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Sonoma County launches 'SoCo Chat' podcast, a new platform for county news and interviews with county leaders
The County of Sonoma today announced the launch of SoCo Chat, a digital podcast highlighting current county issues, stories and events, and other matters of public interest. The podcast will also feature in-depth discussions with county leaders. The new series will be available in video and audio formats on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube as well as the county website and will feature at least one new segment every week. Read full story
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors extend temporary ban on tree removals
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today extended a temporary moratorium on removing protected trees for another four months. The urgency ordinance is needed while Permit Sonoma continues work on an updated Tree Protection Ordinance. The board on December 12 directed staff to make changes to the Tree Ordinance and adopted the 45-day moratorium as a placeholder. Today’s vote extends the moratorium until May 31. Read full story
Public invited to North Bay Induction Cooking Expo on January 27 in Santa Rosa
The public is invited to learn about the benefits of induction cooking and financial incentives to upgrade a kitchen on January 27 at the North Bay Induction Cooking Expo in Santa Rosa. Read full story
Board of Supervisors authorizes planning and development of advanced composting facility in Sonoma County
The Board of Supervisors today authorized engineering and environmental planning for the first centralized composting facility in Sonoma County, which is expected to divert and process approximately 65,000 tons of organic material each year. The initiative, in alignment with the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan for Climate Action and Resiliency, moves the county toward carbon-neutral operations by 2030 and is supported by grant funding. Read full story
Santa Rosa Woman Sentenced for Vehicular Manslaughter and Leaving Scene of Accident Resulting in Death
Defendant Allisa Marie Whitten, 35 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve 3 years and 3 months in state prison after pleading no-contest in November of last year to crimes including felony leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, misdemeanor destroying evidence, and misdemeanor driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Read full story
The Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council seeks public input on Lower Russian River Governance study
Supervisor Lynda Hopkins and The Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council are inviting the public to take part in the final workshop to ask questions and provide feedback on the draft Lower Russian River Governance Study. The workshop will be held at Guerneville School, 14630 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. In-person Spanish interpretation will be made available. Free child care will also be provided during the workshop. Read full story
Petaluma Man Sentenced for Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Solicitation to Commit Murder
Defendant Anthony Eugene Nelson, 33 years old of Petaluma, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Dana Simonds to serve 50 years in state prison after pleading no-contest in November of last year to crimes including sexual assault, inflicting great bodily injury upon a domestic partner, and solicitation to commit murder. Read full story
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Sign Agreement to Coordinate Investigations, Outreach, and Training to Protect Workers’ Rights
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has signed a memorandum of understanding creating a 5-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The specific goals of the agreement are to increase coordination between the two agencies in conducting outreach and education in the community, conducting joint investigations of wage theft law violators, and cross-training investigators and staff at both agencies with the goal of greater protection of victims of wage theft. Read full story
Applicants needed for new advisory committee seeking to improve services for older adults, people with disabilities
The Sonoma County Human Services Department is accepting applications to serve on a new advisory committee that will draft an equity-focused plan to address the unmet needs of older adults and people with disabilities in Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley, particularly those who are Black, Indigenous and people of color Read full story
Supervisor Rabbitt elected chair of Sonoma County Board of Supervisors; Hopkins named as vice chair
Supervisor David Rabbitt on Tuesday was elected chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in a unanimous vote of the five-member body. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins was named vice chair, and Supervisor James Gore was named chair pro-tem. Read full story