St. Helena’s City Council voted to put a half-cent sales tax on the Nov. 3 ballot to shore up services amid rising costs. Polling shows wide support even as some officials object to the speed of the move.

The Sonoma County Board approved Dr. Mia Shim as the county health officer, effective Wednesday. Shim joins from Seattle public health with nearly 20 years of experience.

Suisun City Council will consider a proposed 10‑year trash franchise this Tuesday; an evaluation panel has recommended Recology and staff propose a $46.21 first‑year rate.

Gov. Newsom’s July 1, 2020 rollback closed indoor service in 19 counties while a PlumpJack-linked Napa tasting room remained open. The discrepancy drew sharp criticism from Valley operators.

Los Angeles and state officials say General Motors will pay $12.75M and delete OnStar driving records after allegations it sold subscribers' location and driving data.

A Napa judge denied NVUSD’s bid to undo approval of the Mayacamas countywide charter, leaving the school in operation while the larger lawsuit continues. Local officials and legal filings outline the next steps.

NVUSD will consider a censure that could strip Trustee Julianna Villegas Hart of committee duties and bar her from district campuses after alleged unprofessional staff encounters.

A Napa civil grand jury found local police and the sheriff largely comply with California limits on ICE cooperation, but urged more transparency and Spanish-language outreach.

Newsom’s 2026–27 budget would make Medi‑Cal mobile crisis services optional in April 2027, shifting costs to counties and putting North Bay teams at risk.

A coalition of Bay Area school boards told Sacramento that a plan to delay about $5.6 billion in Prop. 98 payments would force cuts and demanded regional funding fixes.

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.

The state ordered the Valley Rock Foundation to dissolve and direct about $10 million in grants to Westmont College, local churches and a Yountville community hub.

A Civic Lens poll of 400 likely voters puts Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco atop early California governor polling, but strategists say a large undecided vote keeps the race fluid.