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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
Resentencing denied for Polly Klass Murderer
A petition for recall and resentencing has been denied for convicted murderer Richard Allen Davis. Judge Benjamin Williams of the Santa Clara Superior Court denied the petition after finding that it amounted to an unauthorized challenge to the death sentence, which can only be done through a writ of habeas corpus. Read full story
Save Mart Supermarkets to pay $1.6 million dollars to resolve claims they sold expired over-the-counter medications, baby food, and infant formula beyond “use by” dates
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today the entry of a Stipulated Judgment by the Yolo County Superior Court to resolve a law enforcement consumer protection action against Save Mart Supermarkets, LLC, a California limited liability company that owns and operates retail grocery stores in California doing business as Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, and Maxx Value Food. Read full story
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Participates in Unlicensed Contractor Compliance Checks
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), conducted an unlicensed contractor compliance check operation on May 29, 2024. The compliance checks targeted unlicensed contractors operating in Sonoma County. Read full story
Splash into summer at Spring Lake, Russian River
Spring Lake Regional Park offers a variety of summer activities including a lifeguarded swimming lagoon, inflatable Water Park, and boat rentals. For safety on the Russian River, free life jackets are available and lifeguards patrol key beaches. Read full story
Ag + Open Space and Sonoma Water purchase Mark West Wikiup Preserve for conservation
Today, Ag + Open Space and Sonoma Water are announcing the purchase of the 30-acre Mark West Wikiup Preserve in the Larkfield-Wikiup area of Santa Rosa. Home to half-a-mile of Mark West Creek, oaks, riparian habitat, and grassy open space in a residential neighborhood, conservation of this property will enable Sonoma Water to offer public access to the preserve. Ag + Open Space funded Sonoma Water’s purchase of this property from the Jackson family for $5.1 million and acquired a conservation easement and recreation covenant over the property to ensure that the natural and recreational resource of the preserve will be conserved forever. Read full story