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Public invited to comment on proposals to change Sonoma County’s Living Wage Ordinance
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is seeking public input on a series of proposed changes to the county’s Living Wage Ordinance during a special meeting on Monday, June 12. 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 5. 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
Victims Speak Out as Santa Rosa Child Molester Sentenced to Life in Prison
Defendant Thomas Anthony Yanes, 62 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve 30 years to life in prison. Yanes had previously entered a guilty plea to four offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual penetration of a child 10 years of age or younger, and two separate offenses involving lewd acts committed upon a child under the age of 14. Yanes committed his offenses against four separate children. Read full story
Free county chipping program opens for 2023 season
The County of Sonoma has begun accepting applications for its seasonal Chipper Program, which provides free chipper services to residents seeking to make their property more wildfire safe. Provided through the Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division, this free service assists property owners in creating defensible space, which can be critical in preventing the spread of a wildfire to a home. Read full story
Evacuation exercise planned for upper Mark West Springs watershed community
The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, in partnership with community preparedness groups, will be holding an evacuation exercise on Sunday, June 11 for the upper Mark West Springs watershed community. Read full story
Sonoma County to hold first-ever memorial service for 500 unclaimed people buried without a funeral
Sonoma County leaders will host the county’s first-ever memorial service of its kind on June 10 to honor the lives of hundreds of homeless, poor, elderly and other people who have died in the county without family or money to make burial arrangements. Read full story
State approves Sonoma Water’s Request for Temporary Changes in Russian River Flows
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) recently approved a request by the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) to modify Russian River instream flows. The Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) filed by Sonoma Water in April, and approved by the State Board on May 19, amends Sonoma Water’s water rights permits and State Board Decision 1610 in order to comply with the 2008 Russian River Biological Opinion and to enhance salmonid habitat in Dry Creek and the mainstem Russian River. Read full story
Concord Man Convicted for 2019 Petaluma Outlets Murder
Defendant David Kyle Lubkin, 29 years old of Concord, CA, was convicted today by jury of First Degree Murder and Discharging a Firearm at a Motor Vehicle causing death. These convictions stem from the September 28, 2019 killing of 19 year-old Ezequiel Garcia at the Petaluma Outlets. Read full story
SMART launches on demand microtransit shuttle connecting the train to the Sonoma County Airport (STS)
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) is pleased to announce the launch of the SMART Connect microtransit shuttle providing a first and last-mile connection between the SMART Airport Station and the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), and the surrounding business corridor. Read full story
Sonoma County hosts summit on potential reintroduction of sea otters to the North Coast
Marine biologists, economists, tribal representatives, elected leaders as well as local environmental advocates and other stakeholders are taking part in a conference in Bodega Bay today to explore the possibility and impacts of reintroducing southern sea otters to their former habitat on the Sonoma Coast. Read full story