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.

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.

A Piner High graduate has sued Santa Rosa City Schools, alleging staff failed to report grooming by a wrestling coach. The suit names district employees and cites California reporting law.

A disturbance call in Santa Rosa ended with officers finding a loaded 9mm hidden behind a child car seat and a woman booked on weapons charges.

A multi-vehicle collision shut all southbound lanes of US‑101 near East Washington in Petaluma, with bystanders performing CPR and lanes blocked for hours while crews cleared the scene.

A seven‑decade Santa Rosa dive, the Wagon Wheel Saloon, will close this Sunday after the property changed hands. Owners and longtime staff are marking the end of an era.

A 67,584‑square‑foot medical office at 5900 State Farm Drive sold for $23.685 million, anchored by Kaiser and Petaluma Health Center.

A Healdsburg vacation home is listed for $2.5M or about $2M in Anthropic shares, a sign of how the AI IPO boom is reshaping Bay Area listings.

A family discovery led to a Rohnert Park arrest. Authorities say the suspect faces child-pornography and lewd-acts charges and the investigation is ongoing.