A fawn kept in a dog crate outside a Sonoma County home was seized by wildlife officers; one person cited and the animal sent to a licensed rehab center.

A civil grand jury says staffing losses and a stalled permitting software rollout are slowing Napa’s Planning Division and offered 14 recommendations to speed reviews.

A Vacaville pigeon with a pink‑dyed wing was rescued by Napa Wildlife Rescue; advocates warn dyeing or releasing domestic birds often leaves them unable to survive.

Researchers at a June smoke summit said new screening tools and sensory work are closing the gap between lab numbers and what drinkers taste as Napa braces for an active fire season.

A late-night single-vehicle crash on State Route 128 near Lake Berryessa left one person dead, the CHP says.

A San Rafael traffic stop for illegally tinted windows turned up a loaded .22, 58 rounds and about 54.7 grams of suspected meth; a 33‑year‑old man was booked on multiple charges.

A Santa Rosa maker and national data show small Bay Area firms are pausing hiring as investor caution and new benefit work rules collide.

Santa Rosa police say arrests were made after the city's first homicide of 2026; detectives say the investigation is active and follow-up work is ongoing.

Five orphaned black bear cubs released in November 2025 hibernated successfully and returned healthy, state wildlife officials say. The fall release was an experimental test.

A new, celeb‑filled short called "Comeback City" frames San Francisco’s rebound — and campaign filings show who paid for the pitch.

As wine demand softens, Napa and North Bay family wineries are adding RV sites, chef tables and farm stays to steady income. New state rules make small, regulated camping easier.

Glenn County says it will end its Willows law‑enforcement contract on June 30, citing a near‑$1M shortfall; calls will be routed to other agencies as talks continue.

Alesta has quietly opened at 7233 Healdsburg Ave., bringing Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean meze to a Sebastopol strip‑mall spot. Expect manti, saganaki and branzino.