Charged with child sex abuse, East Palo Alto employee gets character reference from council member
A former East Palo Alto city employee allegedly molested and supplied drugs repeatedly to a 13-year-old he met while working for the city, according to San Mateo County prosecutors in newly obtained court documents that include a character reference by a city council member for the defendant.
More Local news
Woodside seeks lower speed limits on highly trafficked roads
Trying to solve a longstanding issue with speeding and reckless driving in Woodside, the Town Council unanimously agreed to ask the California Department of Transportation to lower speed limits near Woodside Elementary School and at the intersection between Highway 84…
Police probe string of residential burglaries across Menlo Park
The Menlo Park Police Department is investigating a series of residential burglaries that detectives believe may be connected after a recent spate of similar break-ins across the city.
Woodside town manager on leave after releasing whistleblower report against mayor, council members
Woodside Town Manager Jason Ledbetter was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday, after he released a 14-page whistleblower report alleging that the mayor and mayor pro tempore pressured him to delay housing projects.
Subscribe to Express!
Get the Express daily newsletter right to your inbox to stay updated on the latest local news.
Food
San Francisco bone broth cafe is expanding to the Peninsula
A new Peninsula cafe won’t be brewing coffee or steeping tea – it’ll serve bone broth. Trad Bone Broth turned heads with its San Francisco debut in 2022, and now it’s in the process of expanding to downtown Burlingame, with an expected opening in March.
Not your typical smashburgers: Redwood City native uses fine-dining background to open chef-driven, affordable burger joint
Redwood City resident Xavier Pereznegron is opening an affordable burger joint inspired by something generally not affordable: fine dining.
Hong Kong drinks and treats land in downtown Mountain View
The smell of fresh egg waffles beckons customers in the streets of downtown Mountain View. T. Castle, which opened in late December, serves traditional Hong Kong-inspired drinks and treats and specializes in egg waffles.
Arts & Culture
Downtown Sunnyvale developments: Where to play, dine and unwind in a transforming Silicon Valley corridor
What comes to mind when you think of downtown Sunnyvale? For many locals, downtown is synonymous with Murphy Avenue, the Heritage District’s character-filled block of restaurants, small businesses and historic buildings.
Artist Seema Kohli’s ‘internal journey’
Change is a constant in the works of Indian artist Seema Kohli, from the themes she explores, even to the variety of media in which she works. She will visit the Peninsula for her first solo U.S. exhibition and a…
Mountain View theater offers a ‘Pear’-ed down ‘My Fair Lady’
With its smaller-scale, immersive take on “My Fair Lady,” The Pear Theatre aims to offer audiences a fresh take on the musical’s charming-yet-sharp exploration of class, gender and society.
Spotlight
Changing diet to generate a healthier microbiome and a healthy individual
Stanford microbiologists Justin and Erica Sonnenburg are working to understand the complex microbial community that resides within the human gut and its potential for helping people live healthier, longer lives.
Ivy League mentorship for college applications and career foundations through meaningful projects
Path Mentors was born out of dissatisfaction with the toxic high-pressure environment that college admissions has created. Founded in 2019 by Columbia graduates, the Path Mentors’ team of nearly 100 mentors from a wide range of professions including technology, finance,…
Community Calendar
Did you miss
Palo Alto tries to rein in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park expansion
For years, Crescent Park residents have been complaining to the city about incessant construction and zoning violations at a compound constructed by Mark Zuckerberg, who has been buying up homes since 2011. Now, the city is preparing to take action.
Allegations of ‘sexual conduct’ between youth, staff surface at SMC juvenile hall
Reports of “sexual conduct” involving detained youth and a staff member at the San Mateo County juvenile hall surfaced at a recent public commission meeting, as the Probation Department confirmed it has an internal investigation underway. The department’s head said…
Real Estate
In 1950, Palo Alto’s Lawrence Tract redefined who could live where
Lined with trees and modest one-story homes, Lawrence Lane in Midtown Palo Alto may look like a typical 1950s neighborhood today, but when construction on the first homes began on Feb. 23, 1950, the subdivision made headlines. The 6-acre, 25-home…
San Mateo, Santa Clara counties top state’s priciest housing markets
While it became slightly easier to afford a home in California at the end of 2025, the state remains one of the nation’s toughest housing markets — especially in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, which again ranked as the…
Palo Alto tops U.S. cities for highest property tax bills
In Palo Alto, where the median home price now exceeds $3 million, property taxes have become a major cost of homeownership. The city ranks highest in the nation for median property taxes paid, according to a new analysis by Construction…
The Six Fifty
Nature events, reopenings and more: Here’s the latest outdoor recreation news around Silicon Valley
Just because it’s a little chillier outside doesn’t mean you can’t bundle up and spend time moving and learning outdoors on the Peninsula.
Ring in Lunar New Year in Silicon Valley with lion dances, festivals and special events
The official start of the Lunar New Year is Feb. 17, but celebrations in Silicon Valley begin in earnest Jan. 24 and stretch through the end of February. Here’s our guide to celebrating on the Peninsula.
From grazing cattle to soaring redwoods and panoramic views of the coast, a new network of trails offers unprecedented access at a Peninsula preserve
Four new multiuse trails have opened in the 6,500-acre La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve located above Woodside and Portola Valley. The 6 miles of additions link up to existing trails and lace through the center of the preserve across…
