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 issue at https://bit.ly/2ILuxyq and stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news at https://bit.ly/32VmFUa

Behind the Headlines

Coronavirus closes schools

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 date on the latest coronavirus news at https://bit.ly/32VmFUa

Impact of the coronavirus

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 mistake. Read the story at https://bit.ly/2uIpag6

Critical juncture at auditor's office

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 role and programs of the Art Center in fostering creativity in Palo Alto. Read our story on the topic here at https://bit.ly/2Vc6Wyo

Exploring the art of trees

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 means to play and creates an inclusive community for all generations. Read our story on the topic at https://bit.ly/2OVT7Qw

A playground for all

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 our story about the issue at https://bit.ly/31ClCI0

Teens tackle sexual assault

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 housing. Read our story about the issue at https://bit.ly/2S7X2L2

New plans for Ventura

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 about this issue at https://bit.ly/2GmJoOE

Mike Price's big idea

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 are impacted. Read more at https://bit.ly/2Rppbg8

A tidal phenomenon

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://bit.ly/2Ta3K58

Inside nonpublic schools

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 with Weekly Associate Editor Linda Taaffe. Canavese authors the film website GrouchoReviews.com and Sika's reviews can be found at CelluloidDreams.net and also on KGOradio.com. Read our story about this year's picks at https://bit.ly/36iWpnE

The highs and lows of 2019 film

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

Year in Review

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 school math at https://bit.ly/38CYpc7

Fixing commissions; Middle school math

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 areas, the area's vulnerability and how the community can prepare. Read our story about the issue at https://bit.ly/34Y0uwX

Rising wildfire risks

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 highlights here: https://bit.ly/2pYgpw3

Holiday highlights

Palo Alto never runs out of interesting and controversial issues to pick apart. Behind the Headlines is a weekly podcast featuring journalists from the Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Online analyzing those issues and getting deep into the weeds and politics behind them, often with the help of prominent guests.

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Behind the Headlines

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