Jennifer Squires has lived in Santa Cruz County for more than seven years. An Oregon native, she studied journalism, Spanish and ethics at Southern Oregon University. She's worked for several small, community newspapers and also was editor of the SOU weekly newspaper for two years. Most recently, she was the crime reporter at the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Along the way, she's won awards for reporting on schools, wildfires and a grisly tale about the beheading of an Abraham Lincoln statue in a city park.
My Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
I am my father's daughter and, therefore, a registered Democrat. But I respect a wide range of views and hope that our elected leaders can find a balance between what's best for personal liberty, living-wage jobs and environmental sustainability.
Religion
I was baptized in an Episcopal church before I could walk but don't consider myself religious.
If the fine amount for the 2010 natural gas pipe explosion in San Bruno is adopted by the full commission, it will be the largest such fine ever assessed.
If the fine amount for the 2010 natural gas pipe explosion in San Bruno is adopted by the full commission, it will be the largest such fine ever assessed.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
The rankings, which came out Monday, list the high schools that best prepare students for college.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday. Sequoia and Woodside high schools also made the list.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday. Gunn High School also made the list.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday. Los Altos High also made the list.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday. Mountain View, Gunn and Homestead high schools also made the list.
The proposed $2.25 billion fine for the 2010 San Bruno gas pipe explosion that destroyed a neighborhood is adopted by the full California Public Utilities Commission, would be the largest such fine ever assessed.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday. Lynbrook, Cupertino and Homestead high schools also made the list.
If the proposed $2.25 billion fine for the 2010 San Bruno gas pipe explosion that destroyed a neighborhood is adopted by the full California Public Utilities Commission, it will be the largest such fine ever assessed.
A California Supreme Court ruling means Millbrae's pot shop prohibition is upheld.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
If the fine amount for the 2010 natural gas pipe explosion in San Bruno is adopted by the full commission, it will be the largest such fine ever assessed.
A California Supreme Court upholds pot shop prohibitions in East Palo Alto. Should Mountain View enact a city ordinance to ban dispensaries?
A California Supreme Court upholds pot shop prohibitions in East Palo Alto. Should Palo Alto follow with city ordinance?
A study found that 60 percent of Bay Area motorists suspected of being at fault in pedestrian fatalities weren't prosecuted.
A study by the Center for Investigating Reporting found that 60 percent of Bay Area motorists suspected of being at fault in pedestrian fatalities weren't prosecuted.