Behind the Headlines

San Jose author Jan Batiste Adkins talks about the struggles and successes of Santa Clara County's early African-Americans featured in her new book African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County." Adkins joins Palo Alto Weekly associate editor Linda Taaffe and reporter Sue Dremann.

Weekly journalists delve into the Ravenswood City School District debate over a charter school's expansion proposal (0:38); recap Palo Alto's move to allow more commercial development downtown (10:28); and discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's new vision (19:58) for California's high-speed-rail project.

Palo Alto City Councilwoman Alison Cormack joins Weekly journalists for a discussion about the community effort to create a new vision for Cubberley Community Center.

When a loved one has dementia, can it be an act of kindness to tell them a lie? Barton Bernstein, a caregiver for his wife and an emeritus history professor at Stanford University, talks about the ethics of what some call "compassionate deception." Palo Alto Weekly journalists Jocelyn Dong and Linda Taaffe join him for the discussion.

Randy Tsuda, CEO and president of the nonprofit Palo Alto Housing, builder of affordable housing, talks about the recently approved 59-apartment Wilton Court project in Palo Alto and the challenges and opportunities for solving the Bay Area's housing crisis. Palo Alto Weekly journalists Jocelyn Dong and Gennady Sheyner join Tsuda for the conversation.

Longtime critic Dale Bentson looks back on 18 years of reviewing restaurants for Embarcadero Media. Read his retrospective of covering the Midpeninsula dining scene here. Bentson joins Palo Alto Weekly staff writer Elena Kadvany, who runs the blog "Peninsula Foodist," and Mountain View Voice Editor Andrea Gemmet.

Al Mollica, executive director of the nonprofit Pets In Needs, talks about what Palo Alto pet owners can expect once the organization takes over operations of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter in February. Mollica joins Palo Alto Weekly journalists Jocelyn Dong and Gennady Sheyner for the podcast.

Palo Alto Weekly film critic Peter Canavese and Tim Sika, host/producer of the radio show Celluloid Dreams, review their picks for the top 10 movies of 2018 with Weekly Editor Jocelyn Dong. Canavese authors the film website GrouchoReviews.com and Sika's reviews can be found at CelluloidDreams.net and also on KGO radio.

In this episode, Palo Alto Weekly journalists close out the year by recapping the biggest events, controversies, surprises and newsmakers of 2018.

In this episode, Palo Alto Weekly journalists discuss the latest on Palo Alto's largest infrastructure project since the construction of Oregon Expressway -- the redesign of the city's four rail crossings. And, around the 16-minute mark, they recap the City Council's decision Monday on zoning for the President Hotel.