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Public hearings on 2024-25 Sonoma County budget to begin Tuesday
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold annual budget hearings beginning Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30 a.m. The hearings will be streamed live with an opportunity for the public to provide input each day regarding the recommended 2024-2025 fiscal year operating plan. At the conclusion of the budget hearings, the board will adopt a final budget to serve as the strategic operating plan for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. Read full story
Sonoma County Announces Call to Artists for Design of Permanent Public Fire Memorial
The County of Sonoma is seeking proposals from qualified artists or artist teams to design, create and install artwork honoring the victims of the devastating 2017 wildfires and commemorating the community’s resilience. Read full story
Russian River inflatable dam being inflated
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will begin the multi-day process of inflating its rubber dam located in the Russian River near Forestville on June 10. The rubber dam is a critical component of the Russian River water supply system that provides naturally filtered drinking water to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Read full story
Serial Rapist Sentenced to Life In State Prison
Defendant Ricky Marion Bostic, 55 years old of Sonoma County, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve 15 years to life in state prison after having previously plead “no contest” to charges of felony assault with intent to rape, and rape of an intoxicated person. Read full story
Convicted Child Molester Denied Parole
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate Nathan Stephens, 65 years old of Santa Rosa, was given a five-year denial of parole by the State of California Board of Parole Hearings following a contested hearing held on June 4, 2024, at North Kern State Prison. Read full story
Interest rate increases for financing through Sonoma County Energy Independence Program
The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, which helps property owners pay for improvements that utilize energy and water more efficiently and strengthen buildings against wildfires and earthquakes, announced today that interest rates on new financing have increased a half percent to 7.99 percent effective immediately. Read full story
Avian Flu emergency ends in Sonoma County; recovery underway for local poultry farmers
The Board of Supervisors today voted to terminate an emergency proclamation that has been in effect since Dec. 5, 2023, in response to the outbreak of avian flu in Sonoma County. The outbreak was first detected at two local commercial poultry farms in late November 2023 and resulted in the immediate euthanizing of 250,000 birds to protect other flocks in the region and elsewhere in California Read full story
Board of Supervisors amends Sonoma County’s Living Wage ordinance
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today completed an 18-month effort to update the County’s Living Wage ordinance, approving a series of amendments that will expand the number of employers required to meet or exceed County requirements for pay and benefits. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces new submittal requirements for building permits
Permit Sonoma is implementing new submittal requirements for building permits that will go into effect on July 1. The new process will no longer allow deferral of trusses, photovoltaic systems, and fire sprinklers. These items must be submitted along with the customer's building permit application or prior to the issuance of the building permit. Read full story
Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport named among top five best small U.S. airports in Newsweek awards
The Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport was ranked fourth among the top 10 winners of the 2024 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards contest for best small airport in the United States. A total of 15 airports were nominated by a panel of travel experts and Newsweek contributors. The final list was determined by Newsweek editors and votes were cast over the past month by the magazine’s readers. Read full story