A newly released 171‑page consultant draft accuses St. Helena city government of chaotic budgeting, weak staffing and outsized executive pay. The study offers concrete personnel and technology fixes.

A 21-year-old was arrested after police say a stolen car reached about 130 mph during a pursuit from Napa that ended in Vallejo; he faces felony and misdemeanor charges.

A traffic stop in American Canyon turned into a high-speed pursuit that ended on St. Helena’s Main Street early Tuesday. A 22-year-old man was arrested after fleeing on foot.

A 40-acre Mediterranean-style estate above Lake Hennessey is on the market for $18.5M, with pools, guesthouses, tennis, bocce and a one-acre Cabernet planting. The listing is held by Sotheby’s agent Ginger Martin.

A carjacking in Fairfield on March 14 sparked a multi-county pursuit that ended in American Canyon with a K‑9 capture. Authorities say the suspect was booked and no one was hurt.

Thomas Keller’s Burgers & Half Bottles turns an In‑N‑Out memory into a Yountville pop‑up with wagyu burgers, half‑bottles of wine and a vintage Brew Bus.

St. Helena's longtime A&W will close on March 31, 2026; Azteca Market is reportedly under contract to buy the site but approvals and the sale remain unsettled.

Nichols Partnership says investors drove up prices and interfered with Stanly Ranch sales, filing a $100M suit as the project confronts a defaulted loan.

State fire officials say small debris burns have escaped recently; follow permit and pile‑size rules, keep water nearby and call 911 if a burn spreads.

Calistoga Depot announced a short-term shutdown after owner Michael Madden said "March 8 will be our last day for now." A few vendors — including the Wine Collective and Earth & Sky Chocolates — will remain open.

Nearly two months after a 16-inch force main broke on Jan. 11, Clearlake households still face contaminated wells, bottled water and slow cleanup.

Tens of thousands of acres of California vineyards have been ripped out and industry experts warn another wave of pullouts is coming as demand slumps and imports rise. Analysts say the correction could last into 2026.

Three former Master Sommelier candidates say the Court of Master Sommeliers rushed a 2018 inquiry that stripped 23 titles; a jury trial in San Francisco will test those claims.