Chatbot platform Character.AI files for bankruptcy
Character Technologies, the company behind the chatbot platform Character.AI, announced on Monday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Voter Guide 2026
Get to know the candidates and measures on your ballot with the Redwood City Pulse’s 2026 Voter Guide, including in-depth profiles, issue comparison grids and campaign finance coverage.
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Opinion: No on Measure E
In this guest opinion, San Mateo County Supervisor and assessor-elect David Canepa argues that Measure E could discourage housing investment, reduce property values and threaten funding for schools and local services.
More Local news
Redwood City removes barricades on Southgate Street for Lawrie Duncan Park Pilot
The City of Redwood City removed the barricades blocking a section of Southgate Street on Wednesday after it was closed for nearly a year and a half for the Lawrie Duncan Park Pilot Project.
Menlo-Atherton grad files sexual abuse lawsuit against her former teacher, high school district
A former Menlo-Atherton High School student is alleging that her teacher sexually abused her about 20 years ago, when she was a teenager. A lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court in June against the Sequoia Union High…
Too hot to slide: County delays Flood Park playground opening, again
The San Mateo County Parks Department is delaying the long-awaited opening of the renovated Flood Park playground in Menlo Park because the metal slide has gotten dangerously hot this summer.
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Food
True Food Kitchen files for bankruptcy. Palo Alto location remains open
True Food Kitchen, a wellness-driven restaurant chain that’s been a tenant of Stanford Shopping Center since 2016, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 4. But despite the financial issues, the company maintains that the Palo Alto restaurant “is continuing to operate as usual,” according to a spokesperson.
Peninsula chefs share recipes to make the most of persimmon season
From pickled persimmons to persimmon desserts, here are four dishes to try at home.
This Mountain View food truck specializes in a cuisine rarely seen along the Peninsula
Parked in an unassuming Valero gas station in Mountain View is a food truck serving juicy shish kebab and flaky samsa cooked in a tandoor. The food is halal and created by a 23-year-old San Jose State student, Zhibek Zhusubalieva.
Arts & Culture
‘Heathens’ chronicles five people challenging their fundamentalist upbringings
Peninsula filmmakers’ documentary will have its world premiere this month at the United Nations Association Film Festival. The festival, which highlights films about human rights, opens Oct. 15 in Palo Alto.
What’s up this week: Local author Marley-Rose Teter, Afro-Latin jazz, a spirited symphony opener and more
This week, local author Marley-Rose Teter shares her debut YA novel and slack-key masters bring Hawaii to the Peninsula. Plus, a Nashville singer-songwriter at The Guild, Bruno Mars at Levi’s Stadium and more.
Count on him: Illusionist brings magic to TheatreWorks’ ‘Dracula’
Subtle illusions play up the supernatural spookiness of the vampire tale, which runs through Nov. 1.
Spotlight
Cardinal football is back — here’s what you need to know
New coach, upgraded stadium, standout players and plenty of Cardinal spirit—here’s what to watch this Stanford football 2026 season.
What to know about cyclosporiasis
The latest foodborne illness goes by the name cyclosporiasis (sigh-klo-spor-eye-uh-sis). Since the first known case in Michigan in June 2026, the parasitic disease has stricken thousands of people.
Community Calendar
Did you miss
Redwood City friends turn clothing swaps into a sustainable shopping series
Friends with Denim holds public sales in a variety of locations, where shoppers can hunt for fashion treasures at affordable prices and save them from the waste stream. Multiple vendors participate in each sale, and no two events are the…
Friends, family remember Jakub Solovsky, cyclist killed in Woodside head-on collision
Larry Abrahams remembers the rainy day that was the last time he rode with East Palo Alto resident Jakub Solovsky, a member of Western Wheelers who died July 11 in a head-on collision on Skyline Boulevard.
Real Estate
What $35M gets you in Atherton: 49ers legend Jerry Rice’s former home – and a gym with his original workout equipment
This French château-style estate in Atherton now on the market for $35 million offers a glimpse into the life of a football legend. Built for Jerry Rice in the early 2000s, when smart-home technology was still a novelty, the home…
What $975K to $18.3M gets you on the Peninsula
From multimillion-dollar estates to more modest homes, this week’s highest- and lowest-priced home sales offer a snapshot of the Peninsula real estate market. See what buyers paid for homes across the region, including an $18.3 million Menlo Park property on…
How AI is changing the apartment search: Is it working?
AI is changing how renters search for apartments, from chatbots that answer questions and schedule tours to tools that can narrow a search based on a renter’s preferences. But the technology still has limitations — and California is beginning to…
The Six Fifty
Redwood City startup offers baby toy rentals
A desire to avoid filling up her house with unwanted stuff that her daughter would soon outgrow led Redwood City resident Amy Bearman to start her business BurbleBox.
How a Coastside forest therapy guide is helping people reconnect with nature in Peninsula parks
Wendy Figone leads a regular series of guided therapy walks in partnership with the San Mateo County Parks Foundation.
Meet the ‘Beetlelady’ bringing interactive bug classes to all corners of Silicon Valley
San Mateo resident Stephanie Dole shares her expertise with kids and adults alike, with the goal of helping folks better appreciate the creepy crawlies around us.
State News from CalMatters



