needed funds.
Sunday, 8:10 AM | No comments yetSaturday, May 30, 2020
Update: Peninsula Target stores removed from temporary closure list
Target has temporarily closed stores throughout the country following looting at some of its stores nationwide during protests this week in response to the death of George Floyd.
Saturday, 10:44 PM | 8 commentsUniversity, California avenues could close to traffic as soon as June 4, providing relief to restaurants
University and California avenues could be closed to traffic four days a week as soon as next week, allowing restaurants to use the streets to serve diners once permitted to do so by Santa Clara County.
Saturday, 5:18 PM | 19 commentsLocal bans on residential evictions extended into August
Cities and counties throughout California are racing to extend emergency rules prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, 9:25 AM | 2 commentsAround Town: Feeding the front line with hundreds of meals; Students benefit from anonymous gift of books
In the latest Around Town column, news about a fundraiser that has resulted in hundreds of meals for hospital workers, an anonymous donation of new books handed out to local students and Rise Together Education's new leader.
Saturday, 9:04 AM | 1 commentCoronavirus weekend update: Santa Clara County reports 25 new cases
The biggest news from this past week is the revised San Mateo County Health order that allows for the reopening of places of worship and in-store retail shopping.
Saturday, 9:02 AM | 3 commentsFriday, May 29, 2020
Palo Alto public, private high schools team up for car parade graduation
While graduating high school seniors can't walk across the stage to receive their diplomas surrounded by friends and family this year, they will be able to celebrate via a car parade on June 3.
Friday, 8:19 PM | 5 commentsTo protect new recruits, Palo Alto looks to offer retirement incentives to public safety veterans
Palo Alto is preparing to offer $30,000 payments to Police and Fire department veterans who are willing to accept an early retirement -- a move that leaders hope will obviate the need for layoffs as they try to close a budget hole.
Friday, 4:38 PM | 2 commentsPUBLIC AGENDA: Newell Road Bridge replacement project; parks commission priorities
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of June 1.
Friday, 10:24 AM | No comments yetCurbside pickup — a step forward, but far from a lifeline for businesses
While store owners eagerly wait for the all-clear to reopen for in-store shopping, so too, apparently, do customers. Some have gotten so used to at-home delivery options that the offer of curbside pickup is not all that enticing.
Friday, 6:51 AM | 4 commentsIn a pandemic, local wildland firefighters face new challenges
Fire. Drought. Pestilence. It's a recipe for a big-screen apocalyptic movie. For California, it's also a scenario that could become all too real in the coming months in the first summer of COVID-19.
Friday, 6:50 AM | 1 commentPlexiglas shields and temperature screenings. Workspace changes won't look too radical, but they may feel invasive.
Now more than ever before, employers must think in granular detail about how workers interact within the workplace and how they can be protected -- from the objects they touch to the meeting rooms.
Friday, 6:50 AM | 3 commentsGuest Opinion: The 'unmasking' of Palo Alto
Please, reluctant face coverers, spare us the dissecting table (and the autopsy table) and wear the damn mask. It's not that hard, and refusing to do so is anti-social, irresponsible and unethical.
Friday, 6:49 AM | 66 commentsThursday, May 28, 2020
Lydia Kou seeks fresh term on Palo Alto City Council
City Councilwoman Lydia Kou, who has established herself as one of Palo Alto's most strident opponents of dense developments and Sacramento housing mandates, plans to pursue a new term.
Thursday, 1:20 PM | 60 commentsFacing a shaky financial future, Stanford projects budget cuts, layoffs
Stanford University, projecting a $267 million loss from the first six months of the coronavirus shutdown, is planning for program reductions and layoffs in the next fiscal year.
Thursday, 9:17 AM | 15 commentsNew deal may force nonprofit groups out of Cubberley
The Palo Alto school district plans to evict tenants from Cubberley Community Center once its existing arrangement with the city ends next month.
Thursday, 9:01 AM | 50 commentsWednesday, May 27, 2020
Interactive: A by-the-numbers look at the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on daily life
To show how the pandemic has impacted daily life, the Palo Alto Weekly has woven together local, regional and national numbers into a series of interactive infographics.
Wednesday, 9:50 AM | 7 commentsTuesday, May 26, 2020
Palo Alto prepares to cut more than 70 positions as revenues plummet
Facing a public outcry about proposals to cut funding for art and teen programs, the City Council moved Tuesday to restore some funding while cutting dozens of City Hall jobs.
Tuesday, 11:37 PM | 29 commentsSchool board to discuss reopening plan, budget cuts
The Palo Alto school board will discuss on Tuesday a detailed plan for reopening schools this fall, including proposed bell schedules and intensified precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Tuesday, 9:39 AM | 66 commentsMonday, May 25, 2020
State reopens places of worship, retail — but hair salons still off limits
Places of worship and retailers can now reopen statewide, with limitations, the California Department of Public Health announced Monday. However, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties' orders do not allow these reopenings locally.
Monday, 5:35 PM | 34 commentsHeat wave to last through Thursday
A heat wave is expected to linger in the Bay Area through Thursday, with the possibility of record-setting temperatures, forecasters said.
Monday, 1:37 PM | 5 commentsNew Bay Area Community Resources website launches
A group of Stanford students and faculty volunteers has launched a new website where Bay Area residents can find a broad variety of critical resources.
Monday, 1:14 PM | No comments yetSupervisors propose public dashboard tracking county's COVID-19 costs
Two Santa Clara County supervisors have announced a proposal to create a public dashboard tracking the county's costs accrued during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Monday, 8:48 AM | No comments yetSunday, May 24, 2020
Arastradero Open Space Preserve parking lot reopens
The Arastradero Open Space Preserve in Palo Alto has reopened to vehicle access and parking. Physical distancing rules are still in place and face coverings are "strongly" urged.
Sunday, 8:55 AM | 4 commentsStanford students connect public to free student lunches via texting service
A group of Stanford University students has developed a text service to help parents identify nearby locations to find free grab-and-go meals for their children.
Sunday, 7:40 AM | 1 commentSaturday, May 23, 2020
Coronavirus weekend update: Santa Clara County adds new test sites
Here's the latest news over the Memorial Day holiday weekend about the Midpeninsula's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, 9:20 AM | No comments yetCounty's new coronavirus mobile testing van coming to Mountain View on Monday
Santa Clara County is launching a mobile health van offering easy-to-access testing for residents worried they may have contracted the coronavirus. Its first stop? A visit to Mountain View on Memorial Day.
Saturday, 9:09 AM | No comments yetAround Town: Club keeps going with Memorial Day tradition; woman plans social distance parade for mother's birthday
In the latest Around Town column, stories about the Palo Alto University Rotary Club moving forward with its annual Memorial Day ritual and a surprise birthday celebration for a longtime resident who's turning 90 years old on Sunday.
Saturday, 8:54 AM | 1 commentFriday, May 22, 2020
New report: State job losses like 'nothing before seen'
Statewide unemployment numbers for April spiked higher than projected, jumping by an unprecedented 10.2%, according to a report released Friday. Two local cities also reached double-digits.
Friday, 4:34 PM | 18 commentsFacebook to undergo long-term shift to permit more remote work
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday that half of the company's workforce could work remotely in the next five to 10 years. What does that mean for the future of Menlo Park?
Friday, 1:35 PM | 4 commentsFace shields and testing: Teachers union asks for protection, flexibility in working conditions this fall
Palo Alto Unified and its teachers union have begun negotiating working conditions for the next academic year, anticipating a mix of in-person and virtual classes at the middle and high schools.
Friday, 1:06 PM | 79 commentsRevised budget would keep College Terrace Library open, limit cuts to teen programs
Palo Alto would keep the College Terrace Library open, partially restore funding for teen and arts programs and limit its cuts to police under City Manager Ed Shikada's updated budget proposal.
Friday, 12:42 PM | 15 commentsFoothill College to remain online-only for summer, fall
Foothill College will continue to operate online for the summer and fall quarters with limited exceptions, officials from the Los Altos Hills community college said during a virtual town hall on Thursday.
Friday, 9:35 AM | 4 commentsLife in motion
This year's winning images in the Peninsula Photo Contest expose the power of creativity, patience and anticipation of unexpected moments.
Friday, 6:52 AM | 1 commentMask on, gloves off: How to stay safe as counties loosen restrictions
Even as residents are gradually allowed to step outside, Dr. Jonathan Blum of Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center said stopping the spread of COVID-19 is an ongoing mission.
Friday, 6:51 AM | 17 commentsHaving lost her son, a Palo Alto mother now scatters messages of hope
Jennifer Turner, whose son died by suicide in 2017, has painted rocks with inspirational words and left them around Palo Alto to work through her own grief, while also hoping to lift others up.
Friday, 6:51 AM | 7 commentsGuest Opinion: A better way to save vital city services
The COVID emergency is forcing our city government to face the most difficult challenges it has encountered in decades. Valued services that define our community are proposed to be cut severely.
Friday, 6:50 AM | 47 commentsThursday, May 21, 2020
PUBLIC AGENDA: City and school budget reviews
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of May 26.
Thursday, 7:25 PM | No comments yetUnder a new name, Palo Alto Housing looks beyond its hometown
Palo Alto Housing, a nonprofit developer that has been building affordable housing for 50 years, has changed its name to Alta Housing, a move that signals the expansion of its ambitions.
Thursday, 1:05 PM | 10 commentsFentanyl-related deaths up sharply in county this year
Reported fentanyl-related deaths in Santa Clara County nearly tripled from January to May 8 compared to the same period in 2019, the county Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office said.
Thursday, 11:05 AM | 8 commentsWhat's closed and what to do on Memorial Day during COVID-19
Check out our list of city services that will be available or closed on Memorial Day this Monday, plus transit agencies' modified schedules and virtual events scheduled to mark the federal holiday.
Thursday, 11:05 AM | 10 commentsCoronavirus central: San Mateo County to allow places of worship, in-store retail starting Monday
The coronavirus continues to take its toll on the Midpeninsula. On Friday, Santa Clara County reported 2,707 cases and 140 deaths; San Mateo County reported 2,061 cases and 84 deaths.
Thursday, 11:05 AM | 8 commentsWednesday, May 20, 2020
Funding boost allows local nonprofits to offer more food, rent relief during pandemic
Facing a surge of demand for services, as well as new grant opportunities, some Palo Alto nonprofits are seeing the pandemic as a time for growth and transformation.
Wednesday, 4:09 PM | No comments yetFree COVID-19 tests available for all county residents at 2 new locations
All Santa Clara County residents, even those who don't have COVID-19 symptoms or health insurance, can now get tested.
Wednesday, 2:09 PM | 7 commentsAs Stage 2 of reopening begins, county has more to do to meet state requirements
As the state inches toward reopening from the COVID-19 crisis, counties are working to meet the California Department of Public Health's criteria in order to further relax restrictions.
Wednesday, 9:55 AM | 29 commentsPalo Alto to cut funding for planning, transportation as revenues drop
With the city's finances sputtering, Palo Alto plans to reduce planning staff, eliminate its shuttle program and turn to license-plate readers to enforce residential parking programs.
Wednesday, 9:27 AM | 26 commentsTuesday, May 19, 2020
Faced with telling toddler daughter she can't hug her grandparents, Stanford doctor pens children's book
How do you explain to a toddler that she can't hug her grandparents right now? Dr. Ben Lindquist wrote rhymes compiled in a new book.
Tuesday, 1:48 PM | 3 commentsDuring pandemic, Facebook expands high-end grocery donation program
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook is providing free and heavily subsidized food to local families facing food insecurity.
Tuesday, 1:34 PM | 1 commentWith new vaping ban, Palo Alto expects smoke shops to shutter
Palo Alto's elected leaders agonized on Monday night over a seemingly impossible question: How can you ban sales of vaping products without killing smoke shops?
Tuesday, 9:54 AM | 52 commentsPalo Alto managers plan to take pay cut during budget crisis
With Palo Alto facing a gaping budget deficit, City Manager Ed Shikada said Monday that he plans to take a 20% pay cut and that managers at City Hall will give back 15% of their salaries.
Tuesday, 12:46 AM | 46 commentsMonday, May 18, 2020
Santa Clara County to allow curbside retail pickups starting Friday
Book shops, clothing stores and other businesses in Santa Clara County that allow storefront pickup can start reopening Friday, provided they can limit their employee count and demonstrate their compliance with social-distancing rules.
Monday, 2:53 PM | 37 commentsHistoric Resources Board endorses plan for contentious President Hotel conversion
The proposal to renovate the iconic President Hotel building and convert it from an apartment complex to a hotel received a key endorsement last week from the Historic Resources Board.
Monday, 12:11 PM | 31 commentsNew San Mateo County order to allow curbside retail pickup, dog grooming
San Mateo County has amended its shelter-in-place health order to allow additional businesses to reopen on Monday, May 18, an action that aligns the county with the state's plan.
Monday, 8:35 AM | No comments yet
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John Shelsta's popular pastry pop-up finds a new home at Zola in Palo Alto
By Elena Kadvany | 6 comments | 7,154 views
Why I am suspicious about PA’s budget cuts
By Diana Diamond | 37 comments | 4,137 views
We are testing geoengineering, and that is a good thing
By Sherry Listgarten | 32 comments | 3,279 views
George Floyd's tragedy exposes tense polarization between Americans
By Jessica Zang | 34 comments | 2,375 views
De-Cluttering Is Possible: A Firsthand Account
By Max Greenberg | 2 comments | 1,333 views
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