The people of Sonoma County will have their say in March when they vote on a significant sales tax initiative aimed at enhancing fire protection, following the Board of Supervisors' decision to include it on the ballot.

Sonoma County District Attorney's office strengthens its fight against organized retail theft with a critical $2.05 million grant, boosting collaboration between law enforcement agencies and retail operators.

The Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women joins the growing movement for universal healthcare, recognizing the vast potential for economic and social benefits for all residents.

Napa County District Attorney's Office receives a special grant to comprehensively tackle domestic violence cases through a Vertical Prosecution Model, enhancing victim support.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the adoption of a 'Safe Firearm Storage' ordinance.

Napa County appoints CAL FIRE veteran David Shew as its first Fire Administrator, bringing over three decades of firefighting and fire prevention experience.

A renewed commitment to public safety takes shape in Fairfield, as the local police department secures a grant for an enhanced traffic enforcement program. The increased focus on critical issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities on the roads.

Sonoma County bans e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco sales over growing youth usage and health risks.

Sonoma County extends ARPA funding to community organizations addressing food security, mental health, and other issues amid COVID-19.

Sonoma County proposes to limit mobile home park rent hikes aiming to enhance housing affordability.

Windsor Police Department receives a $50,000 grant from OTS, focusing on road safety enforcement, education, and officer training.

Dr. Tanya Phares of Reno appointed Sonoma Countys new health officer leveraging from her vast experience in public health management.

Sonoma County boosts wildfire prevention efforts approves an extra 2m for new round of vegetation management projects.

BAHFA rewards Napa County a 5m grant to aid homeless seniors through a rental assistance pilot program.

The preliminary 2024 Point-in-Time count reports an 11% increase in Sonoma County's homeless population, now at 2,522 individuals, with a notable rise in homeless veterans.

California Forever partners with NorthBay Health to open a network of clinics in Solano County, starting with Rio Vista, in a multi-million dollar investment ahead of a key ballot measure.

The "California Forever" project faces a setback after a critical county report; its November ballot initiative is retracted, and the Silicon Valley billionaire-backed plan is under review.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a new government center, featuring 1,000 housing units and streamlined office space for county employees. The project budget is $308 million with completion expected by 2026.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved a $28.2 million initiative for energy and water efficiency upgrades in government facilities to reduce emissions and save costs.

Legislation has been introduced to expand the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge by 5,658 acres to protect tidal marshes and support California's conservation goals.

Governor Newsom signed AB 3218 to enforce California's ban on flavored tobacco, detailing a list of approved tobacco items and imposing penalties for violations.

Arthur Gonzales steps in as Vallejo's Interim Fire Chief, succeeding Frank Drayton, and brings with him years of experience within the Vallejo Fire Department.

Nolan Sullivan named as Sonoma County's new Director of Health Services after a nationwide search, bringing nearly two decades of experience from Yolo County.

Marin County Board may declare a "shelter crisis" to expedite the creation of emergency housing, which could bypass local zoning laws for three years.

The First District Court of Appeal has issued a stay on a decision against Sonoma County's well ordinance, allowing the county to continue issuing well permits during their appeal.

Napa County officials are challenging FEMA's recent cancellation of a $35 million wildfire resilience grant, stalling their wildfire protection plan and mitigation efforts.

Autumn Luna is appointed as the new Chief Assistant City Attorney of Santa Rosa, starting June 23, 2025, bringing 12 years of municipal law experience.

California thought it had won its constitutional showdown with Trump over National Guard control—but that victory lasted about two hours. The 9th Circuit's emergency intervention has thrown 4,000 troops back into legal limbo and escalated what's now among the most significant federal-state military disputes since the civil rights era.

Napa County approved a $3.5 million deal with the Firewise Foundation to bolster wildfire resilience through community initiatives and strategic mitigation efforts.

Rep. Mike Thompson warns that H.R. 1 could strip healthcare from 15 million Americans, affecting Medi-Cal recipients and causing potential layoffs and service cuts in California hospitals.

Santa Rosa Fire Department is enhancing its emergency response with a new engine, additional Battalion Chief, and fire inspectors, funded by Measure H, to improve regional fire safety.

South San Francisco has tapped Laura Snideman as its next city manager, but her Calistoga exit includes a severance dispute and a withdrawn waiver. The council will consider her contract next Wednesday.

A Sonoma Valley commission will spotlight how steep premiums, nonrenewals and FAIR Plan strain are squeezing homeowners and small businesses.

Prop. 50 moves Sebastopol into a sprawling new 1st Congressional District that runs to the Nevada line, reshaping local politics and the 2026 ballot.

A watchdog audit says Sonoma deputies mishandled a 2023 Guerneville assault probe and questions whether the sheriff’s office properly investigated a discrimination complaint.

California's AB 720 will let winegrowers pour at vineyard sites next year, and Napa County staff are drafting strict limits — from 15‑person caps to shuttle requirements — that could reshape estate visits.

The Santa Rosa City Council will consider censuring Council Member Dianna MacDonald for violating the anti-harassment policy through inappropriate comments and conduct involving a romantic relationship with a city staffer.

A nonpartisan report warns California could face a more than $1.8B shortfall next year as cap‑and‑trade receipts fall short of new fixed spending rules. Lawmakers may have to trim programs or shift costs.

A Rohnert Park father says 20 days in ICE custody after a missed app check-in pushed him to consider voluntary departure while his lawyer filed a habeas petition.

Consultant data and local organizers say closing Ross’s Station 18 has lengthened engine and ambulance response times, and neighbors are pushing a ballot fix.

A retired Sonoma County deputy alleges years of racial discrimination and repeated pass‑overs for promotions in an 83‑page lawsuit filed in county court.

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.

After school closures and staff reductions, Sonoma Valley Unified’s first interim report projects a much stronger general‑fund balance and new reserve policy. Trustees still warn the gains aren’t guaranteed.

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.

Federal attorneys moved to block Petaluma and Morgan Hill's gas‑ban rules, arguing they violate a 1975 energy law and could raise costs for residents.

Rebecca Hermosillo becomes the first Latina chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, with Chris Coursey as vice chair and a focus on fiscal responsibility.

Vallejo receives additional law enforcement support from the Solano County Sheriff's Office to patrol specific city areas, as announced by the Vallejo PD.

Nearly 100 people packed the Marin supervisors’ chamber on Tuesday to demand a debate over the county’s participation in a federal program tied to ICE. Activists say oversight and a petition of thousands should force action.

A Bodega Bay meet‑and‑greet with Sheriff Eddie Engram turned into a heated immigration forum as protesters demanded an ordinance to end cooperation with ICE.

Marin Republicans flagged dozens of alleged “dead” voters from last November’s Prop. 50 tally; the county’s registrar says a review found only a few deceased records and no votes cast after death.

Southern Marin Fire Chief Chris Tubbs will retire July 1, 2026, after more than 47 years in the fire service. The district’s board says it will run an open search for his successor.

New filings show Measure H sent $45.7M to Sonoma fire agencies in 2024‑25 and county totals top $78M since Oct. 1, 2024.

A suit by Ron Burkle accuses Sonoma lobbyist Darius Anderson of siphoning millions from a lobbying firm the two once ran together.

Longtime Supervisor David Rabbitt said he won't seek a fifth term, turning Sonoma County's 2nd District into an open race ahead of the June primary.

The First Partner’s films are named in state guidance while nonprofit filings and watchdog reports show six‑figure pay and related‑party contracts that parents and advocates say need explaining.

Marin County was named one of California’s inaugural CARE Champions, a state nod tied to CARE Court activity and new funding for treatment and housing.

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.

Cotati council will consider rules Tuesday to limit ICE activity inside city limits as residents and faith groups press officials for protections and clarity.

Staff told supervisors that slowing tax receipts and rising costs have thinned Napa County's budget cushion. A pre‑hearing workshop was requested to weigh reserves, cuts or new revenue.

Sonoma County Fire District is moving to annex Rancho Adobe and parts of CSA 40; officials say parcel taxes won’t rise and Measure H dollars and crews will shift to the larger district.

A state study due April 1 will outline options — from extra surcharges to litigation limits — to handle California’s skyrocketing wildfire costs.

A state appeals panel ordered the Sonoma sheriff’s office to comply with subpoenas from the county’s civilian watchdog, clearing a path for a sealed whistleblower probe. The decision leans on recent state rules that give watchdogs subpoena power while protecting sensitive records.

Koi Nation says it is moving tribal offices onto its 68‑acre Shiloh vineyard site near Windsor even after a federal notice reversed the land‑into‑trust decision. The move — trailers on the property and an active appeal in the Ninth Circuit — leaves the project tied up in legal uncertainty.

Sonoma County supervisors advanced a draft ordinance to limit cooperation with ICE, bar enforcement on county property and strengthen privacy rules.

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.

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 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.

A state report and sweeping raids show the legal cannabis industry still supplies only a fraction of statewide demand amid entrenched illicit growing.

County staff warn HR1-driven benefit losses and delayed FEMA reimbursements could force layoffs and cost Sonoma County millions as supervisors prepare a $2.7B budget.

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 well-funded progressive, Eric Jones, is mounting a primary challenge to Rep. Mike Thompson in California's redrawn 4th District. The June primary will test whether money and new voters can shake up a long‑standing incumbent.

Rep. Jared Huffman has launched an inquiry after the USDA touted a Southern California water district as a potential buyer for PG&E’s Potter Valley dams. The move pits local restoration plans against a sudden federal push to preserve the infrastructure.

Sonoma supervisors voted 3-2 to zero out county cultivation and manufacturing taxes for qualifying cannabis operators and to create a $531 annual business license.

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.

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.

Butte County will mail two color‑coded ballot packets for June 2: a special primary to fill the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa's seat and the statewide primary under Prop 50. Here’s what to check.

A Sonoma parent filed suit alleging the district revised special‑education rules and approved SELPA changes without proper public notice, seeking nullification and Brown Act relief.

Campaign filings show Gallaher family members and a major independent donor are bankrolling Todd Lands, reshaping the District 4 supervisor contest ahead of the June 2 primary.

Supervisors set a proposed renewal of Measure M — the county’s one‑eighth‑cent parks sales tax — for the November ballot, preserving roughly $15.5M a year for parks and wildfire work.

A family-owned taqueria's county contracts to feed homeless shelter sites overlap with board seats and vendor ties, prompting questions about procurement and oversight.

A new six-story, 15-courtroom Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa will be dedicated Friday, with California's chief justice on hand and tours to follow. The $231.7M project centralizes court services.

Staff proposals would hike or add dozens of city fees — from permit surcharges to park rentals — to close a projected $1.1M gap in Sonoma's 2026‑27 budget.