Local Briefs

Women are more likely than men to develop lung cancer, but more likely to survive it, according to a recent study.

The International Early Lung Cancer Action Project, an international study in which Mills-Peninsula Health Services is participating, reported that women get lung cancer at the same age as men with similar smoking histories, but at much lower smoking exposure.

The findings were based on CT scans performed on 16,925 smokers in North America, which resulted in the diagnoses of 269 people with lung cancer.

About 75 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages, with 10 percent or lower chance of survival, according to Barry Shepard, the thoracic surgeon leading the study. Early detection increases the chance of survival, but there is no effective screening tool, he said.

Burlingame hospital groundbreaking planned

Construction on a $488 million state-of-the-art hospital in Burlingame will kick off at a Nov. 1 groundbreaking celebration.

The new Peninsula Medical Center was approved by voters in June. Mills Peninsula and the district reached a deal in August 2005 after years of negotiations. The agreement gives guidelines for Mills-Peninsula to tear down the existing Peninsula Medical Center at Trousdale Drive and El Camino Real and construct a seismically safe, six-story facility.

Man arrested for stabbing

A San Mateo man is in custody for stabbing another after a fight escalated on the 700 block of Poplar Avenue in San Mateo. At approximately 6:30 p.m. the 22-year-old victim was talking to a friend when Rafael Garcia, 24, reportedly approached him. A fight took place and Garcia reportedly slashed at his head. The victim was treated at Stanford Hospital, according to a police report.

Peninsula schools to receive funds for education

A $109,000 contribution from Wells Fargo Bank will go to support educational programs in 45 elementary, middle and high schools in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, a bank spokesman announced Tuesday.

The funds were raised in part through Wells Fargo’s "Adopt a School” program, a community partnership with radio station KNBR 680, to assist public schools experiencing budget cutbacks, according to Wells Fargo.

A community forum recognizing the contributions, with San Mateo County supervisors and Wells Fargo and school district officials, is scheduled to take place 8 a.m. Thursday at the Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos.

Motorcyclist found dead

The California Highway Patrol reports a motorcyclist took a fatal plunge off a cliff on State Route 1 on the San Mateo County coast yesterday afternoon.

The incident was reported just south of Stage Road at around 4:26 p.m., CHP Officer Marc Johnston said.

A search for the motorcyclist ensued and the body was found about 45 minutes later.

Credit union robbed

The Peninsula Credit Union in Burlingame was robbed at gunpoint yesterday afternoon and the two or three people involved in the crime are still at large.

At approximately 3:55 p.m., two men entered the credit union at 851 Burlway Road on the Bayshore and robbed it with a gun. One man was described as 17, black, with a black scarf, white long-sleeved shirt with baggy jeans. There is no description of the second man. He had a silver handgun, according to police dispatchers.

A countywide alert told other police to be on the lookout for a white Dodge Dakota pickup truck, dispatchers said.