Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Cupertino Reporter

Grace Hase

Grace Hase covers Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Cupertino for The Mercury News. She is a lifelong Bay Area resident and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with degrees in investigative reporting and political science. Before joining The Mercury News, she covered San Jose City Hall, housing, transportation and the COVID-19 pandemic for Metro Silicon Valley/San Jose Inside.

US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift arrives for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 5, 2023. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Students expecting a ‘fight to the death’ to get a spot in Stanford’s new Taylor Swift class

July 3, 2023 at 2:43 p.m.

It’s actually the second Swift class at Stanford after “All Too Well (Ten Week Version)” was taught earlier this year and gave students a chance to analyze the 10-minute version...

A Lick Observatory building destroyed by the SCU Lightning Complex Fire atop Mount Hamilton, Calif.

Fire-eating goats?: Grazing bovidae sought for wildfire protection at Lick Observatory

April 12, 2023 at 1:19 p.m.

They're affectionally known as Star Grazer, Chewbacca, Galileo and Death -- Destroyer of the Weeds. The goats don't actually eat the flames. They feed on its fuel.

The city of Benicia was given a shelter in place alert and areas south of the Valero Refinery were evacuated after a power outage caused a flare up sending plumes of black smoke across Interstate 680. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

Valero agrees to pay $1.2 million to EPA over violations at Benicia refinery

April 6, 2023 at 2:37 p.m.

As part of the settlement, Valero has agreed to make chemical safety improvements at the Benicia refinery.

Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019.

Stanford: Swastikas, picture of Adolf Hitler found on dorm room door

March 13, 2023 at 6:26 a.m.

The Stanford University Department of Public Safety believes the swastikas were being used to "intimidate" the student.

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