Recent News

Monday, June 5, 2023

To help tenants, council advances new eviction protections

Seeking to provide a measure of security to renters in city's famously expensive housing market, Palo Alto leaders agreed on Monday to expand eviction protections and to put a cap on security deposits.

Monday, 11:28 PM | No comments yet
Caltrans offers signups for weekly updates on Highway 84 closure near Woodside

Caltrans is putting out a new weekly newsletter with updates on repair work to a stretch of Highway 84 near Woodside that's been closed due to landslide damage since March.

Monday, 6:05 PM | No comments yet
Friends of man killed in Highway 101 crash remember him as supportive, kind

Mountain View resident Paul Dennig loved basketball and snow sports. He loved the Golden State Warriors and exploring nature trails in the Berkeley hills. But more than anything, he loved making his friends and family feel loved.

Monday, 3:59 PM | No comments yet
In graduation ceremony, Castilleja's Class of 2023 remembered for their optimism and grace

Speakers at the Castilleja School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 3, highlighted the humor and optimism of the Class of 2023, especially as they navigated pandemic-era high school.

Monday, 8:39 AM | No comments yet

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Ravenswood district teachers to get 4% raise

Come July 1, teachers in the Ravenswood City School District will see raises of slightly over 4%, under a contract approved by the school board last week.

Sunday, 3:53 PM | No comments yet
With 600 miles to go, these solar cyclists are hoping for some sun

A group of eight cyclists is pedaling, and cruising, toward Los Angeles to raise awareness of solar-powered bikes and sustainable transportation.

Sunday, 1:53 PM | No comments yet
Around Town: An inspiring teacher, passport delays and a big council decision

In this week's Around Town column, read about an inspiring teacher who really connects with his students, lawmakers' rebuke over delayed passport renewals and why the council is switching its meeting start times.

Sunday, 1:05 PM | 2 comments

Saturday, June 3, 2023

The age of uncertainty: How seniors are 'aging in place'

A survey of Peninsula seniors commissioned by Avenidas of Palo Alto has found that most respondents desire to "age in place," or live in their own homes as they advance in age.

Saturday, 12:33 PM | 14 comments

Friday, June 2, 2023

Graduation central: Class of 2023 marks its milestone

Read the Weekly's coverage of local graduations, with articles on the Gunn and Palo Alto high school ceremonies on Thursday, Q&As with seniors and full lists of the Class of 2023 from local schools.

Friday, 1:13 PM | No comments yet
Henry M. Gunn High School

Here are the names of the graduates in Gunn High School's Class of 2023.

Friday, 1:10 PM | No comments yet
Palo Alto High School

Friday, 1:09 PM | No comments yet
Castilleja School

Friday, 1:09 PM | No comments yet
Eastside College Preparatory School

Friday, 1:09 PM | No comments yet
Kehillah Jewish High School

Friday, 1:09 PM | No comments yet
Menlo School

Friday, 1:09 PM | No comments yet
Palo Alto Preparatory School

Friday, 1:08 PM | No comments yet
Pinewood School

Friday, 1:08 PM | No comments yet
Sacred Heart Preparatory School

Friday, 1:08 PM | No comments yet
Waldorf School of the Peninsula

Friday, 1:08 PM | No comments yet
Woodside Priory School

Friday, 1:08 PM | No comments yet
Paly graduates reflect on their legacies: 'We are leaving behind more than one moment'

At Palo Alto High School's graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 1, student speakers urged their classmates to take their experiences over the past four years and use them to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Friday, 12:22 AM | 1 comment
In Gunn High graduation ceremony, inclusion reigns

At a high school known for its high scholarship, students in the 2023 Henry M. Gunn's graduating class focused instead on the lessons they learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and on efforts to be a community that is more inclusive.

Friday, 12:22 AM | 2 comments

Thursday, June 1, 2023

PUBLIC AGENDA: water purification plant, evaluating law firms, electric grid modernization

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of June 5.

Thursday, 9:39 PM | No comments yet
With deadline looming, Becker bills on privacy, clean energy advance in state Senate

State Sen. Josh Becker stood apart from most of his Democratic colleagues this week when he opted not to support this year's most contentious housing bill, SB 423, which streamlines the review process for new residential developments.

Thursday, 8:18 PM | 5 comments
Obituaries: Local residents who have died

Local residents who have died recently include Theodore Clarence Carlstrom, Jacob Pierce, Elizabeth Jeanne Doyle, Joan Hancock, Tze Leung Lai, Charles Probst, Robert Campbell McGibben Jr. and Dorothea Emily Collins.

Thursday, 7:52 PM | No comments yet
Defining moments: 7 questions for the Class of 2023

As this year's graduating seniors don their caps and gowns to receive their diplomas, the commencement ceremonies will mark the successful completion of four years of high school that were unlike any the students could have predicted.

Thursday, 7:51 PM | No comments yet
Programs to protect tenants advance — over landlords' opposition

It's an idea that city leaders and advocates for Palo Alto's tenants say is long overdue: a registry of the roughly 11,400 apartments scattered throughout the city. Many landlords, however, aren't convinced it's needed.

Thursday, 8:59 AM | 11 comments

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

See which homes sold for $22.2M, $16M and $11.5M along the Peninsula

Want to know what's happening in the local real estate market? Take a look at our interactive charts showing home sales activity in communities along the Midpeninsula for the week of May 22.

Wednesday, 6:30 PM | No comments yet
Policymakers: Public transit will go over 'fiscal cliff' without more state dollars

As the upcoming state budget deadline looms over California, state policymakers warned Gov. Gavin Newsom that his ambitious climate targets will crumble without adequate funding for public transportation.

Wednesday, 6:22 PM | 6 comments
Police calls: Assault with deadly weapon results in possible grievous bodily injury

Here's a roundup of incidents reported to law enforcement for the week of May 13-19.

Wednesday, 6:10 PM | 1 comment
Auditor urges police to stop sharing case info over personal cell phones

Palo Alto's police auditor is urging the city to enforce its rules against sharing draft police reports and other work-related documents on personal cell phones after department employees did so during a dispute with a supervisor.

Wednesday, 6:08 PM | 1 comment
Palo Alto Unified sets forth plan for preventing violence

The Palo Alto Unified School District is expediting plans to address student violence and other harmful behaviors, Superintendent Don Austin said in a Superintendent's Update released on Friday, May 26.

Wednesday, 9:53 AM | 37 comments

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Palo Alto hopes to give apartment dwellers a way to power up electric vehicles

Seeking progress on its ambitious climate-change goals, Palo Alto is preparing to launch new programs for more EV charging stations at apartment complexes and carbon-free HVAC systems in commercial buildings.

Tuesday, 9:08 PM | 11 comments
Jail inmate stabs two deputies with makeshift knife, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office reports

Two Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies were stabbed by an inmate at the Main Jail in an alleged unprovoked attack Sunday, according to sheriff's officials.

Tuesday, 6:19 PM | No comments yet
Police: Thieves rip $6K necklace from woman's neck

Police are looking for two suspects who forcibly stole a necklace from a woman in Atherton on Sunday, May 28.

Tuesday, 6:17 PM | 4 comments
Palo Alto Unified under investigation by federal civil rights office

Palo Alto Unified's decision to move two classrooms of students with moderate-to-severe disabilities to other school campuses has triggered an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

Tuesday, 9:52 AM | 11 comments

Monday, May 29, 2023

Palo Alto Weekly nets 17 honors in California Journalism Awards

Local journalists received recognition this month in an annual statewide competition that honors excellence in reporting, design, photography and multimedia.

Monday, 2:10 PM | 5 comments
State Parks offer free admissions to vets, active and reserve military on Memorial Day

California State Parks is offering free admission to 130 state parks to veterans, and active and reserve military members on Memorial Day.

Monday, 10:41 AM | No comments yet

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Around Town: Podcasting Palo Alto's past and a new garden retreat

In this week's Around Town column, learn about the student who is creating bite-sized audio tours of Palo Alto's history, see a new garden retreat in Palo Alto, and hear about the ideas youth pitched to Rep. Anna Eshoo.

Sunday, 12:26 PM | 1 comment

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Police calls: A felony threat with intent to terrorize, grand theft

The following list captures recent reports of crimes made to Palo Alto police for the week of May 6 - 12. In total, 14 people were arrested.

Saturday, 8:29 AM | 5 comments

Friday, May 26, 2023

Former CinéArts theater could become office space

The owner of the Palo Alto Square business park is heading for a legal showdown with the city over its plan to convert the movie theater that once housed CinéArts into an office building.

Friday, 8:01 PM | 11 comments
Police: Reported gunshot noises were likely fireworks

About 10 loud bangs that Palo Alto residents heard and reported to police on early Friday morning were likely fireworks, police Sgt. Dan Pojanamat said.

Friday, 1:12 PM | 3 comments
PUBLIC AGENDA: Ventura area plan, rental registry, 4-story mixed-use building

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of May 29.

Friday, 11:48 AM | No comments yet
Find out which public services are closed this Memorial Day

Memorial Day is coming up, and many public services will be closed or operating on modified schedules.

Friday, 8:25 AM | No comments yet

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Dangerous crossing worse than ever, Palo Alto residents say

Screeching brakes and crumpling metal are still a continual occurrence at one dangerous Palo Alto intersection, despite nearby residents' complaints to the city. And the situation is only get worse, they say.

Thursday, 4:32 PM | 10 comments
Developer advances plan for condo project on San Antonio Road

After receiving encouraging feedback last year, a developer is pushing ahead with 76-condominium project on a portion of San Antonio Road that Palo Alto is hoping to turn into a residential community.

Thursday, 4:23 PM | 2 comments
Menlo Park doctor sentenced to prison for possession of child pornography

A Menlo Park doctor was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to two years in prison for possessing child pornography.

Thursday, 9:34 AM | No comments yet
Peninsula home sales drop by nearly half in April compared to last year

Increased mortgage rates combined with an inventory shortage caused a significant drop in home sales statewide and along the Peninsula in April, according to a new report from the California Association of Realtors.

Thursday, 9:29 AM | No comments yet

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

2 Palo Alto teachers and a disabled student injured during violent struggle

A serious incident in which two teachers and a student with disabilities were badly injured in early May has prompted Palo Alto Unified teachers to demand more help managing student behavior.

Wednesday, 6:50 PM | 80 comments
New bike tunnels eyed as part of Palo Alto's ambitious rail redesign

In its long journey to completely redesign its rail crossings, Palo Alto is now queuing up plans to build underpasses for pedestrian and bikes first so that they'll be able to cross under the tracks even as roadway work progresses.

Wednesday, 5:35 PM | 40 comments
District: Advanced math class will earn college, but not high school, credit

Responding to complaints swirling about an advanced math class, Palo Alto Unified School District issued a definitively worded letter on May 19 stating what it would and wouldn't offer with respect to multivariable calculus.

Wednesday, 11:26 AM | 21 comments
Lee Lambert picked as Foothill-De Anza's next chancellor

Lee Lambert, the chancellor of Pima Community College in Arizona, is slated to replace Judy Miner as head of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. Lambert will earn nearly $450,000 a year.

Wednesday, 9:23 AM | 1 comment

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