BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
An open government nonprofit is threatening to sue the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors if it keeps the removal hearings of embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus closed to the public. First Amendment Coalition attorney Aaron Field sent the supervisors a letter yesterday telling them to make Cor-
pus’s removal hearings open to the public because she doesn’t have the right to keep them private after residents voted for Measure A.
On March 4, more than 90,000 San Mateo County voters approved Measure A, which gave supervisors the au-
thority to remove Corpus. Field said in his letter that the board can not “shut San Mateo County citizens out of a key phase of a process they voted” on.
No one from the county responded to inquires about the coalition’s letter yesterday.
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 on June 27.
The removal hearing was scheduled after her pre-removal hearing with Probation Officer John Keene on June
[See SUE, page 23]
324-9110
POWELL FIRING ‘UNLIKELY’:
President Trump says he’s “highly unlikely” to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. His public statement yesterday came less than 24 hours after suggesting in a private meeting that he was leaning in favor of dismissing Powell. Trump confirmed to reporters that in a White House meeting Tuesday night with about a dozen House Republicans, he’d discussed the “concept” of dismissing Powell. The Fed chair has long been a target because of his refusal to lower interest rates as Trump wants. Trump said yesterday he’s “highly unlikely” to dismiss Powell — “unless he has to leave for fraud.”
REAL SUGAR IN COKE: President Trump says Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship soft drink in the U.S. at his suggestion. The switch from high-fructose corn syrup in Coke sold in the United States would put Coca-Cola in line with its practice in other countries, including Mexico. But Coca-Cola Co. didn’t confirm the move.
TRUMP SLAMS EPSTEIN ‘HOAX’: President Trump is lashing out at his [See THE UPDATE, page 4]
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Menlo Park residents may have to switch from using gas-powered heaters to an electric heat pump.
Menlo Park City Council is moving forward with revising existing requirements and will explore the possibility of mandating the installation of an electric heat pump when replacing an air conditioner. The heat pump is a dual-purpose device, using electricity to provide heating and cooling.
Council is looking to fight climate change and promote sustainability.
Mayor Drew Combs said that he wants to look for ways to incentivize the change for residents instead of leaving them with another financial burden.
Management Analyst Ori Paz said the
[See HEATERS, page 23]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A Los Altos resident whose wife disappeared in Taiwan took the stand yesterday to defend himself against accusations from her family that he killed her in a park known for its treacherous cliffs.
Harald Herchen, 66, said he was happily married to Mountain View tutor Alice Ku before she went missing on Nov. 29, 2019. They traveled internationally around 20 times in their two-year marriage and were working on a tutoring app together called Inspired Learning.
“I enjoyed being with her a lot,” Herchen said yesterday at the Old County Courthouse in San Jose. Herchen was straight-faced throughout his testimony, which started with questions from his attorney Chuck Smith.
Attorney Todd Davis, represent[See HUSBAND, page 22]
• Formal Entry
• Elegant Living Room with Fireplace and Vaulted Ceilings
• Chef’s Eat-in Kitchen with Skylights and Breakfast Bar
• Opens to Spacious Family Room with Wet Bar
• Three Spacious Bedrooms
• Two Updated Bathrooms
• Primary Suite Retreat Features Two Closets, Double Sinks, Oversized Tub, Stall Shower, and Skylights
• Inside Laundry Room with Sink and Built-in Cabinets
• Interior Features Include High Ceilings and Skylights
• Lovely 1.10+/- Acre Lot
• Detached 2-Car Garage
• Breathtaking Views of the Hills
• Award Winning Palo Alto Schools
Offered at $4,400,000
• 4 bedrooms and 2 baths on one level
• Approximately 1,871 square feet of living space
• Freshly painted inside, hardwood floors, and new carpet
• Attached 2-car garage
• Lot size of approximately 8,612 square feet
• Sought-after Birdland neighborhood
• Excellent Santa Clara schools: Laurelwood Elementary, Peterson Middle, Wilcox High (buyer to confirm)
Offered at $2,798,000 1375SprigCt.com
And what a location!
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has filed her fifth lawsuit against the county in an attempt to get a new judge to end the removal procedures she faces.
In the lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday, Corpus alleges the county’s attempt to remove her from office through the voter-approved Measure A is a sham “tainted by bias” and has given her no opportunity to be heard.
Corpus has tried to fight Measure A twice in San Mateo County Superior Court, both times with the judges ruling that it is premature to determine if the process, which has never played
out before, is insufficient. Corpus’ attorneys reiterated their complaints in Supervisors Ray Mueller and Noelia Corzo continuing to vote in the process of removing her even after they have shown bias.
County offiicials did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
Hostilities after report
Mueller and Corzo made previous comments at press conferences related to a 400-page report the county commissioned from retired Santa Clara County Judge LaDoris Cordell.
Corpus’ attorneys state that after the “one-sided” Cordell report was released, she was in a toxic environment and was
receiving “hostility” from the media. The report also caused an inmate at the Maguire Jail, James Taylor, to send her death threats, the lawsuit states.
Corpus also said the Keker, Van Nest & Peters report, which was also commissioned by the board to move forward with the removal process, “abandoned” the allegation that she had a romantic relationship with her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle, the lawsuit said.
Just drop it
She says since the Keker report doesn’t mention a romantic relationship with Aenlle, it cancels out the allegations made in the Cordell report. The
Keker report describes their relationship as a “close personal relationship,” not romantic.
The Keker Report also abandoned the allegation that Corpus made “racial and homophobic slurs,” the lawsuit states.
The Post previously reported on Corpus using two more slurs, according to the Keker report: one an antisemitic slur about a former captain and another racial remark about former Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, attorney Jan Nielsen Little wrote in her report.
Issues with Keene hearing
During the removal process, Corpus
[See OUSTER, page 23]
supporters as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration’s handling of muchhyped records in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. And Trump told reporters yesterday that “it's all been a big hoax” that, in his words, has been “perpetrated by the Democrats.” He says “some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans” have fallen “into the net.”
BIDEN AIDE INVOKES THE FIFTH: Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to Jill Biden, yesterday became the second person to invoke the Fifth Amendment and decline to answer questions from House Republicans who are investigating President Joe Biden’s mental state and use of the autopen while in office.
COMEY’S DAUGHTER FIRED: The Justice Department has fired Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey and a prosecutor in the federal cases against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jeffrey Epstein, the Associated Press reported yesterday. There was no specific reason given for her firing.
ICE CLASS-ACTION: A group of immigrants and legal advocates have filed a class-action lawsuit that seeks to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from arresting migrants who appear at immigration courts for previously scheduled hearings and placing them on a fast-track to deportation.
ZUCK ON TRIAL: An $8 billion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company leaders began yesterday, with claims stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.
Managing
General
Distribution:
Letters:
El Camino Hospital in Mountain View: Dec. 31
Clara Avery Chan, a girl
Siya Wadehra Dewan, a girl
Leo Fan, a boy
Santiago Gaytan, a boy
Noah Robert Gundert, a boy
Dec. 30
Abdullah Mahamed Abdirahman, a boy
Julianna Chavez Rodarte, a girl
Achilles George Christodoulakis, a boy
Nyjah Redd Cordova, a boy
Aden Ruixuan Ekeroth, a boy
Tyeisha Ellen Feely, a girl
Noah Joaquim Jasso Diaz, a boy
Addison Mae Johnson, a girl
Robert Samuel Morgan, a boy
Vivitsa Ojas, a girl
Edson Rodriguez, a boy
Atharv Shankar, a boy
Dec. 29
Ivy Gajurel, a girl
Nikhil Anant Kanetkar, a boy
Lucas Lin, a boy
Kalgi Shah, a girl
Leo James Soboliev, a boy
Sophie Zhu, a girl
Dec. 28
Grace Noelle Barrientos, a girl
Aris Sun Cana, a boy
William Henry Du, a boy
Sebastian Issie Groverperez, a boy
Ira Kl, a girl
Caleb Thomas Morrison, a boy
Eshan Varanasi, a boy
Hannah Ni Wang, a girl
Philip Yi An Xu, a boy
Audrey Zhao, a girl
Junyao Zhao, a girl
June 14, 1932 - December 7,
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 BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A state bill intended to prevent misuse of the Americans with Disability Act is at risk of dying in the state Assembly, but a group of small businesses is pushing for a vote before tomorrow’s deadline.
Senate Bill 84 would require people to send warning letters to business owners and allow them to fix accessibility issues before they get sued.
Hundreds of small businesses on the Peninsula have been caught off-guard by law firms like Potter Handy that specialize in ADA lawsuits and find issues with a building.
For example, the ramps might be too steep, or the tables too tall.
Businesses usually settle the lawsuits for around $10,000 rather than risk losing more in a trial.
Potter Handy targeted downtown Palo Alto restaurants that had
ADA violations in their outdoor dining setups in 2021. The firm has also sued businesses along El Camino Real, on Castro Street in Mountain View and Laurel Street in San Carlos.
The National Federation of Independent Business said SB84 is a common-sense protection for small businesses, giving them 120 days to fix issues.
The state Assembly has until tomorrow to set a committee hearing date, or the bill would die.
Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, and Assemblywoman Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, didn’t return phone calls and emails yesterday about their position on the bill.
“If the Assembly’s strategy was
to bank on ignoring it in hopes of it going away, we will not let the issue die with your constituents and next year’s voters,” NFIB California Director John Kabateck said in a statement yesterday.
SB84 passed the state Senate 34-2 on June 4, including a yes vote from state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park.
“To not give it one hearing in the Assembly is anti-democratic,” Kabateck said. “In the too frequent battle between fat-cat trial lawyers and struggling small business owners, the wealthy always win. Bad message to send.”
Previous effort
A similar bill last year, Senate Bill 585, also made it through the state Senate but stalled in the Assembly.
The ADA is a building code signed in 1990 that requires at least 5% of seating to be accessible for people with disabilities. The code is enforced by private citizens through lawsuits.
Travelers giddy about being able to keep their shoes on while walking through TSA checkpoints at the airport again may have something else to look forward to: changes to how much liquid they can carry.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said yesterday during a conference hosted by “The Hill” that she is questioning “everything TSA does” and spoke of possible changes to the amount of liquids travelers can tote in their carry-on baggage.
“The liquids, I’m questioning. So that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,” Noem said. “We have put in place in TSA a multilayered screening process that allows us to change some of how we do security and screening so it’s still as safe.”
She gave no details about precisely what those changes might be or how quickly travelers could see them.
Under the Transportation and Security Administration’s current guidance, travelers can carry liquids in travel-sized containers 3.4 ounces or less per item in their carry-on bag. Those containers must be placed in a onequart resealable plastic bag. Bigger containers must go in checked baggage, though there are exceptions for medications and baby formula.
Noem announced on July 8 that travelers were no longer required to take their shoes off while going through
screening after a pilot program showed TSA had the equipment needed to keep airports and aircraft safe while allowing people to keep their shoes on.
That policy had been in place since 2006, several years after “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s failed attempt to take down a flight from Paris to Miami in late 2001.
The limits on liquids were triggered by a 2006 incident where authorities foiled a plot to used liquid explosives smuggled aboard carry-on luggage to blow up planes.
Ever since the guidelines were put in place TSA checkpoints have been the scene of travelers quickly guzzling water, digging through luggage to find and discard a too-large tube of hair gel and chucking jars of everything from jam to bottles of coffee that didn’t meet the size requirement.
The guidance also triggered discussions — sometimes arguments — over what constitutes a liquid. Yogurt? Peanut butter? Jam and jelly? All are currently restricted to containers no bigger than 3.4 ounces.
Vision for future
Noem also laid out her vision for the future of airport travel during the talk yesterday.
“Hopefully, the future of an airport, where I’m looking to go is that you walk in the door with your carry-on suitcase, you walk through a scanner and go right to your plane,” Noem said. “It takes you one minute.”
Set on a beautifully flat and expansive half-acre lot in a charming creekside setting, this single-story home offers the perfect blend of space, style, and location. With three generously sized bedrooms—including a luxurious primary suite—this thoughtfully updated residence is designed for modern living.
The heart of the home is the stylishly renovated kitchen, seamlessly connected to a spacious family room with direct access to the backyard oasis. Enjoy warm wood floors, updated bathrooms, and a layout ideal for everyday comfort and effortless entertaining. Step outside to a private retreat featuring a sparkling pool, lush landscaping, and picturesque views of the gently winding creek —perfect for relaxing or hosting gatherings.
Ideally situated in one of San Mateo’s most desirable neighborhoods, with easy access to Laurelwood and Hillsdale shopping centers, scenic trails at Laurelwood/Sugarloaf Park, and top commuter routes including Hwy 92, 101, and 280. Nature, convenience, and comfort—all in one exceptional home.
Offered at $3,200,000 | 700Laurelwood.com
Two men have been arrested in a Redwood City assault, with one man bitten by a police dog, police said yesterday.
Police were called to the 1400 block of Ebener Street after multiple bystanders reported that four to five men were assaulting another man, police said in a statement.
As police arrived at the scene, a van drove away from the area. Bystanders told police that the van was involved in the incident, and police began to follow it on Woodside Road.
Chase, arrests
During a short car chase, the van crashed into a parked car on Hudson Street and the driver, Manuel Chavarria, 47, tried to run away but was quickly caught, police said.
The passenger, Gerardo Conrriquez, 36, refused multiple commands from
police to exit the van, so a police dog was deployed and bit Conrriquez on the arm, police said.
A third suspect is believed to have exited the van before police got on the scene.
The man who was assaulted was not cooperative with the police investigation. He was not injured, police said.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex showed Chavarria and Conrriquez exiting the van and chasing the man while armed with “long sharp objects,” police said.
Multiple bystanders of the assault were able to identify Chavarria and Conrriquez, police said.
Chavarria is in jail on no-bail status because he was on parole. He is set to appear in court today. Bail information about Conrriquez was not available.
WHAT: The Stanford Memory Lab is looking for healthy older adults to participate in a study on attention and memory.
ELIGIBILITY: Healthy and between the ages of 65 and 80; right-handed; able to lie flat for an MRI scan and hear without aid; no history of memory loss or neurological illness; no MRI-incompatible metal implants; normal or corrected-to-normal vision; and no color blindness
COMMITMENT: Participation will involve four separate visits:
Visit 1: Cognitive testing (at Stanford)
Visit 2: PET-MRI brain scan (at Stanford)
Visit 3: EEG-fMRI brain scan (at Stanford)
Visit 4: Behavioral testing (at Stanford)
COMPENSATION:
Participants will be compensated $100 for the PET/MRI scan and an additional $20/hour for the EEG/fMRI and behavioral testing.
Two university hospitals are pioneering new ways to expand lifesaving heart transplants for adults and babies — advances that could help recover would-be heart donations that too often go unused.
The new research aims to overcome barriers for using organs from someone who dies when their heart stops. Called DCD, or donation after circulatory death, it involves a controversial recovery technique or the use of expensive machines.
“These DCD hearts work just as well as hearts from brain-dead donors,” said Vanderbilt lead author Dr. Aaron M. Williams.
Pressing need
There’s a huge need for more transplantable hearts. Hundreds of thousands of adults suffer from advanced heart failure, yet many are never even offered a transplant because of the organ shortage.
Every year about 700 children in the U.S. are added to the transplant list for a new heart and about 20% die waiting. Turek said infants are at particular risk.
INTERESTED? QUESTIONS? CONTACT US! Gloria Cheng (research coordinator) at memorylab@stanford.edu -7154 (408) 320
Hillary Vossler (research coordinator) at memorylab@stanford.edu or call (650) 497-9027
*All tests are for research purposes only; results cannot be released for individual health diagnostics.* INTERESTED? QUESTIONS? CONTACT US!
Why shockwave therapy is now the smart choice for athletic recovery
No Downtime:
• Stay in motion. You can return to practice, workouts, or daily activity right after treatment—no rest required.
Reduces the Need for Expensive Diagnostic Tests (MRI, X-ray):
• Skip the wait and high costs. Shockwave therapy targets the injury directly, saving you time and money.
Lower Patient Out-of-Pocket Expense:
• Affordable, non-invasive, and effective—ideal for athletes and active people who want results without breaking the bank.
• When combined, these three powerful therapies speed recovery and deliver lasting relief.
• EMTT for deep tissue healing
• Radial Shockwave for circulation and scar tissue
• Focused Shockwave to target the root cause of injury
Surgeons at Duke and Vanderbilt universities reported yesterday that they’ve separately devised simpler approaches to retrieve those hearts. In the New England Journal of Medicine, they described successfully transplanting hearts to a 3-month-old infant at Duke and three men at Vanderbilt.
Last year, people whose lives ended via circulatory death made up 43% of the nation’s deceased donors — but just 793 of the 4,572 heart transplants.
PALO ALTO
26 Churchill Ave., 94306, 1771 square feet, built in 1945, Shelly and Stuart Pederson to 2426 Churchill LLC for $2,550,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $750,000, 06-30-03)
86 Roosevelt Circle, 94306, 3 bedrooms, 1736 square feet, built in 1952, Carol and Robert Chatfield to Sunggeun and Minkyung Kim for $3,320,000, closed June 20 (last sale: $335,000, 09-01-90)
801 Talisman Drive, 94303, 4 bedrooms, 1768 square feet, built in 1957, Nayak Family Trust to Hu and Huang Family Trust for $3,500,000, closed June 18
947 Alberni St., 94303, 2 bedrooms, 940 square feet, built in 1950, Cleveland Wycoff to Starstock LLC for $735,000, closed May 30 2336 Menalto Ave., 94303, 2 bedrooms, 1120 square feet, built in 1963, Xu Trust to Satya Chaudhary for $975,000, closed May 30 (last sale: $198,000, 08-10-10)
505 Barron St., 94025, 4 bedrooms, 1880 square feet, built in 1999, Cowan Living Trust to Fields Trust for $3,000,000, closed May 30
245 Menlo Oaks Drive, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1480 square feet, built in 1953, Kusumoto Trust to Liwei Wen for $3,020,000, closed May 30 (last sale: $365,000, 10-01-87)
509 Sierra Vista Ave. #2, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1165 square feet, built in 1982, Weijie Shen to Zhe Liu for $1,049,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $901,000, 0306-17)
700 Chiquita Ave. #1, 94041, 2 bedrooms, 1180 square feet, built in 1985, Yang Trust to Alyssa and Robin Hagelmueller for $1,330,000, closed June 18 (last sale: $640,000, 1129-06)
470 Gabilan St. #4, 94022, 2 bedrooms, 1140 square feet, built in 1986, William Ng to Maria Acob-Nash for $1,390,000, closed June 16 (last sale: $1,188,000, 10-15-20)
36 Los Altos Square, 94022, 2 bedrooms, 1440 square feet, built in 1964, Golub Trust to Abhinaya and Arun Balasubramanian for $1,673,000, closed June 16
258 Kings Mountain Road, 94062, 5 bedrooms, 5690 square feet, built in 1925, Bronze Elephant LLC to Elefante Dorado LLC for $13,500,000, closed May
30 (last sale: $13,000,000, 11-14-23)
REDWOOD CITY
2497 Edith Ave., 94061, 5 bedrooms, 2560 square feet, built in 1963, Sacher Family Trust to Franzoni-Lau and Lau Trust for $2,975,000, closed May 13 (last sale: $745,000, 1121-01)
318 West Oakwood Blvd., 94061, 4 bedrooms, 2963 square feet, built in 2015, Batistich 2019 Trust to Chuyao and Tian Bao for $3,650,000, closed May 14 (last sale: $2,450,000, 01-26-16)
SAN CARLOS
7 Mayflower Lane, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 2100 square feet, built in 1986, Png Geh Family Trust to Michael Fogel for $1,858,000, closed May 27 (last sale: $1,300,000, 03-25-14)
46 Hilltop Drive, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 2120 square feet, built in 1951, Girard Trust to Marie and Nicholas Henderson for $2,150,000, closed May 28
408 Cornish Way, 94002, 4 bedrooms, 1380 square feet, built in 1952, Himes Trust to Connie and Ronald Mak for $1,850,000, closed May 29
1032 Tahoe Drive, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 1810 square feet, built in 1957, Peggy Cisneros to Li and Boyan Li for $2,391,500, closed May 27
Tim has sold $2+ Billion in home sales and knows every facet of the residential real estate business, including new construction. He holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation, awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. He is an Associate Broker with Compass, combining his expertise and knowledge with the cutting edge, high-tech platform of Compass.
Here is how the new rules work: Seller only pays their listing broker. Sellers are no longer obligated through a listing agreement to pay the Buyer’s broker, but may still accept to pay the Buyer’s broker if requested in the Buyer’s offer.
ation on your home!
SATURDAY
3:27 a.m. — Battery, 1100 block of Embarcadero Road.
8:53 a.m. — Auto burglary, 600 block of Tennyson Ave.
9:52 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 300 block of Cambridge Ave.
2:39 p.m. — Nicholas Stephey, 41, of Menlo Park, arrested for petty theft from a vehicle, 1700 block of Sand Hill Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
TUESDAY
10:46 a.m. — Nicholas Stephey, 41, of Menlo Park, arrested for being under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, 500 block of El Camino.
11 a.m. — Petty theft, 100 block of Terminal Ave.
2:09 p.m. — Vehicle collision causes injuries, Valparaiso Ave. and University Drive.
6:13 p.m. — Grand theft, 700 block of Hamilton Ave.
11:38 p.m. — Jose Luis Rodriguez Garcia, 37, of San Mateo, arrested on five warrants, Coleman Place.
JUNE 2
2:10 p.m. — Robert Nelson, 64, of San Jose, cited for narcotics and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, El Camino Hospital.
JULY 2
10:15 p.m. — Rachael Hsiao, 26, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, Shoreline Blvd. and Terra Bella Ave.
JULY 6
12:42 a.m. — Oscar Carbajal Manrique, 31, of Mountain View, cited for DUI and driving without a license, Mariposa Ave. and California St.
2:35 a.m. — Roberto Carlos Carias Ramos, 22, of San Leandro, cited for DUI, Evelyn and Moorpark Way.
11:09 p.m. — Rafael Rios Barajas, 30, of Menlo Park, arrested for public drunkenness and on a warrant, 400 block of Moffett Blvd.
JULY 7
3:08 a.m. — Theft reported, 1200 block of Dale Ave. About 20 minutes later, police arrest Gary Joseph Lombardo Jr., 42, of San Jose, for burglary, identity theft and possession of burglary tools and stolen property, 1000 block of W. El Camino in Sunnyvale.
9 a.m. — Burglary at an apartment building, 1300 block of Montecito Ave.
9:09 a.m. — Vandalism, 2300 block of N. Shoreline Blvd.
9:35 a.m. — Theft at Walmart, 600 Showers Drive.
11:35 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 2200 block of W. El Camino.
12:55 p.m. — Sex crime, 2500 block of California St.
3:06 p.m. — Vandalism, 200 block of Hope St.
4:35 p.m. — Orlando Sanchez, 52, of San Jose, arrested for soliciting
lewd acts and drinking alcohol in a public place, Stevens Creek Trail and El Camino.
4:52 p.m. — Sex crime, 200 block of Walker Drive.
5:22 p.m. — Burglary at a business, 200 block of E. Middlefield Road.
7:23 p.m. — Walter Santana Lopez, 41, arrested on warrants, 1000 block of Space Park Way.
9:56 p.m. — Theft at Target, 555 Showers Drive.
TUESDAY
3:16 a.m. — Brayan Barragan Vera, 20, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, Middlefield Road and Holbrook Lane. Arrest made by Menlo Park police.
2:53 p.m. — Haiyan Lin, 69, of Palo Alto, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license and display of false vehicle registration, Selby Lane and W. Selby Lane.
SUNDAY
3:30 p.m. — Adriana Corona Garcia, 37, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and destroying or concealing evidence, Bay Road and Warrington Ave.
8:49 p.m. — Miguel Luna Jr., 41, of East Palo Alto, arrested for being a felon in possession of ammunition, Edison Way and 11th Ave.
10:35 p.m. — Leonardo Toj Cutillo, 36, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, El Camino and Berkshire Ave. Incident handled by Atherton police.
APRIL 15
Anthony Michael Sodano, 46, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery, 1200 block of Sierra St. Jacob Ramos, 36, of Redwood City, arrested for indecent exposure, El Camino and Jefferson Ave.
Monique Goodson, 49, of San Carlos, arrested for robbery at Safeway, 1071 El Camino.
Mayra Alejandra Avina, 32, of Redwood City, arrested for carjacking, being under the influence of drugs and resisting police, 500 block of El Camino.
Mati Steve Ioapo II, 44, of San Carlos, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Main and Bradford streets.
Jovani Cervantes, 28, of Redwood City, cited for shoplifting, Main and Bradford streets.
APRIL 16
Justin Michael Hersh, 38, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, 1800 block of El Camino.
Adriana Marie O’Donnell-Martell, 20, of Redwood City, arrested for drug possession and on a warrant, 1600 block of Broadway.
Isaiah Karan, 19, of San Bruno, arrested for possession of narcotics and other drugs, and possession of drugs while armed with a gun, Woodside Road and Broadway.
Frederick Roy Costley Jr., 55, of Redwood City, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse, 1-99 block of Meadow Lane.
Lillibeth Gonzalez Santillan, 29, of East Palo Alto, arrested for assault likely to produce great injury, 400 block of Arch St.
SUNDAY
12:08 a.m. — Man reported to be throwing rocks at vehicles, Middlefield Road.
12:39 a.m. — Another report comes in of a man throwing rocks at vehicles, Middlefield Road.
1:45 a.m. — Group of people fighting, Hancock St.
4:01 a.m. — Haydee Yazmin Chavac Santizo, 23, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery, 1300 block of Marshall St.
1:38 p.m. — Jairo Cornejo Buenrostro, 38, of San Jose, arrested for domestic violence, 1700 block of Industrial Way.
3:23 p.m. — Victim hit in the face by another person, Flynn Ave.
6:41 p.m. — Freddie Cuevas, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for assault likely to produce great injury, domestic battery and child endangerment, El Camino and Hopkins Ave.
9:16 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, Industrial Way.
SUNDAY
12:40 p.m. — Marshall Setran Pease, 56, of Alameda, arrested for possession of meth and a pipe, possession of pepper spray and on a warrant, Skyway Road and Airport Way.
MONDAY
4:28 p.m. — Woman acting strange and refusing to leave the property of a hotel, Shoreway Road. Police give her a warning.
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. JAN. 19
Justin A. Biehler, 45, arrested for DUI.
Juan J. Cortez Cortez, 45, arrested for DUI and driving without a license.
Miguel A. Garcilazo, 22, arrested for DUI.
Eric A. Weiss, 35, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 20
Lok T. Chan, 47, arrested for DUI.
Lizeth F. Perdoma Polania, 21, arrested for DUI.
Joaquin Torres Aguilar, 31, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 21
Rolando Osorio-Martinez, 38, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 22
Antonio R. Cardenas, 25, arrested for DUI.
JAN. 24
Lean M. Beatty, 39, arrested for DUI, battery against police and resisting police.
Chris J. Carig, 24, arrested for DUI. JAN. 25
Edgar G. Chavix Chin, 25, arrested for DUI.
Angelica B. Duran Murillo, 25, arrested for DUI.
Melvin R. Jeronimo Arana, 23, arrested for driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, narcotics possession and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
BY JAKE COYLE Associated Press Writer
Justin Timberlake had “Trolls.” Rihanna has “Smurfs.” Now, we patiently await a “Gummi Bears” with the Biebs.
But first we have “Smurfs,” which, like “Trolls,” gets as much mileage as it can from its pop singer-voice actor. Rihanna voices Smurfette and supplies a new song, giving a half-hearted injection of star power to an otherwise uninspired, modestly scaled, kiddo-friendly cartoon feature.
“Smurfs,” directed by Chris Miller (“Puss in Boots,” “Shrek the Third”), cribs heavily from the “Trolls” playbook. Both feature brightly colored little forest creatures that like a good tune. In the opening of “Smurfs,” Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is DJing for a dancing Smurf Village.
As the many Smurfs gyrate next to mushroom houses, you might find yourself wondering how we got here. And what, exactly, is a Smurf, anyway? It’s been nearly 70 years since Belgian comic artist Peyo created “Les Schtroumpfs,” though most of those still familiar with the little blue fellas remember them from the 1980s Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
Then to now
The Smurfs have never really transcended their Saturday morning cartoon origins. Neither a pair of live-action hybrid movies in the early 2010s or a 2017 animated release have
done much more than keep us vaguely aware of what a Phrygian cap is.
And “Smurfs” is unlikely to change that. The best thing that can be said for the latest attempt to reboot the blue Belgian beings is that it maintains the light feel of a morning cartoon. Even with a brief SpongeBob SquarePants short running ahead of it, “Smurfs” — seemingly designed to be the least ambitious of all possible parent-child outings — passes in about 90 minutes.
The pressing issue in Miller’s film is that one Smurf, No Name Smurf (James Corden), lacks a defining
feature. There are so many other labels already taken that all that’s left for him are Clog Making Smurf and Shark Taming Smurf — and neither of those is promising, either.
Chain reaction
When No Name Smurf suddenly grows magical powers, he gets a boost in confidence but inadvertently sets off a dangerous chain reaction. The burst of magic reveals the location of Smurf Village and a long-hidden magical book that, if reunited with three others, confers world domination. (Fun fact: This is also what happens if you reuni-
• Estate Settlement
fy all first editions of James Joyce’s “Ulysses.”)
The outburst brings the attention of the evil wizard Razamel, brother of Gargamel. (Both are excellently voiced by JP Karliak.) And the Smurfs are cast into a chase through dimensions to rescue the kidnapped Papa Smurf and prevent Razamel from seizing the fourth book. The trip takes them through Paris, Munich, Australia and, briefly, Claymation.
The zaniness is often forced. There are also Koosh ball-like creatures named Snooter Poots with a leader named Mama Poot (Natasha Lyonne). And if you were ever hoping to hear Rihanna sing, as a Smurf, from the seat of a kangaroo pouch, your movie has finally arrived.
But any expectations of something more quickly dissipate, despite the fact that “Smurfs” was scripted by Pam Brady, the screenwriter of “Hot Rod” and co-writer of “Team America: World Police.” Most of the attempts at adult-winking gags are hackneyed jokes about Zoom, podcasting, spam filters and LinkedIn.
You can almost feel IP-rights pressures animating the entire enterprise. See, there are other Smurf names out there. What about Corporate Mandate Smurf?
“Smurfs,” a Paramount Pictures release in theaters today, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for action, language and some rude humor. Running time: 92 minutes.
Halfway through 2025, a few music trends have become clear, according to Luminate’s 2025 Midyear Report, which was released yesterday:
• In the U.S. and globally, more music is being streamed than ever before...
• But growth has slowed.
• And in the U.S. specifically, there’s been a resurgence in Christian music and “recession pop.”
Streaming gains
Music streams continued to grow globally and stateside in the first half of 2025. But even though more music is being streamed than ever before, compared to past years, the rate of growth is slow-
ing down. In 2024, U.S. and global on-demand audio streams grew 8% and 15.1%, respectively. In 2025, those numbers have dropped to 4.6% and 10.3%.
Genre growth
Though streams of new music — music released in the last 18 months — are slightly down from the same time last year, new Christian/gospel music has defied that trend, said Jaime Marconette, Luminate’s vice president of music insights and industry relations. It is led by acts like Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship.
“Recession pop” — the term for upbeat hits like Kesha’s “Tik Tok,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.”
and other carefree pop music that emerged in 2007-2012 around the time of the Great Recession — has also seen a jump this year. Luminate found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of pop music from that era have increased 6.4% in 2025. Songs from Cyrus, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Rihanna lead the shift.
“We’re actually seeing pop music from those years outpace the growth of the industry at-large,” adds Marconette. “When looking at performance of all genres from that period, listeners are gravitating toward pop in particular, highlighting a sense of nostalgia and potentially bigger themes of escapism.”
Exploring STEM with family-friendly fun
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!
Kids, get ready!
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
ing the Ku family, had Herchen admit to previously lying under oath about a hand injury and how he met Ku.
Herchen said he “pinky swore” with Ku that he would tell others they met at Stanford’s Rodin Sculpture Garden, when they actually met online.
“I considered that to be similar in severity as, let’s say, a deposition,” Herchen said of the pinky promise.
Herchen and Ku were married at the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office on Oct. 6, 2017. They didn’t invite any family at Ku’s request, and their marriage remained a secret until her disappearance.
“I’m a guy, and I go with what the woman wants,” Herchen said.
Herchen said he particularly wanted to meet Ku’s niece, who was a cellist at The Juilliard School in New York. Herchen said he plays piano and would’ve loved to duet with her on classical music.
Davis asked why Ku didn’t want her parents to know about their marriage — because Herchen was 25 years older? Because she was his third wife? Or because he didn’t have a good relationship with his children?
Herchen said Ku didn’t want to tell her parents because he is Caucasian.
Davis pointed out that one of Ku’s sisters married a Caucasian man who was welcomed into the family.
Herchen said he didn’t know about Ku’s brotherin-law, and he wanted to be involved in her important relationships.
“I tried to gently move her in that direction,” he said.
Herchen was born in West Germany, grew up in rural Alberta and joined the Canadian military after high school. He spent 12 years working on military technology and went to the Canadian equivalent of West Point, where the motto was “truth, duty, valor.”
“That was instilled almost every day,” he said.
Herchen moved to Stanford to get a PhD in mechanical engineering in 1994, and then he spent 16 years working at Applied Materials. He joined Bloom Energy in 2009, where he works as an inventor and fellow who has obtained 50 to 60 patents. Herchen said he’s made enough money to live comfortably
and owns eight properties in the area. In a previous deposition, Herchen said he met Ku on Backpage or Craigslist when she was working as an escort.
But he didn’t mention that meeting in front of the jury yesterday because Judge Beth McGowen has ruled that Ku’s alleged past as a sex worker isn’t part of the case.
Herchen said he considered divorcing Ku a few weeks into their marriage because she asked to be added as an owner on his properties. Herchen said he felt like that needed to be earned with time, and he was concerned she was in the marriage for money.
Both Ku and Herchen consulted attorneys who told them Ku would only have a claim to money that Herchen earned after their marriage, and the issue died down.
Together, Ku and Herchen enjoyed the opera, Michelin-star restaurants and archaeology, Herchen said.
Ku had an idea for a tutoring app, and Herchen said he wrote her software specifications and reached out to developers. They met in person with companies around the Bay Area and eventually hired someone to build an app, which went live around the time of Ku’s disappearance and made around $50, Herchen said.
Herchen said he spent around $50,000 and 200 hours on the company.
“Her idea was very special,” he said.
About the trip
Herchen traveled to Taiwan for work and brought Ku with him seven times. On their final trip, they stopped at a historic Dutch fort, limestone caves and a night market before arriving at Hotel Les Champs in the city of Hualien.
“It was typical,” Herchen said.
After sightseeing in Taroko National Park, Herch-
en said he dropped Ku off at the Hualien train station so she could visit her parents. But Ku’s family said she never left the park, and Herchen sent an email from Ku’s account to fake that she was alive.
Davis quizzed Herchen yesterday on his phones, Ku’s phones and the devices they shared for their tutoring app. Herchen said he was carrying three iPhones in his pocket after he dropped off Ku, and she had a Samsung Galaxy with no SIM card.
Davis was caught off guard because Herchen testified in a previous deposition that he had two iPhones, not three.
Davis asked Herchen what he did to search for Ku. Herchen said he gave her family her computer data, looked through their apartment for any clues and returned to Taoyuan International Airport on Dec. 7, 2019, to meet Ku for her flight home.
Davis asked Herchen why he flew back after waiting 14 hours at the airport and making one phone call to Ku.
“If she didn’t show up, that’s a result of her decisions,” Herchen said. “I fully respected her wishes.”
Davis compared Herchen’s response to Ku’s brother George Ku, who immediately called police, posted flyers, hired an attorney and filed for a conservatorship to subpoena her records.
Herchen said he believes Ku is still alive and ran off with their tour guide, who was younger and better looking. He said he wasn’t equipped to search for Ku because Taiwan is a large country, and he doesn’t speak Mandarin.
“I wouldn’t know where to start,” he said.
The trail continues today in San Jose. The Ku family is seeking money from Herchen, and closing arguments are scheduled tomorrow before the jury of 12 begins its deliberations.
11. Supervisors unanimously voted to fire Corpus after reviewing Keene’s recommendation.
Corpus’s attorney, Thomas Mazzucco, has stated in previous board meetings that she has the right to keep the hearings private under the Peace Officer Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment Coalition said in their letter that the Peace Officer Bill of Rights does not justify closing the hearing because state law states it should be open to the public. As an elected official, privacy protections do not apply to Corpus, the coalition wrote.
When Corpus ran for sheriff, she ran on a platform of trust and transparency.
Previous denials
Judges have previously denied Corpus two restraining orders to stop the removal process. Her attorney, in the process, posted confidential documents about the corruption allegations against her, including a 59-page investigation from a law firm and the transcript of her pre-removal hearing with Keene.
The coalition is demanding that the county confirm Corpus’s hearing will be made public in seven days; otherwise, it will file a lawsuit seeking an injunction to ensure that it is public.
The coalition hopes the county and Corpus will agee to move forward with public hearings since both have stated they are interested in transparency.
purpose of replacing gas appliances with electric ones is to make it easier to change. The proposal does not ban residents from using gas appliances or systems.
Vice Mayor Betsy Nash said the city should focus on incentivizing the change, but it should also be required.
“When you look at costs, there’s also all the costs associated with health, like asthma, not just personal risks, but real financial risks,” Nash said.
Permit concerns
Combs said that permits for certain projects take a while to be processed, which could cause issues if homeowners wanted to upgrade their electrical panels.
Building Official Ron La France said homeowners think permits are delayed are that the city does everything electronically and there is no human interaction.
Permits are reviewed within 14 days, according to France.
The city has pre-wiring requirements that began in March, and will look into
revising the rules. The existing rules apply to projects that allow a home’s main electrical panel to be replaced or upgraded.
The new panel has to leave a space to replace a gas stove, oven and dryer with electric versions. The panel also has to accommodate solar panels.
Council will be revisiting the proposal on Aug. 12, according to Sustainability Manager Rachael Londer.
Council has until August to make any changes to state building standards because of Assembly Bill 130. The bill bans cities from making any changes between Oct. 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031.
Any changes council makes will go to the state for review, and if approved, will begin on Jan. 1.
Previous policy axed
Menlo Park in 2020 banned gas-powered space heating, water heating and clothes dryers in new homes of three stories or less. Natural gas stoves were still allowed. Taller residential buildings, as well as non-residential buildings, were required to be all-electric with some exceptions.
The city does not enforce those rules after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the city of Berkeley's ban on gas lines in new buildings in a lawsuit filed by the California Restaurant Association. The three-judge panel cited the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which blocks local governments from regulating the energy use of appliances.
was able to respond to the allegations made in the Keker report in a pre-removal conference with Probation Officer John Keene. Corpus said there were no specific questions asked of her during her pre-removal conference with Keene. She was told to just respond to allegations from the Keker report, which has vague allegations, the lawsuit said.
Corpus said in the lawsuit that as a result of the allegations, she was harassed, defamed, humiliated, and threatened. Members of the deputies’ union have threatened to protest at her home, she said.
Corpus faces two separate forms of removal from the supervisors and the civil grand jury.
Corpus is expected to appear for her next hearing on Monday, assigned to Judge Mark McCannon at the San Mateo County Superior Court. McCannon will be overseeing the case and will schedule a trial for Corpus. She is entitled to a trial by jury on the accusations. If convicted, she faces removal from office.
Action Items
of Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission Meeting Zoom & 250 Hamilton Avenue, Council Chambers July 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm
To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate in this meeting remotely or attend the meeting in person. Written public comments can be submitted to Planning.Commission@PaloAlto. gov. Instructions for the Zoom meeting, agenda, and staff reports are viewable at bit.ly/PaloAltoPTC.
1. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 400 Mitchell Lane [25PLN-00006]: Request for a Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for a Private Educational use within an existing building. Environmental Assessment: Exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). Zone District: PF.
NIGHTS, A MIDDLE
Terun’s bar just got a glow-up and it’s ready to impress. Sleek design, upgraded vibes, and the same great cocktails you love. Come see what’s new. First round’s waiting. Terun is located at 448 S. California Ave. in Palo Alto. Call them at (650) 600-8310 or go to terunpizza.com to make your reservation.
Eastern–inspired dining and entertainment experience on Quattro Terrace at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, open seven days a week until Sept. 14, 2025. Enjoy themed décor, signature cuisine, live belly dance performances Friday through Sunday, and curated retail items that transport you to the heart of a vibrant souk (bazaar). Choose from three immersive settings: open-air terrace dining, a semiprivate Arabian tent or a glass-enclosed dome, all styled with Arabian décor.
WANT AN ADVANCE LOOK AT tomorrow’s theatre hits? Join the fun at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s 22nd Annual New Works Festival. Among this year’s highlights: new works by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winners (including the creators of Come From Away), and indieband The Kilbanes; a musical about the real Alice (of Alice and Wonderland) and her college romance
with a crown prince; and much more. With readings, special events, and food trucks on select days, the popular festival runs July 25 – Aug. 17 at the Lucie Stern Theatre. For the schedule and tickets go to theatreworks.org or call 877-662-8978.
FIT IS EVERYTHING.
THAT’S WHY a proper fitting at Lingerie République is a total game changer. Their fittings are personal, stress-free, and designed to help you feel confident, supported, and truly seen. They fit sizes 28 - 50 bands and A-M cups. Visit them at Town & Country Village, Building 1, Suite 4. They are open 7 days a week. For more information, call (650) 323-7979. Shown in the photo is Founder and CEO Natalie Torres.
LET LAURYN SEAT YOU IN one of the finest restaurants in the bay area. Sundance the Steakhouse specializes in prime rib lunches and dinners. They’ve been in business for over 50 years serving the hungry crowd from Palo Alto, Stanford and all up and down the
peninsula. Steaks, seafood, chicken dishes and crisp salads just to name a few. Don’t miss the mud pie for dessert. Check the website and then call Lauryn at (650) 321 6798. Sundance the Steakhouse is located in Palo Alto at 1921 El Camino Real. Across from Stanford University.
THE SOUL SEARCH ENLIGHTENMENT EXPO is lighting up Palo Alto July 19-20, bringing together a vibrant community of healers, psychics, astrologers, and spiritual seekers for two days of transformation and connection. The event offers an immersive experience with over 40 vendors, 16 live talks featuring astrology, energy & sound healing and much more. Guests can explore a highvibe marketplace filled with holistic wellness and intuitive art while attending talks and mini-classes designed to elevate the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you’re looking for guidance, clarity, or simply a spark of inspiration, the SoulSearch Expo offers a welcoming space for personal growth and community healing. Admission is free with advance registration, and doors are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Located inside Crowne Plaza at 4290 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Visit soulsearch.io for more information.
