WEDNESDAY, July 16 2025
Sterling Court proudly supports local journalism.
The news you read every day in the Daily Post would not be possible without the support of our advertisers. Please see their ad on Page 11 and tell them how you appreciate their support.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
A gas station in East Palo Alto wanted to upgrade and add a store and a car wash, but planning commissioners said no.
The owners of the Shell gas station at 2194 University Ave. believe it’s because of the station’s high gas prices.
The commission voted unanimously on Monday to deny owner Vikash Bansal’s request to build a drive-through carwash and add a 24-hour convenience store because it could cause noise complaints and affect traffic in the area during their meeting on Monday. Bansal believes that commissioners denied his request because of claims that he was a “bad neighbor” and “greedy” for having high gas prices, according to an email from his attorney, Hussein Saffouri, to Planning Manager Elena Lee.
charges $4.99 per gallon. The Shell at Edgewood Shopping Center in Palo Alto charges $4.69 per gallon and the Shell at El Camino Real and Middle Ave. in Menlo Park charges $4.65 per gallon.
OUT OF LA: The Trump administration said yesterday it is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. Roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines had been deployed. It wasn’t immediately clear how long the rest would stay in the region. The troops were tasked with protecting federal buildings and guarding immigration agents as they carry out arrests. The deployment began in early June and was slated to last 60 days.
NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions yesterday about investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein and her clash with a top FBI official. She’s seeking to press ahead with a business-as-usual approach in the face of right-wing outrage that has plunged the Justice Department into turmoil.
MLB MURDERER: Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been convicted of murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife’s parents during a burglary at their home four years ago near Lake Tahoe. A Placer County jury on Monday found [See THE UPDATE, page 4]
The station currently charges $4.99 per gallon for regular gas, while the Chevron at 2101 University Ave. also
Yesterday, Arizona Goc. Katie Hobbs called for a federal investigation into the National Park Service’s handling of a fire at the Grand Canyon that burned for days before destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and over 70 other structures. AP photo.
In a previous meeting on June 9, Bansal presented his request to the commission, where they voted unanimously against his proposal. On
[See GAS, page 18]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Mountain View tutor Alice Ku’s sister Josephine Ku testified through tears about her sister’s sudden disappearance six years ago and the ongoing grief that it has inflicted on their family. Their mom stares blankly into space, and their usually unemotional father wipes away tears any time Alice is brought up, Josephine said.
“I don’t think they want to face it, and we don’t know how to talk about it with them,” Josephine said in front of a jury of 12 on Monday.
The Ku family and their attorney Todd Davis are su-
[See MOURNED, page 18]
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus yesterday denied the four corruption charges issued by the civil grand jury, the latest step in to determine if she should remain in office.
In a court hearing before Judge Stephanie Garratt that lasted less than five minutes, Corpus attended out of uniform, wearing a long brown coat with her attorneys, Thomas Mazzucco and Mariah Cooks and submitted a denial for the accusation of corrupt mis-
conduct against her. Her undersheriff, Dan Perea, appeared out of uniform and opened the door to the courtroom for her.
Corpus is expected to appear for her next hearing on Monday, assigned to
[See COURT, page 18]
• Formal Entry
• Elegant Living Room with Vaulted Ceilings, Fireplace, and Built-in Cabinets
• Chef’s Eat-in Kitchen with Island, Thermador Appliances, and Wine Refrigerator
• Four Spacious Bedrooms
• Three Beautifully Designed Bathrooms
• Primary Suite Retreat Features Walk-in Closet and Stall Shower
• Interior Features Include Washer, Dryer, Central Heating, and Central Air-Conditioning
• Lovely Landscaped Yard
• Sparkling Pool
• Award Winning Oak Knoll School District
Offered at $3,695,000
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who smashed windows in downtown Palo Alto during a meth-fueled rage has been sentenced to a year and four months in prison after he stole a woman’s bike while he was out on probation, court records show.
front windows of three businesses on Emerson Street: Bare Bowls, Kitchen Nail Bar and HE&C Tea + Pot. Callers also reported Ali was throwing rocks at people on the street.
Sheik Riaz Ali, 42, of East Palo Alto, was first arrested in September 2023 for throwing a river rock through the front of the Apple Store at 240 University Ave. Apple employees told police they thought the sound was a gunshot and said Ali caused $31,472 in damage, according to the police report and court records.
Second arrest Ali was arrested again around 11 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2024, for smashing the
Ali ran from police onto a VTA bus and then jumped out of an emergency window exit before a brief struggle with officers at 95 University Ave.
Police said they found methamphetamine in Ali’s pocket and arrested him.
Probation revoked
Ali was sentenced to 189 days in county jail and two years of probation on May 30, 2024. His probation was revoked in December after a woman used an AirTag to track her stolen bike to a downtown parking garage where he lived.
Ali signed a plea deal with Deputy District Attorney Ryan Brogan on March 13 admitting to theft and probation violations.
House Republicans yesterday grilled the leaders of Georgetown University, the City University of New York and UC-Berkeley in the latest hearing on antisemitism in higher education, accusing the schools of failing to respond adequately to allegations of bias or discrimination.
In their appearance before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, the three university leaders said that they had taken disciplinary action where appropriate and stressed the importance of protecting free speech.
UC-Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons pushed back on the suggestion that antisemitism was more present on col-
lege campuses than anywhere else. “If somebody is expressing pro-Palestinian beliefs, that’s not necessarily antisemitic,” he said.
The hearing was the ninth in a series Republicans have held to scrutinize university leadership over allegations of antisemitism on campuses after a wave of protests following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Widely criticized testimony before the committee by the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University in 2023 contributed to their resignations.
At yesterday’s hearing, Democrats
blasted Republican committee members for their focus on antisemitism while not speaking out on the dismantling of the Education Department, which is tasked with investigating antisemitism and other civil rights violations in schools.
“They have turned this hearing room into a kangaroo court, where they spend our time litigating a predetermined outcome to do nothing to help Jewish students, just make public theater out of legitimate pain,” said Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA.
Republicans said the university leaders have allowed campus antisemitism to run unchecked.
“Universities can choose to hire an-
tisemitic faculty, welcome students with a history of antisemitism, accept certain foreign funding, and let the behavior of antisemitic unions go unchecked,” Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg, committee chair, said. “But we will see today they do so at their own risk.”
Hearing disturbed
The hearing was periodically interrupted by protesters, who shouted pro-Palestinian slogans before being removed by Capitol police. Rep. Randy Fine, R-FL, berated the college presidents and said they were responsible because of the attitudes they had permitted on their campuses.
the 51-year-old guilty of killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and severely wounding his motherin-law, Wendy Wood. Wood received extensive rehabilitation but died a year after the shooting. Prosecutors said Serafini and his in-laws had a rocky relationship and argued over money. A left-hander, Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
STOLEN BEYONCE MUSIC: Atlanta police say they have identified a suspect in the reported theft of Beyonce’s unreleased music from a rental car being used by her choreographer and a dancer. Police on Monday released an incident report saying members of Beyonce’s touring entourage reported the vehicle was broken into July 8 while they ate a restaurant. Police say they have an arrest warrant for a suspect, but they haven’t released the suspect’s name.
EMMY NOMS: Apple TV+ dominated the top categories at the Emmy nominations, with “Severance” leading all shows with 27 nods and “The Studio” topping comedies with a record-tying 23. HBO also shined, securing 142 total nominations, led by “The White Lotus,” “The Pitt,” and “The Penguin.” The Emmys air Sept. 14 on CBS.
NEW TARIFFS: President Trump says he plans to place tariffs of over 10% on smaller countries, including nations in Africa and the Caribbean. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the nations with goods being taxed at these rates would affect places that generally do relatively modest levels of trade with the U.S. and would be relatively insignificant for addressing Trump’s goals of reducing trade imbalances with the rest of the world.
N.J. FLOODING: Authorities say two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in floodwaters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight.
Editor:
Managing
General
Distribution:
Account
Letters:
San Mateo County Coroner’s Office: July 14
Michael Cordero, 52, of Daly City
July 13
Satyanarayana Pasupuleti, 83, of Hyderabad, India
Jeffrey Lynn Milcarek, 63, of South San Francisco
Francisca Rodriguez, 96, of Daly City
Carolyn Bell Falabella, 83, of Daly City
July 12
Renato Fortes, 62, of San Mateo
Michael Kevin Emert, 65, of San Carlos Juanita Casey, 102, no hometown given Alaeaei Sagote Jr., 62, of San Bruno
July 11
Anne Murray, 87, of Burlingame
James Alan Carlson, 81, of Pacifica
Peter James Malinis III, 30, of Daly City
Sanchen Tsao, 84, of Hillsborough
Shun Hsu, 54, of Hayward
Births
Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City: Dec. 30
Sho Ishitsubo Alexakis, a boy
Neo Ren, a boy
Yunshu Sun, a girl
Forest Rose Williams, a boy
Dec. 29
Hayden Grace Humann, a girl
Nisha Swara Ravishankar, a girl
Dec. 28
Meera Jangi, a girl
Jack Thomas Lorey, a boy
Mack Wolf Richardson, a boy
Thomas John Reilly died at his home in the morning hours of December 7, 2024. Tom enjoyed a happy and long life with his wife, Dayle Reilly, and their children, Carolyn and John Reilly. He brightened their days with small gifts from his frequent visits to Goodwill, second-hand stores, and antique stores. He rarely missed a Friends of the Palo Alto Library book sale, where he collected volumes on various topics such as landscaping, interior design, foreign countries, languages, and human biology.
Tom loved his garden. He had a small house on a large beautifully landscaped lot. His garden was in the classic English style which he maintained and improved throughout the years. Originally from New Jersey, Tom truly appreciated the great gardening weather of California.
A biochemist, Tom moved to Palo Alto in the ‘60s to work for Stanford and then for NASA at Ames Moffett Field.
Tom always had a good movie recommendation... especially foreign films.
Tom is survived by his wife Dayle, his daughter Carolyn LoBuglio, his daughter-in-law Kelly Reilly (John), and five grandchildren, Dominic LoBuglio, Marisa LoBuglio, Melanie Reilly, Patrick LoBuglio, and Johnny Reilly. Tom is predeceased by his son, John Thomas Reilly, and his parents, Thomas and Eleanor Reilly. Tom, you are sorely missed...
A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 3233 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, at 10:00 AM, on July 18, 2025. In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Tom’s enthusiasm for gardening, please establish and nurture a plant in his honor.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Defense attorneys have accused the man who introduced a woman to her alleged killer of helping to dispose of her body during an East Palo Alto murder trial.
William White was called on Dec. 2, 2022, by John Caisino Thompson to come alone to see something “bad,” White told a Redwood City courtroom on Monday.
DRE
White arrived in a purple Dodge Charger with his friends after picking up some drugs and told them to wait outside. Thompson, 47, told him he had a body, and White said he thought it was a joke. Thompson was emotionless while smoking a cigarette when White said he saw Breanna Labat’s body lying on the ground, White said Monday. Thompson’s attorney, Geoff Carr, told White to tell Labat’s family in the courtroom where he hid the body. Labat’s remains have never been recovered.
“Excuse me,” White responded in court, denying any involvement after claiming he saw Labat’s body inside Thompson’s home.
Thompson is accused of fatally shooting Labat, 32, on Dec. 2, 2022, after an argument exploded between the two of them, leading Thompson to shoot Labat in the hallway of his home at 107 Daphne Way in East Palo Alto, according to Deputy District Attorney Vishal Jangla.
White testified Monday that he first met Labat while doing a favor for a friend. He says he was on a phone call discussing a trip to Sacramento when someone asked if he could give her a ride. White agreed and picked her up, but when they arrived at her destination in the Sacramento area, she couldn’t reach her relatives and had to spend the night in White’s car, he said.
Labat was looking for a place to stay, so White introduced her to Thompson and paid him $200 to stay for a week at his home.
Carr asked White whether he was under the influence during his previous testimony last week, ref-
erencing White’s own admission that he had been “high as a kite” during an earlier court appearance.
White said he had smoked a blunt, drank half a pint of tequila and snorted cocaine before testifying at the 400 County Courthouse in Redwood City.
Carr questioned him about whether what he had said was true and how the jury was supposed to believe him if he was under the influence. White said that he was telling the truth even though he was high.
On Monday, the court heard testimonies from White, Patricia Enebard who investigated the murder case, San Jose Police Officer Natalie Nikolaev, Orlando Payton, a brother of a witness and Anthony Guzman, a co-worker.
On Tuesday, seven witnesses took the stand, including Edward Quinn. Thompson’s attorneys have said Quinn killed Labat. He will continue his testimony today at 9 a.m. at the 400 County Courthouse in Redwood City.
The case will continue throughout the week with more witnesses being called.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
A man has been charged with allegedly robbing someone in Menlo Park during a sale set up through Facebook Marketplace, a prosecutor said yesterday.
David Torres Vasquez, 22 and a teenager, both from East Palo Alto, arranged with someone to meet up at the 500 block of Pope Street to buy some clothes, according to police.
But when the seller showed up
A former bishop pleaded guilty yesterday to funneling money and property from AME Zion Church to himself, with a congregation in Palo Alto among the victims.
Staccato Powell, 65, of Wake Forest, N.C., worked with Sheila Quintana, 71, of Vallejo, to take out loans with AME Zion Church properties as collateral, federal prosecutors said.
Powell yesterday admitted to fraudulently obtaining mortgages on church properties in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo and Palo Alto.
Between 2017 and July 2021, Powell, now a former bishop of the church, and Quintana worked together to get pastors to sign
on June 11, the teenager appeared in a ski mask, threatened the seller with a gun, took the clothes and left, according to a statement from Menlo Park police.
Suspects caught
Police conducted an investigation and found footage from a neighbor’s camera that identified the model of the car, a white Chevrolet Silverado truck.
That same day, police saw the truck and pulled it over. Vasquez
and the teenager were wearing the stolen clothes and were arrested, police said.
Vasquez is charged with a misdemeanor for the theft, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
He appeared in court yesterday and is out of custody. He will be back in court on Sept. 15 for further proceedings.
The teenager was booked into Hillcrest Juvenile Hall for the robbery and theft, police said.
over the deeds of various churches so Powell and Quintana could list the properties as collateral in high-interest loans totaling about $14 million, according to federal prosecutors.
Palo Alto church
In the case of the Palo Alto church at 3549 Middlefield Road, Powell in 2017 told the pastor that the location would be used as collateral to help the Sacramento location pay off some debts. Powell told the Palo Alto pastor the loan would be no more than $200,000. But loans totaling $3.6 million were taken out using the Palo Alto church as collateral, according to the Department of Justice.
The loan money was used by Powell and Quintana to benefit themselves. For instance, Powell used $14,000 to pay down the mortgage debt on his home in North Carolina and used an undisclosed amount to buy more land for his home, the indictment states.
He also bought property for two of his children, prosecutors said.
Powell was “disrobed” by AME Zion’s leadership on July 29, 2021. AME Zion Church is a historically African-American denomination with about 1.4 million adherents worldwide, prosecutors said.
Powell will be sentenced on Sept. 23 and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Saturday, July 19, 10am - 4pm
heritage.
• Cultivate curiosity with apricotthemed and nature-inspired experiences and more in the Museum Courtyard and the Los Altos Heritage Orchard.
• Explore, learn, and get fruity with fun! Exploring STEM with family-friendly fun
Complete a special challenge and win a cool prize while supplies last!
$10/person, free to Museum members and children 12 and under sponsored by
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Officials in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County are at odds over how to fund Caltrain, and they’ll need to reach a deal before deciding whether to participate in a sales tax to bail out the Bay Area’s struggling public transit agencies.
Officials for VTA want Santa Clara County to get credit for paying the most into Measure RR, a one-eighth cent sales that was approved by voters in all three Caltrain counties in November 2020.
But officials for SamTrans say Measure RR was supposed to be a systemwide funding source, and they want to keep San Mateo County’s contribution based on the number of boardings in each county.
San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier said VTA’s proposal is an attempt to take advantage of San Mateo County.
“We just want it to be consistent with the way it’s historically been operating,” Speier said at a SamTrans board meeting on July 2.
VTA and SamTrans have agreed that San Francisco should pay about 24% to fill Caltrain’s operating deficit, based on its share of boardings.
But there’s about a $10 million per year difference between what SamTrans thinks it should pay and what VTA thinks SamTrans ought to pay.
VTA wants credit for Santa Clara County generating more revenue from Measure RR, and SamTrans wants to continue funding Caltrain based on boardings.
Redwood City Councilman Jeff Gee is negotiating for SamTrans, and Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga is negotiating for VTA. They’ve had five meetings, and it’s been a challenging and time-consuming back and forth, Gee said.
“I’ve had to be very measured just so that we can have civil conversations,” Gee told his colleagues on the SamTrans board.
For example, the Caltrain board voted on June 5 to replace the Guadalupe River bridge in San Jose for $171.4 million, split equally between San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Gee said if the bridge was in Redwood City, then Santa Clara County wouldn’t have paid because its capital [See FUNDS, page 23]
Nothing says summer like a classic New Englandstyle lobster roll, and you don’t have to go back East for your lobster shack experience. You can get fresh Maine lobster right here on the Peninsula. Just head over to New England Lobster Market & Eatery in Burlingame.
Summertime is one of the best times to enjoy some succulent seafood and a cold, refreshing drink on the patio at New England Lobster. You’ll love the sea breezes that come right off the bay as you dig into your classic lobster roll, lobster platter, seafood tacos, bucket of EZpeel shrimp or whatever else strikes
Go today or on any other Wednesday and you’ll get a deal that no lobster-lover can afford to pass up: Twin lobster tails, complete with coleslaw, bread and butter, for only $29.95. Add a cold beer, a glass of Chardonnay or a mason jar of their homemade blueberry lemonade and you’ve got a great summer afternoon or evening in the works.
For more great deals, check out Lobster Lover Monday, Taco Tuesday or Two-Pound Lobster Thursday. Not to mention their happy hour Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can get $3 beers, $2 oysters and $1 off a glass of wine or any of their seafood tacos – lobster, crab or shrimp. One of their featured oysters right now is the Summer Love.
From Prince Edward Island, Canada, these oysters start with a creamy citrus note and finish with a slightly briny and buttery finale. And whether you’re feasting on a full lobster platter or going to town on tacos, you know that your lobster has never been frozen. New England
Lobster gets live lobsters delivered daily by air mail from New England, and they go from the crate to the plate. That’s important because it maintains the highest quality of the meat, with no flavor alteration or preservatives to get in the way. New England Lobster owner Marc Worrall says the freshest lobster is always the best – and you can taste the difference.
The company also runs an East Coast-style market where you can buy live and cooked lobsters, lobster tails, live and cooked Dungeness crabs, shellfish and other items. If you’d prefer to have your seafood brought to your home, you can order items online and have them delivered right to you.
For more information on New England Lobster Market & Eatery, visit the company’s website, NewEnglandLobster.net, or call (650) 443-1559.
•
•
•
•
3rd
It was the scariest choking incident David Palumbo had ever seen.
The 88-year-old man had been dining at a Providence, R.I., Italian restaurant in September 2019. Now he was unconscious, with a piece of bread lodged in his windpipe. Precious minutes went by as first responders were unable to help him with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.
In an ambulance on the way to the hospital, the elderly man’s skin was blue, and firefighters worried he was going to die. Palumbo — a fire department captain — used a scissors-like device called Magill forceps to pull the bread from the man’s throat.
“We get a lot of calls in the city for choking,” many of which are resolved before emergency responders even get there, Palumbo added. “This was by far the worst one I’ve been on in my career.”
Fortunately, the man survived and made a full recovery, he said.
But many elderly people do not. Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It’s the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths, according to federal health statistics.
The death rate has been relatively steady, but the number has risen, as the size of the nation’s retirement-age population grows.
Choking occurs when food or some other object partially or totally blocks the windpipe, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs.
Telltale signs include someone reaching for their neck and losing the ability to speak normally. Brain damage can occur after four minutes, and death can come just a few minutes later.
Older adults are at higher risk for a number of reasons. As people get older, mouth and throat
muscles can weaken. Older people also make less saliva. Some chronic diseases and medications can make swallowing even harder. Dentures can be a choking risk.
How to stop choking
Choking risk can be reduced by cutting food into small pieces, chewing food slowly, drinking plenty of liquids with meals, and not laughing or talking at the same time you are chewing and swallowing.
When someone is choking, you can try perhaps the oldest form of first aid: back slaps.
There’s also the Heimlich maneuver, named after the doctor credited with devising it in the 1970s. It involves standing behind the choking person, wrapping your arms around their abdomen and — with a balled fist — thrusting inward and upward. The idea is that it forces air out of the lungs, and the obstruction with it.
shown are when a report was made to police. Information is from police department logs. All of the people named here are innocent until proven guilty in court.
JULY 2
11:43 a.m. — Janet Parks Swanson, 66, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance and possession of a shopping cart belonging to a retailer, 1-99 block of Encina Ave.
12:04 p.m. — Thomas Eugene Smith, 62, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Urban Lane and University Circle.
2:33 p.m. — Edward Everett IV, 58, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance and on a warrant, 1000 block of Corporation Way.
4:22 p.m. — Erik Sven Peterson, 54, of Palo Alto, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and vandalism, Starr King Circle.
JULY 3
9:09 a.m. — Charles Anthony Brooks, 42, of East Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 500 block of Webster St.
2:13 p.m. — Vehicle accident involving a cyclist, 1200 block of Newell Road.
2:52 p.m. — Damariz Morales Flores, 35, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 2700 block of Embarcadero Road.
4:30 p.m. — Elderly or dependent adult scammed out of money, Oak Creek Drive.
10:17 p.m. — Parts and/or accessories stolen from a vehicle, 400 block of Bryant St.
10:56 p.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of High St.
JULY 5
12:19 p.m. — Vandalism, 800 block of San Antonio Road.
JULY 6
12:22 p.m. — Grand theft, Stanford Shopping Center.
JULY 7
2:51 p.m. — Ngoc Thi My Nguyen, 44, of Palo Alto, arrested for shoplifting, Stanford Shopping Center.
JULY 8
3:42 p.m. — Aline Macedo Araujo Borges, 36, of Burlingame, arrested for shoplifting, Stanford Shopping Center.
JULY 9
3:59 p.m. — Maria Jose Barrios Cardona, 28, of East Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 2400 block of Embarcadero Way.
5:04 p.m. — Brian David Jones, 64, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 1000 block of Elwell Court.
5:24 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, Lytton Ave. and Jefferson St.
5:48 p.m. — Vandalism, 1800 block of Embarcadero Road.
6:07 p.m. — Brian Fernando Gutierrez Mateus, 35, of Arcadia, cited on a warrant, 500 block of Sand Hill Road.
THURSDAY
6:39 a.m. — Theft, 3300 block of Alma St.
9:20 a.m. — Home burglary, 900 block of Elsinore Drive.
9:46 a.m. — Theft from an elderly or dependent adult, Moana Court.
3:55 p.m. — Check fraud, 1400 block of Middlefield Road.
8:54 p.m. — Walter Alexis Arevalo Mendoza, 21, of San Jose, cited on a warrant, Stanford Shopping Center.
FRIDAY
1:43 a.m. — Joshua Paul Thorwaldson, 61, of Palo Alto, arrested on a warrant, Pasteur Drive and Welch Road.
6:42 a.m. — Shannon Marie Kensworthy, 42, transient, cited on a warrant, 3700 block of Starr King Circle.
8:29 a.m. — Victim scammed, 400 block of Cesano Court.
1:17 p.m. — Auto burglary, 3600 block of Lupine Ave.
3:02 p.m. — Burglary, Byxbee Park.
6:56 p.m. — Kathleen Susan Fortune, 57, transient, arrested on a warrant, 3700 block of Middlefield Road.
7:36 p.m. — Richard Joseph Durst Rios Jr., 30, of Marysville, arrested for being under the influence of drugs and on a warrant, Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain Station.
9:09 p.m. — Grand theft, 1-99 block of Roosevelt Circle.
9:24 p.m. — Grand theft, 600 block of Keats Court.
9:48 p.m. — Emmanuel Silva, 19, of Hastings, arrested for theft of a vehicle, 1800 block of El Camino.
SATURDAY
3:59 p.m. — Alberto Eduardo Serrato, 38, and Louis Howard Jones, 32, both arrested for possession of drugs while armed with a loaded gun, 1200 block of Cypress St. Arrests made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
SUNDAY
12:09 a.m. — Ana Otazorodas, 36, of Menlo Park, arrested for violation of a restraining order, 200 block of Waverley St.
2:03 p.m. — Lori Lee Hennings, 68, cited on a warrant, Menlo Park Police Dept.
2:41 p.m. — Door of a business damaged, 1000 block of Hamilton Court.
11:10 p.m. — Edy Bravo Tejeda, 45, of San Mateo, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license and without a mandated ignition interlock device, Marsh Road and Bohannon Drive. Incident handled by Atherton police.
MONDAY
8:55 a.m. — Credit card fraud, 700 block of Arbor Road.
2:52 p.m. — Person reported to have brandished a weapon at juveniles, 1300 block of Mills St.
MONDAY
1:24 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Covington and Springer roads.
JULY 6
1:30 a.m. — Battery, 2600 block of California St.
3:31 a.m. — Fredy Guardado Sanchez, 30, of Santa Clara, arrested for drug possession, theft of someone else’s lost property and on warrants, Yuba Drive at Stevens Creek Trail.
10 a.m. — Carlos Garcia Juarez, 28, of Redwood City, arrested for possession and transportation of drugs
for sale, 2100 block of N. Shoreline Blvd.
12:08 p.m. — Domestic battery at 7-Eleven, 1380 Pear Ave.
12:19 p.m. — Battery at Alberto’s, 736 W. Dana St.
3:12 p.m. — Battery at Costco, 1000 N. Rengstorff Ave.
3:28 p.m. — Vandalism, 700 block of Continental Circle.
7:17 p.m. — Evan Luedke, 37, of Mountain View, arrested on a warrant, 800 block of San Veron Ave.
9:53 p.m. — Victor Hernandez, 62, transient, arrested for public drunkenness and parole violation, 200 block of Castro St.
MONDAY
7:02 p.m. — Identity theft, Maple Ave.
10:14 p.m. — Edwin Chamale Lopez, 22, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, El Camino and Selby Lane.
FRIDAY
9:40 a.m. — Alberto Fuentes, 46, arrested on warrants, Douglas Ave. and Broadway.
11:20 p.m. — Anthony Joseph Benham, 35, arrested for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, possession of drugs for sale and attempting to destroy or hide evidence, 2800 block of Bay Road.
APRIL 11
Diego Martinez Medina, 20, of San Jose, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and on a warrant, 1600 block of El Camino. Carlo Bustamante, 28, of Sunnyvale, cited for DUI, 500 block of Shell Parkway.
APRIL 12
Erasmo Hernandez Gutierrez, 23, of Redwood City, cited on a warrant, 100 block of Vera Ave.
APRIL 13
Carlos Escobar Menjivar, 36, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery and violation of a restraining order, 700 block of Woodside Road. Raul Garcia Perez, 21, of Salinas, arrested for possession of more than
900 block of Valota
APRIL 14
Yuster Leny Reyes Gazo, 38, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, Rolison Road and Hoover St.
Anthony James Miller, 47, of East Palo Alto, arrested for battery that causes serious injuries, elder abuse and probation violation, 500 block of El Camino.
Vanessa Marie Sepulveda, 40, of Redwood City, arrested for shoplifting and drug possession at Target, 2485 El Camino.
Avery Brundage III, 25, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, 1000 block of El Camino.
FRIDAY
4:30 a.m. — Rock thrown through a window, Main St.
7:50 a.m. — Ignacio Pacheco Flores, 46, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, Charter and Stambaugh streets.
9:15 a.m. — Office ransacked, Main St.
9:56 a.m. — Man reported to be brandishing a knife, 1200 block of Jefferson Ave. Rawgot Black, 45, of Redwood City, arrested for being under the influence of drugs, drug possession and resisting police.
12:41 p.m. — People pulled over on Highway 101 and engaged in a fist fight.
3 p.m. — Oscar Asmir Guerrero, 48, cited for drug possession and on a warrant, El Camino and Willow St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
3:44 p.m. — Pulin Manoj Sanghvi, 55, of Redwood City,
arrested for DUI, Edgewood Road and Yorkshire Lane.
6:09 p.m. — Christina Marie Johnson, 28, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Redwood City Caltrain Station.
8:50 p.m. — Jonathan Diaz Ambriz, 30, of Menlo Park, arrested for sexual battery, public drunkenness and assault on a police officer, 1100 block of El Camino.
9 p.m. — Christopher Canas Romero, 28, cited for drug possession, 1100 block of Broadway. Citation given by San Mateo County deputies.
9:32 p.m. — Resident says a strange man got into her home and won’t leave, 400 block of Poplar Ave. Mauricio Enrique Beltran, 32, of Redwood City, arrested for burglary and on a warrant.
11:30 p.m. — Vehicle hits a parked car, 1900 block of Alameda de las Pulgas. Inteus D. Castro Lopez, 24, of San Jose, arrested for DUI.
SATURDAY
2:45 a.m. — Librado Reyes Reyes, 34, arrested for DUI, 300 block of Winslow St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
5:37 a.m. — Resident comes home and sees three people in the home, Hopkins Ave.
7:46 a.m. — Tires slashed, Vera Ave.
10:16 a.m. — Shasta Racquel Campbell, 22, of Redwood City, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, Junipero Ave.
3:20 p.m. — Purse stolen, Middlefield Road.
4:09 p.m. — Henry Enriquez Morales, 34, cited for driving with
a suspended or revoked license, Woodside Road and Kentucky St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
5:25 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, Stambaugh St.
6:01 p.m. — Julian Duchesne, 60, of Redwood City, arrested for drug possession, falsely identifying himself to police and on a warrant, 2600 block of Broadway.
11:27 p.m. — Salomon Gustavo Betancourt, 32, of Redwood City, cited for DUI and resisting police, Main St. and Veterans Blvd.
FRIDAY
8:16 p.m. — Adrian Anand Singh, 35, arrested for possession of prescription meds without a prescription and parole violation, 1700 block of Laurel St.
SUNDAY
5:25 a.m. — One person reported to have hit another person in the head with a bottle during an altercation, 900 block of El Camino. Nathan Louis Zahniser, 33, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and on a warrant.
3:41 p.m. — Parent reports his child is being groomed by a man via an online platform, Waltham Cross.
8:02 p.m. — Man steals beer from a store, El Camino.
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula.
JAN. 10
Abraham Banuelos, 26, arrested for DUI.
Diego A. Ochoa, 44, arrested for DUI.
Edgar Y. Osuna Jeronimo, 22, arrested for DUI.
Bismarck A. Ramirez Molano, 21, arrested for recklessly evading police in a vehicle.
JAN. 11
Rodolfo A. Ramirez Rivas, 18, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 12
Marco Perez Lopez, 38, arrested for DUI that causes injuries, child endangerment and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
JAN. 14
Brandon E. Robinson, 40, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 16
James M. Duquette, 21, arrested for DUI.
Haydar I. Haba, 60, arrested for DUI.
Michael Tsenter, 41, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 17
Oreste A. Lainez Mendoza, 37, arrested for DUI that causes injuries, child endangerment and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Mario Maya Sanchez, 64, arrested for DUI and driving without a license.
JAN. 18
Emmanuel Cortez Duran, 22, arrested for DUI.
Edinson Gutierrez Mejia, 24, arrested for DUI.
Rafael T. Flores, 38, arrested for DUI.
• Premium and Personalized Service
Trust to Edward and Therese Ducay for $760,000, closed May 30 (last sale: $800,000, 05-01-24)
closed June 20 (last sale: $280,000, 05-01-90)
PORTOLA VALLEY
• Local Market Knowledge: We are Bay Area Natives and Lifelong Residents
• Expertise: Over 30 years of sales and property management experience
• Real Results: Achieving maximum property value using creative marketing and skillful negotiation We offer
2500 Columbia St. #408, 94304, 2 bedrooms, 1021 square feet, built in 2018, Clark Barrett to Stanford University for $1,015,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $816,000, 06-25-20)
435 Sheridan Ave. #304, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1565 square feet, built in 2000, Michael and Pamela Fong to Hall Living Trust for $2,100,000, closed June 20 (last sale: $1,500,000, 06-07-15)
2095 Bowdoin St., 94306, 1 bedroom, 1646 square feet, built in 1985, Schroeter Trust to Kinlyn and Gregory Elshoff for $2,545,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $325,000, 0501-87)
1278 Garden St., 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1280 square feet, built in 1991, East Palo Alto Community Alliance to Yolanda and Juan Alejo for $450,000, closed May 28 (last sale: $814,000, 09-24-24)
2420 Gonzaga St., 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1030 square feet, built in 1951, Bulmaro Mendoza to Araceli and David Arroyo for $467,500, closed May 28 (last sale: $251,000, 01-11-99)
2140 Santa Cruz Ave. #A303, 94025, 1 bedroom, 740 square feet, built in 1978, Beauchamp Living
917 Fremont St., 94025, 2 bedrooms, 980 square feet, built in 1974, Angel Mayorga to Terminal Trust for $820,000, closed May 28 (last sale: $240,000, 06-01-91)
86 Belbrook Way, 94027, 3 bedrooms, 2720 square feet, built in 1954, Michalke Trust to 86 Belbrook LLC for $8,333,000, closed May 30
MOUNTAIN VIEW
1101 West El Camino Real #405, 94040, 712 square feet, built in 2017, Nikolaos Hanselmann to Vandana Pant for $650,000, closed June 17 (last sale: $805,000, 06-12-19)
1908 Silverwood Ave., 94043, 2 bedrooms, 984 square feet, built in 1974, Riley Trust to Tricia Lam for $900,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $177,500, 0201-91)
LOS ALTOS
1070 Mercedes Ave. #8, 94022, 1 bedroom, 960 square feet, built in 1972, Simin Faghih to Jingyu and Guolin Yang for $1,030,000, closed June 17 (last sale: $450,000, 05-11-12)
LOS ALTOS HILLS
27440 Elena Road, 94022, 4 bedrooms, 1635 square feet, built in 1923, Skarmoutsos Family Trust to Yu-Luen and ShengWen Lin for $2,450,000,
909 Westridge Drive, 94028, 5 bedrooms, 4110 square feet, built in 1981, Aldag Trust to Noku Industries LLC for $8,000,000, closed May 29
1716 Kentucky St., 94061, 4 bedrooms, 2974 square feet, built in 1950, Matthew Greenberg to Firestone Trust for $2,750,000, closed May 12 (last sale: $849,000, 06-29-00)
400 Solstice Lane, 94065, 4 bedrooms, 2625 square feet, built in 2000, Mattioli 2020 Trust to Jennifer and James Tom for $2,873,000, closed May 12 (last sale: $900,000, 04-03-03)
3382 Brittan Ave. #6, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1239 square feet, built in 1973, Huy Tran to Rami Abueshsheikh for $928,000, closed May 28 (last sale: $955,000, 02-10-16)
2 Bellflower Lane, 94070, 2 bedrooms, 2260 square feet, built in 1986, Kwan Trust to Zhenrong and Decal Wang for $1,600,000, closed May 27 (last sale: $781,000, 04-25-00)
901 Waltermire St., 94002, 3 bedrooms, 2290 square feet, built in 1905, Sharon Liu to Weiqia and Ruo Chen for $1,650,000, closed May 30 (last sale: $1,725,000, 07-29-21)
About half the water in a typical home is used outdoors and according to EPA WaterSense, nearly 50% of that is wasted because of inefficient or broken irrigation systems. Valley Water is here to help you reduce outdoor water waste with a FREE Water Wise Outdoor Survey of your irrigation system. Their trained professionals identify problems with your irrigation system, including sprinkler overspray, faulty equipment and over-watering. They can make irrigation scheduling adjustments and recommend repairs, replacements, and upgrades. Visit valleywateroutdoorsurvey. org to book your appointment today!
21ST ANNUAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY. Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center. A
family-friendly and resource-rich event designed to empower all residents to be better prepared for any emergency! Some of the activities include: How to Pack a Go Bag (in English, Spanish, and Mandarin); How to Use a Fire Extinguisher (in English, Spanish, and Mandarin); Pets & Disasters 101; Be Red Cross Ready (in English and Spanish); an Emergency Cooking Demonstration; a Search & Rescue Dog demonstration; and a Kids’ Korner where children can decorate a
pillowcase and hear Storytime with a Firefighter (in English, Spanish, and Mandarin). In addition, there will be many displays, exhibits, games, and vendors so you can gather more information and supplies. For updates and full listing of events, visit smcdisasterprep.org
COCKTAILS, COCKTAIL MONKEYS & GAMES on 3rdThursday. You can now legally have a beer, glass of wine or a cocktail while walking around Palo Alto’s car-free blocks of California Avenue
(El Camino-Birch) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow during the free monthly 3rdThursday music festival. Tomorrow’s event features 4 bands. Shown in the photo is The Cocktail Monkeys band. For more info visit 3rdThursday.fun.
THE LOS ALTOS ROTARY CLUB presents its 50th year of Fine Art in the Park in beautiful Lincoln Park on University Ave in Los Altos on Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This popular show features outstanding art work, jewelry, clothing, photography, great food and music and lots of fun. The proceeds will benefit a wide range of Los Altos Rotary
local and international charities. This year more than 150 artists will showcase their exceptional works in a relaxing and festive, family-oriented atmosphere. Free parking will be available at Los Altos High School, Almond School, and the Los Altos Community Center, with shuttle service directly to the event. Walking and biking to the event is also encouraged. The Los Altos Rotary Club encourages you to come and find the art that “touches your heart”. You won’t be disappointed!
SUPPORT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. Join Children’s Health Council (CHC) for their annual SteelMike Shootout, August 24, 2025 at Menlo School. CHC has been leading the way in youth mental health in the Bay Area since 1953. Their SteelMike 3V3 Basketball Shootout raises critical funds to expand access to care— helping them raise awareness, reduce stigma, provide direct services, offer financial assistance, and share free mental health resources with families in need. Register to play at chconline.org/steelmike.
like fire safety, lightsearch and rescue, and disaster medical operations. CERT members play a crucial role in supporting first responders and helping their communities become more resilient in the face of disasters. To learn more, call (650) 688-8400 or email cert@menlofirecert.com.
AN AD-FREE SEARCH ENGINE. What if the Internet were not all ads? What would it look like to search the internet as a human seeking information, rather than as a potential product served up to advertisers? Palo Altan Vladimir Prelovac wanted to find out. So he created Kagi.com, a premium ad-free subscription-based search engine that offers many customizable tools and features to enrich the experience. “Thirty to forty years ago we didn’t care what we put in our bodies, and then we became aware of toxins and organic food, and now we’re careful about what we put in our bodies,” he said. “Now we’re starting to value information and care about what we put in our heads and where we get it from.” To find out more, go to Kagi.com and try their 100-search free trial.
premium pet foods with no hidden ingredients, and fun retail like birthday cakes, doggy ice cream, and a rotating “farmer’s market” of treats.
Saturday’s event will feature giveaways, exclusive retail discounts, and free treats for your pup. Stop by with your family and furry friend this Saturday to meet the salon’s friendly staff, including their manager Lili and pet groomer Crystal. Located inside Edgewood Plaza - treat your furry friend to something special. For more information please call (650) 299-1978 or visit woofgangbakery.com.
FULL CULINARY
JOIN MENLO PARK’S CERT TEAM. A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of trained volunteers who assist their communities during emergencies. They receive training in basic disaster response skills
PALO ALTO’S NEWEST DOG BOUTIQUE IS HERE. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is now open, with a grand opening celebration happening this Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2190 W Bayshore Rd #170. Owners and best friends Ayesha and Shobith are proud to run a business centered on supporting your pet’s overall health. They believe in relaxing your pet in a stressfree environment, allowing your dog to develop a positive association with the environment and people. Woof Gang offers specialty spa treatments,
Show De Carnes, newly located at 3398 El Camino Real in Palo Alto is a Brazilian steakhouse bringing the traditional churrasco experience to the heart of the Peninsula. This all you can eat dining destination features 17 cuts of meat tableside by skilled passadores, and complimenting the meats is an impressive salad bar with over 50 items. Show de Carnes has been praised for both its food and service, and has a lively and casual atmosphere with a Brazilian flair that makes every visit feel festive. They are open for lunch and dinner, so whether you’re out with family gathering, date-night or simply looking to treat yourself - this establishment has quickly become a local standout. Say hello to their manager Ronaldo, and let them know we referred you! Please call (650) 847-1105 to make a reservation or visit showdecarnesusa.com for more information.
Monday, the vote was upheld. Commissioners based their votes on “attacks on the applicant,” Saffouri said in his email.
Saffouri said the commissioners raised concerns unrelated to the proposal. Bansal is now asking for more time to give commissioners alternatives to the current proposal, according to Saffouri.
The request
Bansal submitted a request to demolish the existing three pumps to install underground storage tanks, a store, parking and a car wash. Bansal asked for feedback from the community through meetings and surveys from customers and nearby residents.
He then revised the project to improve the noise concerns by increasing the height of a concrete wall from 6 to 7 feet, as well as adding additional security to the site.
Bansal also proposed a mural to be painted on the wall and extra security cameras with LED lights.
The drive-through car wash was planned to operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to meet the city’s standards and address the commissioners’ concerns.
Too loud
Commissioners at the June 9 meeting said that the car wash would’ve caused a lot of noise from the vacuums and traffic.
The commission also said the car wash could affect the sidewalk and make it less walkable.
The Shell gas station currently offers 24-hour gas and air for wheels.
Judge Mark McCannon at the San Mateo County Superior Court. McCannon will be overseeing the trial of the case and will schedule a trial for Corpus.
Corpus is entitled to a trial by jury on the accusations. If convicted, she faces being removed from
office. The civil grand jury issued four accusations against Corpus, including one count of conflict of interest and three counts of retaliation.
The conflict of interest allegation pertains to her decision to hire and supervise former Executive Director of Administration Victor Aenlle, with whom she had a close personal relationship. Corpus and Aenlle both deny having an intimate relationship.
Retaliation concerns
The three counts of retaliation concern the termination of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan; the transfer of Capt. Brian Philip; and the arrest of Deputy Carlos Tapia, the president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Corpus is also facing a separate removal process, initiated by the Board of Supervisors and authorized by voters in a special election. A hearing officer, county Probation Chief John Keene, recommended her termination and the board voted unanimously on June 24 in support of that recommendation.
Supervisors scheduled a removal hearing for Corpus on Aug. 18-29, according to county spokesman Marshall Wilson. Corpus requested that the hearing be held behind closed doors.
tracks
If supervisors fire Corpus, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he would still move forward with the civil grand jury’s accusations. If Corpus is convicted, she will be unable to hold a position in public office again, Wagstaffe said.
Corpus is also being questioned by the sergeant’s union after placing Sgt. Joe Fava on administrative leave for “matters of accountability,” according to her statement on Monday.
Sergeant’s Union President Hector Acosta said Corpus only enforces accountability when it suits her narrative.
Who is and isn’t a target
“If you are in good graces with her, she won’t hold you accountable,” Acosta said. “If she feels that
you’ve gone against her, you’re a target.” Acosta said Copus has shown a continuing pattern with Fava and named Monaghan, Philip and Tapia as other victims of her retaliation.
Acosta said that if Corpus truly cared about transparency, she would hold hearings open to the public.
“The hearing is coming up, let’s make that transparent,” Acosta said.
Los
— for allegedly killing Alice at Taroko Gorge in Taiwan on Nov. 29, 2019.
Herchen’s attorney Chuck Smith has argued that Alice lived a life of mystery, and she ran away with their younger and better-looking tour guide.
Josephine said she still brings a picture of Alice to every family gathering.
“Even now, I still hope that she’s alive. I know that it’s stupid to think that way,” Josephine said.
Took care of sister
Josephine, 10 years older than Alice, testified that she fed and dressed Alice as a baby because their parents were busy with work and six kids.
Josephine was the oldest, and Alice was the youngest. Alice loved little animals and made gifts for her siblings as a kid, Josephine said.
“She was very cute and very sweet,” Josephine said.
The family moved to Fiji, San Jose and then Los Gatos. Alice could read for hours and tried to write a novel in Mandarin, Josephine said.
Alice had dreams of opening a tutoring center one day, Josephine said.
Brother teared up Watching Josephine’s testimony, brother George Ku took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. Josephine moved out of the family house when
she got married around the time Alice graduated high school in 2001, and their relationship matured to be more like friends.
They texted about fashion and food and saw each other about twice a month for coffee or lunch, Josephine said.
Josephine said she had a daughter who was like Alice’s long-awaited younger sister, and they were very close.
Davis showed the jury pictures of Alice and Josephine’s daughter from August 2019. He also showed the last picture that Josephine took of Alice, smiling at Peet’s Cafe in San Jose in September 2019.
What they talked about Their texts leading up to Alice’s disappearance were about their mom having eye surgery in Taiwan. Josephine flew there to help out, and Alice asked her to bring back pineapple cake and a brand of sunscreen that she liked, she said.
What Josephine didn’t know is that Alice was in Taiwan at the same time — with Herchen, her secret husband, on their seventh trip to the country.
Josephine said she was slightly concerned when Alice didn’t respond to texts on her 38th birthday on Dec. 2, 2019.
Josephine grew more concerned the next day when Alice didn’t respond to a text saying Josephine’s daughter had been selected as principal cellist for the New York String Orchestra Seminar.
“Yo?” Josephine texted Alice three times on Dec. 4, 2019.
Concern grew
Josephine told her siblings that Alice stopped responding on Dec. 6, 2019, and asked two friends to go to her Sunnyvale apartment.
A parent that Alice tutored for reached out to report that Alice had missed two tutoring sessions on Dec. 8, 2019.
The Ku family called police, hired an attorney to investigate and learned that Alice had married Herchen and moved to Mountain View two years earlier.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Josephine said.
Josephine returned to Taiwan in March 2020 with
her husband and daughter to look for Alice. They went to the same hotel where Herchen and Alice stayed and followed their footsteps on the only road into Taroko Gorge.
Huge national park
Taroko National Park is twice the size of San Jose, with steep cliffs and windy, narrow roads, Josephine said. “That was a long ride. We drove slowly because it was very dangerous,” Josephine said.
Davis showed the jury pictures of foggy paths with no railings and rocks that dropped hundreds of feet into the ocean.
Josephine said a cafe owner, a restaurant owner and hotel workers recognized Alice from a few months ago but didn’t have any more information.
Lost her last link
Josephine kept texting Alice until her phone number was assigned to someone else in August 2020.
“It feels like I have nowhere to send my thoughts to her,” Josephine said through tears.
“Do you miss your sister?” Davis asked.
“Very much,” Josephine said.
The family had a memorial in May 2021, but Josephine said they didn’t get the comfort they were seeking. Josephine said if Alice’s body was found, they would have had a Catholic Mass and a burial.
“I hope we can have that one day,” Josephine said.
‘She has to be there’
Davis showed the jury a family photo from a dinner at Santana Row for Lunar New Year in 2022, with Josephine holding up a photo of Alice.
“She’s family. She has to be there,” Josephine said.
Josephine returned to Taroko Gorge in November 2023 for the fourth anniversary of Alice’s disappearance, this time with her parents for a spiritual trip.
“We actually called out to the mountains, to the valleys, to Alice — tell her to come home with us,” Josephine said.
The trial continues today with Judge Beth McGowen at the Old County Courthouse in downtown San Jose.
A federal judge in Texas removed a Biden-era finalized rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would have removed medical debt from credit reports.
U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordan of Texas’s Eastern District, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, found on Friday that the rule exceeded the CFPB’s authority. Jordan said that the CFPB is not permitted to remove medical debt from credit reports according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which protects information collected by consumer reporting agencies.
Removing medical debt from consumer credit reports was expected to increase the credit scores of millions of families by an average of 20 points, the bureau said. The CFPB states that its research has shown outstanding healthcare claims to be a poor predictor of an individual’s ability to repay a loan, yet they are often used to deny mortgage applications.
Would have impacted 15 million
The CFPB’s rule was projected to ban all outstanding medical bills from appearing on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using the information.
The CFPB estimated the rule would have removed $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of 15 million Americans. According to the agency, one in five Americans has at least one medical debt collection account on their credit reports, and over half of the collection entries on credit reports are for medical debts.
Trade Wars and Currency Wars are accelerating worldwide.
The old monetar y system is failing. Indebted national currencies are depreciating in a see-saw race to the bottom. So much worldwide debt is in default or is being masked with more debt. Politicians posture at each other, but they all created the situation by buying power and favors while mor tgaging your children’s future.
Stocks and bond markets, long suppor ted by Central Banks, may be challenged going for ward as governments have exhausted their debt expansion tools. Recent new highs in equities, due to some promising companies, may be more post-election hope than substance.
Cr yptocurrencies had their run, but the hope for a sounder and more private fiat system remains challenged while a past price bubble for the majority has been costly. Bitcoin is an example of those still per forming among the thousands of currencies & tokens in this young experiment.
Wise and calm obser vers know that longterm, gold is money, not debt, not paper promises. For thousands of years it has protected families from currency depreciation, paper defaults, and cer tain political abuses.
If you have been waiting to buy gold, or buy it “cheaper,” reconsider. Gold bottomed near $1040 at the end of 2015. We are in a new multi-year uptrend reconfirmed by the current strength just below all time highs. Monetar y scientists understand that the repricing of gold is just getting star ted. Each crisis seems to become more pronounced as the debt monetar y system disintegrates towards failure. Gold is best accumulated, not speculated. Star t saving in gold, and make it a habit.
Come visit Mish International and find out what probabilities lie ahead for gold and related commodities.
Learn why gold must be a necessary par t of your assets. Since 1964, the wisest advice and best prices for gold & silver are right here in Menlo Park.
funding is limited to inside Santa Clara County.
“There’s tons of history in the background that has set precedents of how the ‘partners’ have shared in operating a system,” Gee said.
Meetings set
Caltrain will have a special meeting on July 23 to consider approving an agreement that’s still being negotiated by Gee and Abe-Koga. Gee said he guarantees the vote won’t be unanimous on the nine-member Caltrain board.
Abe-Koga’s office has declined an interview on her behalf.
Funding for Gilroy service, pension obligations and Caltrain’s
budget approval process are also issues in negotiations.
SamTrans and VTA will consider accepting the Caltrain agreement at meetings in early August.
The agreement will inform decisions about whether VTA and SamTrans opt in to a half-cent sales tax slated for the November 2026 ballot, primarily to fund BART and Muni. The state’s deadline to participate in the ballot measure is Aug. 11.
Potential business tax
Speier has advocated for a gross receipts tax on businesses making over $5 million rather than a sales tax.
“Frankly, we are putting this on the backs of poor people, when the greatest beneficiaries are going to be these companies,” she said.
State Sen. Scott Weiner, who introduced a bill to allow for the ballot measure, has rejected a business tax because the Bay Area Council would oppose it.
But Speier said the Bay Area Council’s plan shouldn’t be the only plan.
San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa was on the other side, saying that a business tax was already debated and discarded.
“This train has gone so far down this track that any suggestion of trying to derail it, as elected officials, is irresponsible. It is totally irresponsible,” Canepa said. “No one wants to really tax people, no one likes taxes, but this tax, and what the polling indicates to us, is that people in San Mateo County desire transit.”
