View All County Press Releases
PetSmart Resolves Allegations of Price Overcharges and False Advertising
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that PETSMART LLC entered a Stipulated Judgment and will pay $1,460,000 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged that PetSmart engaged in false advertising and unfair competition. The action was filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court by Rodriguez’s Environmental and Consumer Law Division along with the District Attorneys of Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, San Diego, Santa Cruz, and Ventura. The civil complaint filed by prosecutors alleged that PetSmart unlawfully charged customers prices higher than PetSmart’s lowest advertised price for items. Read full story
County suspends outdoor burning in all unincorporated areas of Sonoma County
Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division today announced a suspension of burning in outdoor areas of unincorporated Sonoma County. The ban aligns with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which suspended burning beginning July 3, and prohibits all outdoor burning in state responsibility areas. Read full story
Sonoma County Assessment Roll increases to more than $114 billion
Sonoma County’s net assessment roll has hit an all-time high of $114,485,345,311, which represents an increase of 5.68 percent over last year’s assessment. The roll amount, which Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Deva Marie Proto delivered to the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office last week, reflects the value of all real and business property in Sonoma County as of Jan. 1, 2023. Read full story
Influencer Sentenced to Jail for Knowingly Making a False Report of Attempted Kidnap
Kathleen Sorensen, 30 years old, formerly of Sonoma, whose Instagram video went viral in December 2020 after she falsely claimed a Petaluma couple tried to kidnap her children at a local Michaels store, was sentenced to jail today on a single count of knowingly making a false report of a crime. Read full story
Summer swimming opens at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
The swimming beach at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach is now open for the summer with lifeguards on duty and free loaner life vests available. Read full story
Registrar of Voters announces virtual public meetings on Election Administration Plan
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office announced today that it will hold virtual public meetings on July 10 and 11 to accept feedback on the county’s new draft Election Administration Plan and answer questions from the public. Read full story
Convicted Murderer to be Released on Parole
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that 60-year-old Fidencio Chavez, who in January of 2023 was found to be suitable for release on parole by the California Board of Prison Terms, will soon be released from state prison after Governor Gavin Newsom has elected not to intervene in the inmate’s release. In 1992, Chavez was convicted of First-Degree Murder for the stabbing death of victim Frank Tassara. Read full story
State budget includes funding for key Sonoma County priority projects
The agreement reached today between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature on California’s 2023-24 budget includes more than $7.5 million for Sonoma County programs including affordable housing, regional park renovations, food security and firefighting equipment. Read full story
Sonoma County to receive $29.5 million in state grants for behavioral health and homelessness services
Sonoma County is set to receive $29.5 million through two separate state grants focused on expanding local support for children as well as unsheltered individuals, the county announced today. Read full story
County-funded program announces 282 youth, people with mental illness prevented from becoming homeless
The Sonoma County Human Services Department today announced preliminary results of a new program that identifies people at risk of becoming homeless and helps them obtain stable housing and supportive services to improve their lives. Read full story