Coroner: San Mateo County jail inmate died of accidental fentanyl poisoning
A female inmate in a San Mateo County jail died of the toxic effects of fentanyl supplied by another prisoner, the county Coroner’s Office said Friday. The September death of Markeisha Monique Renee Blount, 31, was an accident, the Coroner’s Office said. The District Attorney’s office has charged 34-year-old Ashley “Ashly” J. Gromnicki with homicide…
More Local news
Woodside looks into stronger safeguards for its license plate cameras’ data security
Woodside officials are taking a closer look at the security of data gathered by automated license plate cameras in town after the company it contracts with came under fire for allowing unauthorized searches in other Midpeninsula cities.
Cesar Chavez Middle School loses its principal mid-year
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto will spend the rest of the school year without a principal, according to Ravenswood City School District’s superintendent, who announced Cristian Miley’s departure in January. Attempts to get comment from Miley…
Rain, wind and snow continue across Bay Area
Rain and gusty winds will continue across the Bay Area and Central Coast as multiple storm systems move through the region this week, according to the National Weather Service. In an advisory Wednesday, forecasters said rain will persist this week…
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
Major salt pond restoration nears completion
Yearslong construction work to transform a 435-acre pond once used for salt harvesting into a tidal marsh is wrapping up this month just north of Mountain View’s Shoreline Park.
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.
Real Estate
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…
Atherton home sells for $10.5M, then lists for $48K/month
Each week, Embarcadero Media takes a look at home sales activity along the Midpeninsula in the communities of Atherton, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley and Woodside.
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…
