The Palo Alto school district's decision to close schools for one month to slow the spread of coronavirus is the topic of this webcast discussion with school board President Todd Collins and Vice President Shounak Dharap. Read our story on the

Impact of the coronavirus

Mar 6th, 2020 21m 29s

With the number of coronavirus cases rising tenfold in the past week in Santa Clara County, Palo Alto Weekly journalists talk about what public health departments and other organizations are doing to keep the virus from spreading. Stay up to da

Critical juncture at auditor's office

Feb 28th, 2020 22m 35s

As the Palo Alto City Council prepares to outsource the city auditor position, which was created by voters in 1983, former City Auditor Sharon Erickson discusses the auditor's function and her belief that moving it out of City Hall would be a m

Exploring the art of trees

Feb 21st, 2020 21m 31s

Palo Alto Art Center Director Karen Kienzle talks about "Rooted: Trees in Contemporary Art," an exhibit featuring the works of 20 different artists, from photography to sculpture to a multimedia installation. Kienzle also discusses the unique r

A playground for all

Feb 14th, 2020 25m 4s

Magical Bridge playground co-founders Olenka Steciw Villarreal and Jill Hoffspiegel Asher have created a universal playground for all ages and abilities. The Palo Alto residents discuss how their idea, poised to go global, redefines what it mea

Teens tackle sexual assault

Feb 7th, 2020 24m 46s

Palo Alto High School seniors Alexa Alami and Katherine Buecheler talk about their new student-advocacy group and why more conversation and education on consent, healthy relationships and sexual violence are needed at their high school. Read ou

New plans for Ventura

Jan 31st, 2020 24m 38s

Dramatic proposals to redevelop a 60-acre site in the Ventura neighborhood are stirring hopes and anxieties in the community and beyond. Weekly journalists discuss the latest plans and their implications for Palo Alto's efforts to build more ho

Mike Price's big idea

Jan 24th, 2020 23m 58s

Southgate resident Mike Price joins Weekly journalists for a discussion of his proposal to improve the Churchill Avenue rail crossing by building a road underpass -- an idea that received a boost from the City Council this week. Read our story

A tidal phenomenon

Jan 17th, 2020 23m 38s

So far this winter, there have been two rounds of king tides at the Palo Alto Baylands and there's another expected on Feb. 9. City Naturalist Corinne DeBra speaks with Weekly staff about how these tides occur and how the local flora and fauna

Inside nonpublic schools

Jan 10th, 2020 22m 40s

Jody Miller, head of Esther B. Clark School at the Children's Health Council in Palo Alto, talks about why nonpublic schools exist and the unique ways in which they serve students with special needs. Read our story about the issue at https://bi

The highs and lows of 2019 film

Jan 3rd, 2020 24m 48s

Palo Alto Weekly film critic Peter Canavese and Tim Sika, host/producer of the radio show Celluloid Dreams, share their lists of 2019's best films, their takes on the year's big blockbusters and the movies they say is worth seeing in theaters w

Year in Review

Dec 27th, 2019 29m 54s

Weekly journalists wrap up 2019 by recapping the biggest news and the most surprising trends of the year -- and the decade. Read our story about this topic at https://bit.ly/2F0DuBW

Fixing commissions; Middle school math

Dec 13th, 2019 22m 37s

Weekly journalists discuss Palo Alto's effort to reform its commission system and a proposal to dramatically shift how math is taught in Palo Alto middle schools. Read our stories on the commission system at https://bit.ly/2LS1g7a and on middle

Rising wildfire risks

Dec 6th, 2019 29m 35s

Fire agencies warn that the Santa Cruz Mountains could produce a large-scale blaze, similar to recent wildfires in the north bay, under the right conditions. Weekly journalists discuss local agencies' preparations for a big blaze in open space

Holiday highlights

Nov 29th, 2019 17m 15s

Weekly associate editor Linda Taaffe chats with music writer Yoshi Kato and arts and entertainment editor Karla Kane about a few of the many upcoming holiday-themed performances and events on the Midpeninsula this season. Read about the holiday

The Churchill dilemma

Nov 22nd, 2019 25m 54s

Weekly staff discuss the question that has been pitting Palo Alto neighborhoods against each other: Should the city close Churchill Avenue to cars near the railroad tracks as part of a broader plan to redesign the rail corridor? Read our story

Debate over Foothills Park

Nov 15th, 2019 26m 39s

Ryan McCauley, a member of Palo Alto's Parks and Recreation Commission, talks with Weekly staff about the commission's new proposal to open up the city's pristine and exclusive Foothills Park to non-residents. Read our story about the issue at

Stanford plan hits dead end

Nov 8th, 2019 21m 55s

With Stanford University deciding to withdraw its ambitious plan for campus expansion, Weekly staff recap the contentious review process and consider the university's options for future development. Read our story about the issue at https://bit

Talking transportation

Oct 25th, 2019 26m 4s

Philip Kamhi, Palo Alto's newly hired chief transportation official, talks to the Weekly about the city's plans to revamp its parking policies, launch a scooter-share program and improve community outreach for bike boulevards and other transpor

Woman breaks silence about Harvey Weinstein

Oct 18th, 2019 31m 1s

Palo Alto resident Rowena Chiu, who says movie mogul Harvey Weinstein attempted to rape her when she was his assistant in 1998, speaks about her decision to come forward, the cultural stigmas she faced and the impact of the #MeToo movement. Rea

Reflecting on Palo Alto

Oct 11th, 2019 4m 33s

As the Palo Alto Weekly celebrates its 40th anniversary, Editor Jocelyn Dong gives an overview of the newspaper's beginnings and highlights work by the editorial staff to commemorate the milestone, including a project that asked city residents

Vaping's rise and risks

Oct 4th, 2019 22m 42s

Kyle Greenman, clinical associate at Adolescent Counseling Services' Adolescent Substance Abuse Program, discusses the growing prevalence of vaping among local teens and what parents, school administrators and public officials should know about

How one school went phone-free

Sep 27th, 2019 15m 42s

Adam Gelb, assistant principal at San Mateo High School, talks with reporter Elena Kadvany about the school's decision to prohibit cellphones during school hours. Read our story on the topic at https://bit.ly/2lMOBIU

A hospital for the future

Sep 13th, 2019 24m 26s

Dr. George Tingwald, medical planning director for Stanford Health Care, gives an overview of what's inside the new Stanford Hospital and provides insight into the planning involved to help the institution deliver top-notch medical care. Palo A

Staying heart healthy

Sep 6th, 2019 20m 18s

Robin Wedell, director of HeartFit for Life, joins Weekly staff to give an overview of the program's cardiac therapy services and their long-term impact on the nonprofit's members as the organization prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.