The California Coastal Commission fired its executive director Wednesday -- a decision made despite an overwhelming show of public support for the land use agency’s top official. The panel disclosed that it voted 7 to 5 in a private session to dismiss Charles Lester, touching off an emotional scene unique in the agency's 44-year history.... View moreView Coastal Commission fires executive director over objection of hundreds of supporters

San Mateo County Library and the LENA Research Foundation have announced an initiative to address the cycle of poverty by encouraging parents to increase the quantity and quality of language spoken with their children.... View moreView San Mateo County Launches Initiative to Improve Early Learning

Supervisor Carole Groom will serve as president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 2015. She was elected president by her four colleagues at a meeting Tuesday morning at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Redwood City. Speaking from the heart, President Groom noted that the Board will continue to work on special projects that will keep San Mateo County “prosperous and well-positioned for the future,” including sea rise and flooding issues, safe schools and enhanced mental health services especially for children, the revitalization and renaissance of the North Fair Oaks neighborhood and continuing the Big Lift with third grade reading initiatives.... View moreView Supervisor Groom Elected Board President; Calls San Mateo County ‘Collaborative, Innovative, Cooperative’

Eighteen San Mateo County teachers received $31,000 in innovation awards from the county fund for projects designed to teach science, technology, engineering and math skills. The STEM funding is an annual way the Board of Supervisors acknowledged student achievement and teacher excellence by offering a chance to use innovative approaches to education.... View moreView County awards $31K to STEM projects

Smoking inside apartments and condominiums in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County would become a thing of the past under a proposed ban coming before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Twin proposals by supervisors Carole Groom and Adrienne Tissier will first amend the definitions of “smoking” and “tobacco product” to include electronic devices and then add a section to county code prohibiting smoking of all types in and around multi-unit residences.... View moreView County rules target e-cigs and smoking: Board of Supervisors consider complete ban for unincorporated area multi-unit buildings

Did you know that more than four out of ten school children here in San Mateo County cannot read at grade level by the third grade?... View moreView Supervisor Groom Addresses "The Big Lift" on Peninsula Newsmakers