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Memorial to recognize 60 lives lost in Sonoma County’s unhoused community
On Dec. 20, one day before National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, HomeFirst and Sonoma County Department of Health Services will host a memorial to honor individuals who lost their lives over the last year while living without housing in Sonoma County. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa. The space is being provided by FS Global, and Community Foundation Sonoma County granted the needed funding to host the memorial. Read full story
Prescribed burn operations planned at Sonoma Valley Regional Park
Sonoma County Regional Parks plan to conduct prescribed fire operations at Sonoma Valley Regional Park on Dec.11-12 to reduce fire risk and improve park health. Read full story
Child Murderer Denied Parole
Defendant Robert Michael Mills, 63 years old of Santa Rosa, was denied parole Tuesday morning following a hearing conducted by the California Board of Parole Hearings. Mr. Mills is currently serving a life sentence in state prison after a jury in 1989 found him guilty of murder by torture and child abuse. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves temporary fix to implement voter-approved sales taxes in Sonoma County, Sebastopol
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a stopgap measure today that will allow two voter-approved measures to increase sales taxes countywide and in the City of Sebastopol on April 1, 2025. Read full story
Sonoma County approves new contract with in-home care providers
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today ratified a three-year contract agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 2015 that would increase wages and benefits for more than 7,200 local in-home care workers who assist seniors and people with disabilities. Read full story
Sonoma County judge, director of Juvenile Hall receive statewide awards from Chief Probation Officers of California
The presiding judge of Sonoma County Superior Court and the director of Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall were recently honored by a statewide group of probation officers for their efforts to improve the local justice system. Read full story
Sonoma County to update its multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management has begun the process of updating the 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan for the County and 23 of its municipalities and special districts. The mitigation projects that are identified in the plan will reduce vulnerability and increase community resiliency to disasters. Read full story
Board of Supervisors decertifies EIR and repeals the approval of the Sonoma Developmental Center Specific Plan in response to court ruling
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to decertify the Environmental Impact Report and repeal the approval of a development plan for the former Sonoma Developmental Center campus in Glen Ellen in response to a Sonoma County Superior Court ruling that the County’s Specific Plan violated the California Environmental Quality Act. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves internet program for low-income households, continues broadband infrastructure development
The Board of Supervisors today approved plans to provide free internet for one year to over 500 low-income Sonoma County households using American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Board also approved the use of approximately $2.3 million of ARPA funding for additional broadband infrastructure development in the Walsh Landing and/or Jenner areas. The Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative has applied for a $17 million grant from the California Public Utilities Commission that would help further expand broadband infrastructure to underserved areas of unincorporated Sonoma County. Read full story
Sonoma County Board ratifies local emergency proclamation in response to November atmospheric river
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted today to ratify the local emergency proclamation issued on Nov. 26 by County Executive M. Christina Rivera in response to the November 2024 atmospheric river. The Board's ratification of the proclamation is a prerequisite for requesting state and federal assistance for response and recovery efforts. Read full story