Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Grok Apologizes For Creating Sexualized Images Of Children

Also, don't miss Inspirational Talk on Effective Prayer: Finding healing and wholeness in divine Love on the Palo Alto Patch calendar

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Thursday January 8th Patch AM
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Good morning to you Palo Alto! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Palo Alto AI firm faces global backlash over Grok image scandal
  • See how Palo Alto’s new minimum wage compares to neighboring cities
  • Will Palo Alto’s council finally greenlight synthetic turf at El Camino?

Also on today's calendar: Inspirational Talk on Effective Prayer: Finding healing and wholeness in divine Love and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: After dinner, my parents asked if I could clear the table. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 58 and low of 39 degrees.
  • Friday: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps: high: 58, low: 36.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 58 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Grok Apologizes For Creating Sexualized Images Of Children (patch.com) — Palo Alto–based xAI, creator of the Grok chatbot on X, is under fire after the system generated sexualized AI images of minors and then issued an apology acknowledging safeguard failures. The controversy, tied to Grok’s image tool and its “spicy mode,” has drawn scrutiny from international regulators and renewed questions about how the Palo Alto company polices illegal and harmful content.
   

2. Minimum wage going up in several cities (padailypost.com) — Palo Alto’s minimum wage has just risen to $18.70 an hour, a change that directly affects many local workers and small businesses starting this month. The article compares the new rate with nearby cities like Mountain View, Los Altos, and East Palo Alto, and explains how local ordinances layer on top of California’s statewide minimum wage increase.
   

3. Palo Alto edges closer to approving synthetic turf on El Camino Park (paloaltoonline.com) — Palo Alto is nearing a final decision to replace El Camino Park’s worn-out soccer fields with new synthetic turf, a move that would preserve playing time for hundreds of local athletes. A City Council committee, consultant study, and parks commission all now favor turf, despite strong pushback from environmental advocates. The full council is slated to vote on Jan. 12.
   

4. Popular Peninsula Texas-style barbecue pop-up permanently closes (paloaltoonline.com) — A Palo Alto–raised pitmaster has permanently closed his popular Pico’s BBQ pop-up, which recently operated at the Port of Redwood City and drew long lines for Texas-style brisket and ribs. Citing burnout and tough Bay Area regulations, founder Russell Savage says he may even move back to Texas, leaving many Peninsula barbecue fans disappointed.
   

📸 Around Palo Alto

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please join us in congratulating Sergeant Alex Beraha on his promotion to Lieutenant.
    Alex will be our newest Lieutenant, continuing his dedicated service to the Mountain View community. He began his career with the Mountain View… (Nextdoor )
  • On the bike path behind Gunn High just now, I got screamed at by two adult bicyclists (wearing fancy gear) because I didn’t hear them at first when they told me they were approaching.
    My hearing is only very slightly impaired, and I can hear all about the quietest bike warnings. I usually walk on the left side of the path so I can… (Nextdoor Barron Park)
  • DLA Piper posted a job opening for Associate - Federal Judicial Clerks Only (Multi Office) in Palo Alto. Apply here.
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Police Officer Academy Graduate in Palo Alto. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Palo Alto here.

Ok Palo Alto! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I needed a running start, but I made it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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