Weeks of high COVID-19 case rates are likely still ahead for San Mateo County residents, according to officials who are focused on supporting vital health and safety systems while being pulled to address testing delays, PPE damage and internal communication errors.

Already scarce for-sale homes are becoming more rare in San Mateo County, with low inventory levels — down by 51% year-over year in December — sparking bidding wars and further fortifying financial barriers to homeownership.

Half Moon Bay’s City Council is moving away from its four-district, elected mayor system to a five-district model with an annual rotating mayor just a few years after choosing its current design — and before actually implementing it.

The Redwood City Council has delayed a final decision on a redistricted election map to make draft alterations to a proposed map called C2 to ensure mobile home parks join with similar neighborhoods.

San Bruno police are on the lookout for five males who smashed glass cases in a jewelry store inside the Shops at Tanforan Monday evening.

The fast and furious — Someone complained of juveniles revving engines on El Camino Real in Burlingame, it was reported 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17.

BART’s San Bruno station was closed for about an hour after someone fell onto the tracks Tuesday afternoon, according to the transit agency.

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart said Tuesday it has taken a stake in agriculture startup Plenty, becoming the first large U.S. retailer to significantly invest in indoor vertical farming as a way to deliver fresher produce to its stores.

Plans for a two-structure life science campus have been submitted to the San Carlos Planning Department, adding to a number of biotech facilities developers are looking to build in the city’s East Side Innovation District. 

While some San Mateo County educators lauded aspects of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022-23, they also shared a desire to see a more steady funding stream that reflects the realistic costs of educating a student and paying down pension liabilities.

San Mateo Union High School District officials were left with more questions than answers while considering draft maps that would determine the voting population for each trustee area once by-district elections are instituted later this year. 

San Bruno will hold a public hearing 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, to introduce and review draft district maps for the switch to district-based elections for City Council races.

A San Francisco man was arrested early Sunday morning in South San Francisco for kidnapping a 22-year-old woman at gunpoint in Oakland and forcing her to prostitute herself, according to police.

Wonder what they saw? — Someone was concerned because they saw a dumpster fire on Cowan Road in Burlingame, it was reported 2:53 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17.

Amid public health concerns about the growing Foster City geese population, the city has received one federal permit needed to cull their numbers but is waiting on the second and final approval.

State lawmakers could see their spending ambitions hampered in the coming fiscal year because of a 42-year-old constitutional amendment that caps spending.

To help address its housing shortage, the San Mateo City Council is interested in further discussion about using state density bonus laws to set new guidelines and procedures for developers in mixed-use developments.

Millbrae’s general plan, a comprehensive document that will guide the city’s development over the next two decades, is getting an overhaul.

Police in Pacifica reported three residential burglaries Thursday night in which suspects gained entry via rear sliding glass doors.

The San Mateo Sheriff’s office announced Thursday that 30 illegal firearms were seized and four people were arrested after a three-month investigation conducted with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Drug Enfor…

SAN BRUNO

As a new generation of kids fight against climate change, Belmont student Aanya Rangachary is helping contribute by selling her art and donating proceeds through her not-for-profit art initiative called Aanya’s Art4Earth.

COVID-19 cases appear to have peaked in San Mateo County but officials are warning the public to remain vigilant in practicing safety precautions, noting it’s unclear how much time will be necessary for cases to drop to a safe level.

Food blogger and San Mateo resident Sharon Wong is releasing her new cookbook highlighting how to adapt Chinese recipes for food allergies and create access to Asian food for those previously left out.

U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo is seeking a way for the federal government to pay for additional COVID-19 tests for those on Medicare after the Biden administration ramped up supplies this week.

In a split decision, the Burlingame City Council will move forward with forming a plan to implement license plate reading surveillance cameras within the city in hopes of deterring crime and expanding law enforcement capabilities. 

Clear-cut issue — Someone complained that a Christmas tree was dumped on Albemarle Way in Burlingame, it was reported 8:48 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6.

City government

The man fatally shot by police officers at the San Francisco International Airport was carrying two toy replica guns, an official said Friday.

Faculty and students from the San Mateo County Community College District are demanding safer campus conditions after in-person classes began this week amid a sustained winter surge of COVID-19 cases and what they argue are insufficient resources. 

The Burlingame City Council finalized the cost for businesses to operate parklets, deciding on a $250 monthly cleaning fee coupled with a $1,500 yearly rental charge.

As the San Mateo Police Department implements new programs to increase public transparency and accountability, Chief Ed Barberini in 2022 is prioritizing addressing traffic and gun violence and increasing public information programs.

South San Francisco has a new director of the Economic and Community Development Department, Nell Selander, who joined the city as deputy director in 2017.

San Mateo police quickly identified and arrested four juveniles connected to a shooting outside the Hillsdale Shopping Center Wednesday night, according to police.

A Redwood City man accused of raping three women in San Mateo and Redwood City in 2020 has an Aug. 26 jury trial date after pleading not guilty to charges, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Once upon a time in Redwood City — A man carrying a guitar was cursing and yelling “I’m going to get you,” on Veterans Boulevard in Redwood City, it was reported 4:16 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9.

A sharp-eyed patrol officer spotted a passing vehicle reported as stolen Sunday and quickly made an arrest.

San Mateo is studying data and community input about the San Mateo North Central Bike Lane Project and potential mitigation measures, with detailed results expected in February.

San Mateo County officials are working with local vendors tapped to provide free testing to remedy delays in results after residents reported more than a week has passed since taking their tests, specifically with Virus Geeks, a third-party vendor. 

The San Mateo Police Department has implemented numerous new policing and policy initiatives over the past year to increase transparency and accountability, with Police Chief Ed Barberini happy with initial efforts.

Belmont is on track to meet its state-mandated housing development requirements this housing cycle, with the city now focused on addressing its more challenging upcoming one due to a large increase from the state.

A San Mateo transient carrying a hammer was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he was throwing items at people, fighting someone with the hammer and throwing lighter fluid on a person and his dog and trying to light them on fire on West Hillsdale Boulevard near Clearview Way, according to police.

San Mateo police are investigating a shooting that took place at a Hillsdale Shopping Center parking lot yesterday evening and emphasized there is no threat to the public.

The city of South San Francisco has chosen Greg Mediati as its new director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Two seats on the Burlingame School District Board of Trustees will soon be open after Vice President Kate Reed and Trustee Deepak Sarpangal announced they’ll both be stepping down from the board by March as they prepare to relocate their families.  

Hard row to hoe — Someone on the 200 block of Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay was arrested for threateningly brandishing a pick ax, it was reported 3:40 p.m. Sunday, Jan, 9.

Heading into a third week of in-person classes, some San Mateo County school districts are experiencing bouts of relief while others are facing similar strains on staffing as the region continues to grapple with the newest surge in COVID-19 cases.

South San Francisco councilmembers this week expressed a desire not to see a lane added to a 9 mile stretch of Highway 101 that partially runs through the city, citing increased pollution from vehicles that could affect nearby neighborhoods.

The San Bruno City Council this month made clear its intent to retain at least 12 acres of playing fields at the site of the former Crestmoor High School campus in San Bruno, a decision not well received by the San Mateo Union High School District that owns the property.