California Burning Podcast: The Science of Fire Behavior

: Written by Adia White; Published: 14 November 2019

The Camp Fire was the most destructive fire in California’s history. 19,000 homes were destroyed and at least 85 people were killed. But with so many fuel-laden forests, the question becomes not why this happened, but why we haven’t seen more disasters of this scale? Matt Fidler, the creator of the podcast and radio series “California Burning” has the story.

To listen to the full-length version of this story visit californiaburning.net

(Image: A firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite a prescribed burn. Credit: Liz Younger, United States Forest Service.)

NorCal News

April 07, 2021

Sonoma County enters orange tier

Sonoma County's virtual community COVID-19 briefing.Less than a month after moving out of the state’s most restrictive purple tier, the County made it into the more relaxed orange tier Wednesday. The announcement comes a day after Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state’s aim to fully open up the…
April 06, 2021

Health Fair vaccinates hundreds of residents

Art about the COVID-19 vaccine by Santa Rosa art nonprofit Raizes Collective at the Cesar Chavez Health Fair. People waited in line starting at 9 a.m. to get one of the 200 Moderna vaccines given out at last weekend’s Cesar Chavez Health Fair in Santa Rosa’s Martin Luther King Jr, park. The event,…
April 01, 2021

Santa Rosa hands out weather radios to boost alert system

A NOAA Weather Radio. (photo courtesy of the City of Santa Rosa's website)Santa Rosa is boosting its ability to notify residents when a fire breaks out through weather radios. The battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio is common in the Midwest for tornado alerts. And it’s activated by the National…
March 31, 2021

Sonoma County teens design quarantine mural

Santa Rosa-based art organization Artstart's Shelter in Place Mural. (photo courtesy of Jennifer Tatum). COVID has affected everyone, old and young. But for teenagers, being stuck at home has been especially challenging and often painful. That's why when COVID hit last March, Jennifer Tatum, the…
March 29, 2021

COVID-19 easing, while vaccine distribution hits bottleneck

By Marc Albert Improving data suggests vaccines are gaining the upper hand and COVID-19 related restrictions across Sonoma County may be eased as soon as next week. Yet troubling signs elsewhere suggest the pandemic is far from over. Among those 75 years and older, not a single case has been…
March 24, 2021

New Data Shows an Uptick in Fatal Drug Overdoses

COVID-19 numbers are on the decline after Sonoma County moved into the state’s red tier a week and a half ago, but communities are facing other types of loss since the start of the pandemic. Sonoma County’s made progress in keeping case numbers low in the red tier, even as businesses started…
Mar 19, 2021

Abalone season cancelled, at least until 2026

By Marc Albert With wild abalone populations decimated by a string of environmental setbacks, besides over-fishing. State officials reiterated Friday…
Mar 19, 2021

Sonoma likely facing challenging drought

One of the driest winters on record locally, may cause serious water issues this summerBy Marc Albert The rainy season has hardly been generous.…
Mar 17, 2021

Sonoma County schools planning April return to campus

About 70,000 school students across Sonoma County are heading back to classrooms in April. So far, 47 schools across Sonoma County have the green…
Mar 12, 2021

Covid Restrictions to Ease Sunday

As predicted, declining new COVID-19 infections and other metrics will allow Sonoma County to ease pandemic-related restrictions this weekend. KRCB's…
Mar 12, 2021

The Power of Art for Vaccine Outreach

Advocates, artists, healthcare professionals and residents gathered in Santa Rosa's Roseland Neighborhood on Valentines Day to showcase and pass out…
Mar 10, 2021

Some COVID-19 restrictions may be lifted as soon as Sunday

By Marc Albert Sonoma County is on the brink of being able to lift some pandemic-related restrictions….as soon as this weekend. That could mean…
Mar 10, 2021

Sonoma schools readying classrooms for resumption of classes

Sonoma County schools are preparing for students’ return to campuses. Credit: “Courtesy of SCOE With vaccines more available, cases waning and the…
Mar 05, 2021

Santa Rosa Public Schools Plan Return To Classrooms April 1

Santa Rosa’s public school district and its teacher's union have agreed on a plan for getting kids back into classrooms on April 1. The tentative…
Mar 03, 2021

Inching closer to the red tier

Since August, Sonoma County’s been stuck in the state’s most restrictive tier in terms of COVID-19 recovery. But the possibility of opening up the…
Mar 02, 2021

Santa Rosa Clears a Large Homeless Encampment

Dozens of people living in Santa Rosa’s largest homeless encampment were forced to pack up and leave Tuesday morning. It marks Santa Rosas’s second…

NorCal News Radio

Sonoma County enters orange tier

Sonoma County's virtual community COVID-19 briefing.Less than a month after moving out of the state’s most restrictive purple tier, the County made it into the more relaxed orange tier Wednesday. The announcement comes a day after Governor Gavin…
Health Fair vaccinates hundreds of residents

Art about the COVID-19 vaccine by Santa Rosa art nonprofit Raizes Collective at the Cesar Chavez Health Fair. People waited in line starting at 9 a.m. to get one of the 200 Moderna vaccines given out at last weekend’s Cesar Chavez Health Fair in…
Santa Rosa hands out weather radios to boost alert system

A NOAA Weather Radio. (photo courtesy of the City of Santa Rosa's website)Santa Rosa is boosting its ability to notify residents when a fire breaks out through weather radios. The battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio is common in the Midwest for…
Sonoma County teens design quarantine mural

Santa Rosa-based art organization Artstart's Shelter in Place Mural. (photo courtesy of Jennifer Tatum). COVID has affected everyone, old and young. But for teenagers, being stuck at home has been especially challenging and often painful. That's why…
COVID-19 easing, while vaccine distribution hits bottleneck

By Marc Albert Improving data suggests vaccines are gaining the upper hand and COVID-19 related restrictions across Sonoma County may be eased as soon as next week. Yet troubling signs elsewhere suggest the pandemic is far from over. Among those 75…
New Data Shows an Uptick in Fatal Drug Overdoses

COVID-19 numbers are on the decline after Sonoma County moved into the state’s red tier a week and a half ago, but communities are facing other types of loss since the start of the pandemic. Sonoma County’s made progress in keeping case numbers low…
Abalone season cancelled, at least until 2026

By Marc Albert With wild abalone populations decimated by a string of environmental setbacks, besides over-fishing. State officials reiterated Friday that recreational abalone fishing will be entirely forbidden this year. And that the fishery will…
Sonoma likely facing challenging drought

One of the driest winters on record locally, may cause serious water issues this summerBy Marc Albert The rainy season has hardly been generous. California’s two largest reservoirs are less full than they should be. While the statewide situation is…
Sonoma County schools planning April return to campus

About 70,000 school students across Sonoma County are heading back to classrooms in April. So far, 47 schools across Sonoma County have the green light to reopen soon to a hybrid model, said county supervisor Susan Gorin. “A list of local schools…
Covid Restrictions to Ease Sunday

As predicted, declining new COVID-19 infections and other metrics will allow Sonoma County to ease pandemic-related restrictions this weekend. KRCB's Marc Albert has our story: The County will move into the so-called ‘red tier’ from the more…
The Power of Art for Vaccine Outreach

Advocates, artists, healthcare professionals and residents gathered in Santa Rosa's Roseland Neighborhood on Valentines Day to showcase and pass out art about the Vaccine. (Photo courtesy of Isabel Lopez) West County Health Centers hired Isabel…
Some COVID-19 restrictions may be lifted as soon as Sunday

By Marc Albert Sonoma County is on the brink of being able to lift some pandemic-related restrictions….as soon as this weekend. That could mean cinemas, gyms, museums, zoos, and restaurants could reopen, though none at full capacity. Orders limiting…
Sonoma schools readying classrooms for resumption of classes

Sonoma County schools are preparing for students’ return to campuses. Credit: “Courtesy of SCOE With vaccines more available, cases waning and the ink dry on a 6.6 billion dollar state plan, Sonoma County schools are preparing to resume in-person…
Santa Rosa Public Schools Plan Return To Classrooms April 1

Santa Rosa’s public school district and its teacher's union have agreed on a plan for getting kids back into classrooms on April 1. The tentative deal includes schedules, safety protocols and a timeline for teachers to access both doses of the…
Inching closer to the red tier

Since August, Sonoma County’s been stuck in the state’s most restrictive tier in terms of COVID-19 recovery. But the possibility of opening up the economy a bit more is finally possible. Sonoma’s one of four Bay Area counties still in the purple…
Santa Rosa Clears a Large Homeless Encampment

Dozens of people living in Santa Rosa’s largest homeless encampment were forced to pack up and leave Tuesday morning. It marks Santa Rosas’s second encampment clearance in the past week. Activists showed up before sunrise to protest the clearing of…
County Postpones Vaccine Appointments Due to Scarcity

Next week, Sonoma County is suspending all first dose vaccine appointments due to supply shortage. But the county will keep second dose appointments for both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Sonoma County has been allocated 7,680 doses for…
The County is Nervous about Blue Shield's Vaccine Takeover

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County Shifts Vaccine Priority to 65 and Up and Food Workers

On Monday, residents 65 and older, along with food manufacturing, grocery store and restaurant workers will be eligible for a vaccine at one of the county-supported clinics. Prioritization will be given to those with server illnesses, such as cancer…
The County Still Faces a Vaccine Shortage

Two months into Sonoma County’s vaccine rollout, 19% of the adult population has received at least one dose. The county is keeping up with other Bay Area counties in vaccinating residents and has opened up dozens of clinics, but the biggest problem…
The County Reaches for More Vaccine Data

Officials say Sonoma is administering vaccine doses at a faster rate than similarly sized counties. On February 10, officials announced the county has vaccinated nearly 50 percent of its residents who are 75 and older. But because of holes in…
The County Compromises on Eviction Limitations

On February 9, Sonoma’s Board of Supervisors voted to place more limitations on evictions during COVID-19. The amendment limits evictions to extreme circumstances, like when landlords can prove their tenants pose an imminent threat or danger, or…
Sonoma County Extends Stay-At-Home Order

State public health officials have extended a Stay-Home Order for the 11-county Bay Area region, including Sonoma County. The move comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise and ICU capacity for the larger Bay Area region remains below 15%. The order…
The County Promises an Equitable Vaccine Rollout

Earlier this week Sonoma County reaffirmed its commitment to vaccinate the oldest seniors first, those 75 and older. Younger seniors were told to be patient, along with essential workers whose communities have been gravely affected by COVID-19. The…
What We Need to Know: COVID in Sonoma County

What are the current county restrictions? Sonoma County is currently in the red tier of the California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This is the second highest tier and indicates that COVID-19 transmission is still substantial but is not…
Santa Rosa Nurses Demand Safe Staffing

UPDATE: Earlier this week California’s Department of Public Health halted the staffing waivers. The State says they will not accept any new applications and all approved waivers will expire February 8, unless a hospital can prove “unprecedented…
Sonoma County Opens its First Clinic for Oldest Seniors

Sonoma County is following the state’s guidance to prioritize seniors ages 75 and up in its vaccine rollout. While there’s progress and hope in the air, there’s also a lot of confusion and frustration about when and where people can actually get a…
County Strategizes Reopening Schools

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PBS Employee Makes Controversial Statements on Hidden Camera

Julian Wyllie of CURRENT news reports in a story entitled "PBS Distances Itself from Former Staff Attorney Ensnared in Project Veritas Sting," that Project Veritas, a group founded by conservative activist James O’Keefe, has released a video of a…
Understanding the New Regional Stay-At-Home Orders

Regional Stay Home Orders will go into effect within 24 hours in regions with less than 15% ICU availability, and prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes most businesses and services except for critical infrastructure and retail, and…
Radio Special: Democracy In Santa Rosa's First District

In 2020, for the first time, residents of Southwest Santa Rosa voted for a city council member to represent their community. The election gave more power to historically disenfranchised neighborhoods in Santa Rosa. How will decades of inequity be…
Rohnert Park Welcomes Three New Council Members

Rohnert Park has three new city council members. The wins also mean there will be more diversity on what was formerly an all-white council. One of the newcomers is Jackie Elward who won against long-time council member Jake Mackenzie. KRCB News…
‘She’s From Oakland!’ Photos Capture Bay Area Celebrations of Biden-Harris Win

By Anne Wernikoff November 8, 2020 In the corner of California where Vice President-elect Kamala Harris grew up and launched her political career, residents cheered, danced, honked horns, donned American flags and popped champagne to celebrate the…
California Protects Homeowners From Having Fire Insurance Dropped — Again

By James Bikales November 5, 2020 As this year’s historic wildfire season winds down, Californians living in fire-prone territory got temporary relief from another threat: they can’t lose their homeowners’ insurance policies for another year.…
Slated For Deception? Beware of All Those Glossy Mailers Telling You How to Vote

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters Updated: Nov. 2, 2020 Amid the torrent of laminated campaign ads churning through the postal system this season, the slate mailer stands out as a perennial — and many say unseemly — California political tradition that…
Election 2020: Results, Voter Guides and More

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Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Hosts City Council Candidate Forum

NorCal News Team Oct. 16, 2020 At the end of September, the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber hosted a forum with city council candidates from districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. Listen to the forum below. Participating candidates: Eddie Alvarez - District 1 Duane De…
Annual State of the Latino Community Covers Gaps in Home Ownership

Sonoma County leadership organization, Los Cien, hosts an annual forum on the state of the Latino community. The topic this year was "Re-imagining Sonoma County Post Pandemic". Panelists focused on equity gaps in homeownership and how to fix them.…
SCHOOL CLOSURES for Thursday, October 1 & Friday, October 2, 2020…

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Photojournalist Describes Monday Night's Firefight

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Evacuation Orders Lifted for Some Santa Rosa Neighborhoods

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Sonoma County Learns From Past Botched Care Home Evacuations

Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane has led the outreach effort to ensure that residents are getting the mental health support they need. She’s also been working to ensure that those housed at care facilities are evacuated safely and with ample…
Watch Cal Fire and Sonoma County's Glass Fire Updates

Sonoma County and Cal Fire host a joint press conference on the Glass Incident every evening at 5 p.m. Watch the press conferences here at 5 p.m. or on our facebook page @norcalpublic. . This article will update with the most recent press conference…
Sonoma County Glass Fire Evacuation Map: Updated Live

Monitor evacuation warnings and orders for the Glass Fire burning in Sonoma County. Please note that the map below is typically updated 15- 20 minutes after a Nixle evacuation alert is sent out. Sign up for Nixle by texting your zip code to 888-777.…
Sonoma County Supervisors Vote on 2020-2021 Budget

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Conversations on Race Series Addresses Policy Reform (Aired: September 3, 2020)

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Could Strong DAs Be a Solution to Police Accountability?

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The West Is Burning, So California Struggles To Find Help Fighting Its Wildfires

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Kaiser Begins Phase 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial in Northern California

Northern California residents can now join the efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Kaiser Permanente began recruiting participants for an advanced clinical vaccine trial at the beginning of August. Dr. Nicola Klein, Director of the Kaiser…
Crew Shortage Reveals California's Reliance on Incarcerated Firefighters

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Farmworkers Risk Hazardous Air to Continue the Harvest

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Timely Film Tells Story of Napa, Sonoma Essential Workers

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Concern Workers Are Being Asked To Harvest Despite Smoke

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Sonoma County Reassures Voters Ahead of Election

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Sonoma County Celebrates Centennial Of Women's Suffrage

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Trump Withheld Calif. Wildfire Aid Says Former DHS Official

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Vox Video on Changing Approaches to Election Coverage

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Board of Supervisors Rejects County Sheriff's Request to Fund Legal Services

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Community Action Partnership Hosts Discussion on Law Enforcement Accountability

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Health Officials Warn Against Ending Protections For Renters

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CEO Discusses Racism and Starting a Sonoma County Business

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Changes to Police Oversight Set for November Ballot

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Santa Rosa City Council to Vote on Emergency Sick Leave

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Cycle for Life Celebrates Black Lives Matter and Pride

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Applications for CalFresh Double During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Supreme Court Bars Trump From Ending DACA — What It Means For California ‘Dreamers’

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Healdsburg Mayor Resigns Over Failure To Address Police Reform

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Protesters Remember Silent Parade of 1917

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‘Things have gotten ugly’ — pandemic pushback drives health directors to quit

By Barbara Feder Ostrov, Kaiser Health News Leigh Dundas angrily wagged her finger at Orange County supervisors at their board meeting last month as she ticked off what she thought were damning details about the professional background of county…
County Coronavirus Health Disparities Continue To Grow

Latino residents in Sonoma County are now nine times more likely to become infected with coronavirus than white residents. On Thursday, the Latino leadership organization Los Cien hosted a virtual Town Hall to discuss this disparity. In this excerpt…
Supreme Court LGBTQ Decision To Have Profound Impact

Today, the Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 margin that employment protections guaranteed in the 1964 Civil Rights Act protect the rights of LGBTQ workers. The decision hinged on the word "sex." If that word applied both to traditional notions of male…
Radio Update: Why Latinx Community Bears COVID Burden

Yesterday, the Latino leadership organization Los Cien presented a virtual town hall on the disproportionate burden that COVID-19 is placing on the Latinx community in Sonoma County. Guests were Sonoma County's Department of Health Services Director…
Santa Rosa's Draft Budget Shows An Increase In Funding For The Police Department

Amid protests against police brutality and violence, nine police departments in Sonoma County have agreed to evaluate their use of force policies. But protesters are also demanding that local cities divert funding for police departments to housing,…
Radio Update: School Board Statement, Supervisors Commit

We provide daily breaking news updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Wednesday, June 11. Today, the Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent released a…
Radio Update: Podcast Discusses Disproportionate Impacts of COVID-19 on Latinx Community

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Wednesday, June 10. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore has been doing an…
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Bans Use Of Carotid Holds

In the wake of nationwide protests over police violence, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office banned the use of carotid holds effective Monday, June 8. That's according to the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO). The…
Minority Leader Schumer Tackles Pandemic Housing Issues

In a call Monday with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told several thousand people what he was fighting for as Congress considers further housing relief. He's especially concerned about renters and the…
Even In A Pandemic, WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important

By Pien Huang and Allison Aubrey, NPR News In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization took time at its daily press conference to address another pressing issue: the wave of protests against police violence and racial…
Police Monitor Applauds Cooperation, Seeks Truth on Arrests

Karlene Navarro, director of Sonoma County's Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach spoke with KRCB last week after she released a letter describing her concerns about COVID-19 procedures during the arrest of protestors in Santa…
Author Ibram X. Kendi Speaks About His Book "How To Be An Antiracist"

As protests against police brutality continue across the nation, many are searching for ways to uproot racism in their own communities and homes. Antiracism books are now topping The New York Times bestseller list. One of these best-selling authors…
Diane Askew's Images Capture Anger, Grief in Sonoma

Photographer Diane Askew has long worked locally as a wedding photographer, part of the industry that brings events to local wineries, parks and other venues. Obviously, that work is on hold. But Askew's heart has always been in capturing images…
Community College Chief Wants Police Training Changes

By Mikhail Zinshteyn In Summary California’s extensive community college system is responsible for helping train a huge number of the state’s police officers. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, the system’s chancellor, wants to change the curriculum to help fight…
NorCal Outreach to Latinx Community Recognized Nationally

In an article from the public media journal Current, Northern California Public Media was recognized this week for its efforts to ramp up communication with our Spanish speaking neighbors. Of particular interest to writer Grace Vitaglione was the…
Your Coronavirus Questions, Answered: Recent Protests, Access to Testing And More

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve asked about where you can find ongoing information, how the recent protests will affect COVID-19 case counts, access to testing and more. Here’s what we learned…
Is Now the Time to Bring Back Affirmative Action in California?

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters Depending on your viewpoint, now is either exactly the right time or precisely the wrong time to take up a proposed change to the state constitution that seems certain to reignite a heated debate about race and justice…
In Information Age, Many Californians Struggle to Stay Informed

By Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado, The Fresno Bee/California Divide On a recent hot Saturday, residents in a small tract of homes west of Fresno huddled under the shade to wait for a distribution of hygiene products and food. Many of those who waited…
Santa Rosa Issues Citywide Curfew, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Each Night Through Thursday

Santa Rosa has declared a local emergency and instituted a citywide curfew through Thursday morning in response to incidents of violence, looting and vandalism that occurred over the weekend following peaceful protests spurred by the death of George…
Hundreds Demonstrate Against Police Brutality; City of Santa Rosa Establishes Curfew

Protesters gathered in Santa Rosa over the weekend after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial Day by a White police officer. The officer held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded for air and has since been…
'InformaGente' - Health Dispatches to Latinx Communities

A new organization called Listos California, in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), today launched "InformaGente," a new online conversation series which…
Two Members of H.S. Class of 2020 Animate Call for Unity

Kyle Trefny and Julian Jordan are graduating from the public arts high school Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. To mark their graduation into this uncertain world, they created an animated short. They describe the project in their own…
You Asked, We Answered: Your Questions About Reopening Hair Salons, Youth Sports And How Often To Get Tested

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve asked about the reopening of additional business, youth sports, testing and more. Here are a few answers to some of those recent question submissions. We answer…
Kaiser Disputes Health Professionals' Concerns on PPE

In a press conference on May 19, and again on Northern California Public Media's May 26 Town Hall, members of the group H-PEACE (Health Professionals for Equality and Community Empowerment) stated that not all health workers in Sonoma County are…
Big Cuts Could Hit Little Californians: $1 Billion in Preschool and Child Care Dollars at Risk

By Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Even the littlest Californians have not been spared in the governor’s big proposal to cut a budget decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitious plans to expand free preschool for low-income…
County Hiring Contact Tracers; Extra Pay for Being Bilingual

Sonoma County health officer Dr. Sundari Mase has long said that testing, tracing and isolation are at the core of the county's reopening strategy. Now, the county is seeking to hire contact tracers to keep up with the expected demand. The county's…
We Need a Culturally Responsive Approach to COVID-19

Commentary by Ana Lugo, founder, Equity First Consulting Cultural responsiveness is the ability to learn from, relate respectfully to, effectively adapt to, and serve all peoples and cultures.[1] Let us be clear. The systems and institutions…
You Asked, We Answered: Your Questions About COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Senior Outings, and Visiting The Dentist

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve had plenty. We've received questions about how many people are currently hospitalized, what moving into Stage Two of reopening means for seniors, going to the…
Pandemic Food Stamps Offer Up to $365 Per Child

By Jacqueline García, La Opinión Families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at their schools — regardless of immigration status — may notice something in the mail to help them buy groceries. California is issuing one-time…
Es Así Como un Déficit de 54.3 Mil Millones de Dólares Le Afectaría a Los Californianos

Por Judy Lin, CalMatters Hello! We’re publishing more of our work in Spanish to better serve our diverse state. Make sure to click here to read the article in English. Los encargados de las finanzas de California acaban de revelar un déficit de 54.3…
Rep. Jared Huffman: $3 Trillion Bill is 'Opening Bid'

Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) returned to Northern California after voting Friday on the House of Representatives' $3 trillion Coronavirus package that has aid to local governments, help for the November election, and a lifeline to the…
Housing, Homelessness Funds Mostly Spared in Proposed Budget cuts

By Matt Levin, CalMatters With a forecasted deficit of near-record proportions and an economy in freefall, homelessness and low-income housing advocates were braced for painful cuts in the revised budget proposal Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled Thursday.…
Financial Help for California’s Undocumented Immigrants Starts Monday

By Jacqueline García, La Opinión California’s undocumented immigrants can begin applying Monday for disaster relief payments of up to $1,000 per household under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus emergency assistance plan. In April, Newsom announced a…
Sonoma County Voters Can Now Track Their Mail-In Ballot With New Program

Sonoma County voters can now sign up for a program to track their vote-by-mail ballot from the time it’s mailed to when it’s counted. The “Where’s My Ballot?” program from the Secretary of State’s Office allows the voter to receive updates on the…
Watching for Signs of Child Sexual Abuse During Pandemic

In an interview for the podcast Public Health on Call, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse spoke with host Dr. Josh Sharfstein…
Virus Will Not Extinguish Wildfire Protection, Newsom Says

By Julie Cart, CalMatters California’s preparations to battle wildfires this year will not be slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newson vowed Wednesday, saying the state will purchase specially equipped helicopters and fire engines and…
Latinx Leaders Consider Coronavirus Toll in Sonoma County

For our Virtual Coronavirus Town Hall May 12, 2020 we will present a cast of leaders in the Latinx community to help us understand how the pandemic may be affecting different populations in our county and region differently. We will be posting the…
You Asked, We Answered: How Do I Apply for Unemployment If Under Asylum Status?

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve submitted questions about financial help, case counts, reopenings and more. Listener Gigi Pravda wrote in, asking: How do I apply for unemployment benefits if…
Keeping The COVID Plague at Bay: How California Is Protecting Older Veterans

By Dan Morain May 11, 2020 Dr. Vito Imbasciani has been at war with viruses since he was 5. Growing up near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York, he contracted polio in 1952 and couldn’t walk for two months. In medical school in…
COVID-Plagued California Nursing Homes Often Had Problems in Past

By Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News and Anna Almendrala May 4, 2020 When Jorge Newbery finally got through to his 95-year-old mother, Jennifer, on a video call April 18, she could barely talk or move and her eyes couldn’t focus. It was the first time…
Reopening in the COVID Era: How to Adapt to a New Normal

By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News May 8, 2020 As many states begin to reopen — most without meeting the thresholds recommended by the White House — a new level of COVID-19 risk analysis begins for Americans. Should I go to the beach? What about…
Lawmakers Want to Know: What’s Up With That Half-Billion-Dollar Mask Deal?

By Laurel Rosenhall, CalMatters California lawmakers plan to probe why state officials wired half a billion dollars for masks to a medical supply company that had existed for just three days, and want to know what’s changed in the state’s vetting…
California Just Revealed a $54.3 Billion Deficit — Signaling Deep Cuts Ahead

By Judy Lin, CalMatters California finance officials revealed a $54.3 billion deficit Thursday in the first economic assessment of the coronavirus pandemic’s devastating blow to the fifth-largest economy in the world. That figure is higher than the…
Radio Update: A California Union Victory, And Increased COVID-19 Testing

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Wednesday, March 6. In a victory for unions in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday signed an executive order…
Exclusive: California Wires Mask Dealer Half a Billion Dollars, Then Claws it Back

By Laurel Rosenhall, CalMatters On March 26, as the coronavirus pandemic was mounting and governors across America scrambled to secure medical supplies, the state of California wired almost a half-billion dollars to a company that had been in…
Supervisors Hopkins and Rabbitt Discuss Phased Reopening

On Monday, May 4, news director Steve Mencher spoke with Sonoma County Supervisors Lynda Hopkins and David Rabbitt about a number of issues that are top of mind as our elected officials and health officials begin to talk about reopening parts of our…
California Readies Army of Coronavirus Detectives

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters The Newsom administration has teamed with two universities to train more than 3,000 employees per week to become coronavirus detectives tracing the spread of the disease throughout California. Starting Wednesday, the…
Radio Update: Supervisor Gorin Answers Questions About Fire Season, COVID-19 Testing

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Monday, May 4. Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin will join us for Tuesday's virtual town hall at 7 p.m. In our…
Director of County Regional Parks Answers Questions About Revised Parks Closure Order

Updated May 1, 2020 Sonoma County announced a "soft opening" of County parks starting on Wednesday, April 29. The new order allows residents to walk or bike into county and city parks. Driving to parks is still prohibited and all coastal parks are…
Attorney for PG&E Fire Victims is Funded by Wall Street Firms He's Negotiating Against

In the last week, our partner station KQED has been reporting on a potential conflict of interest by a lawyer in the PG&E Bankruptcy case. With 16,000 Northern California fire victims as clients, an attorney named Mikal Watts represents more fire…
Sad Day for Many as Sonoma County Fair is Cancelled for 2020

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Wednesday, April 29. We spoke with the CEO of the Sonoma County Fair, Becky Bartling, Wednesday afternoon. She…
Cue the debunking: Two Bakersfield Doctors Go Viral With Dubious COVID Test Conclusions

By Barbara Feder Ostrov, CalMatters They dressed in scrubs. They sounded scientific. And last week’s message from two Bakersfield doctors was exactly what many stuck-at-home Americans wanted to hear: COVID-19 is no worse than influenza, its death…
Not If, But How: California Prepares for an All Vote-by-Mail Election in November

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters This coming November, every one of California’s more than 20 million registered voters may receive a ballot in the mail — whether they ask for one or not. In fact, many election administrators and advocates say it’s…
State Dashboard Tracks Daily COVID-19 Hospitalizations By County

On April 1, the California Department of Public Health released a data dashboard that tracks coronavirus hospitalizations by county. The dashboard shows the number of hospitalizations reported each day in connection with the virus. Patients are…
Health Care Provider Panel Highlights Hope, Progress

For our April 28 Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall, we convened a panel of health care providers including: Dr. Joshua Weil, Lead Physician, Emergency Preparedness, Kaiser, Santa Rosa; Tarek Salaway, Sr. Vice President, Kaiser Permanente, Marin and…
Radio Update: Coronavirus Latest, Plus A Conversation With Santa Rosa Symphony's Music Director

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Friday, April 24. It’s been another tough week of sheltering at home – with new information on how early…
As Millions Navigate Unemployment, Local Organizations Rise to Help

By Camille Escovedo The last time this many people filed for unemployment in the U.S. — over 26 million as of April 27 — was during the Great Depression, experts say. Over a million Californians have filed for unemployment in March, and the layoffs…
Coronavirus Could Force Private Practices To Close Or Sell — Raising Costs

By Kristen Hwang for CalMatters In a matter of weeks, Dr. William Goral, a private practice ear, nose and throat specialist in San Bernardino County, will be out of business. His small, solo clinic, which has served patients throughout the Inland…
Coronavirus Detectives: Here’s How Counties Try to Track Everyone Exposed

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters By the time public health officer Bela Matyas learned that the novel coronavirus was spreading in Solano County, the patient in her 40s was already on a ventilator. Back in February, the woman was the first in the nation…
CHP Says It Will Stop Issuing Permits for Protests on State Property

We provide daily coronavirus updates on KRCB radio 91. Tune in at 9 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for the latest local news. Here's our update for Thursday, April 23. In the wake of demonstrations in Sacramento protesting the state’s stay-at-home order, the…
Sonoma County Activates “Warm Line” For Mental Health Calls

Wednesday, April 22 Update Sonoma County has just activated what they are calling a “Warm Line” for people to talk through any anxiety or emotional distress during the pandemic. People can call ( 707) - 565 - 2652 seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7…
Preguntas Comunes Acerca Del Coronavirus

By Jacqueline García, La Opinión 1. ¿Cuáles son los síntomas comunes del coronavirus COVID-19? Los síntomas más comunes de la enfermedad son fiebre, cansancio, tos seca y falta de respiración. La persona también puede experimentar molestias y…
San Francisco Supervisor Ronen On How Pandemic Is Affecting Bay Area's Undocumented

Last week Governor Gavin Newsom announced the State would give $500 in aid to undocumented individuals who will not be eligible for help from the Federal Government. But activists say this isn't enough. On April 20, activists and legislators called…
Predicting a Pandemic’s Path: What Models Can and Can’t Do

By Barbara Feder Ostrov, CalMatters Every day, while we’re all stuck at home, politicians and health officials and news anchors point to graphics showing the latest statistics on the coronavirus pandemic to indicate what might happen next, in your…
Tips for Spotting Fake News Stories — And Where to Find Sources You Can Trust

Anytime there’s a significant news event — like a global pandemic, for example — you can expect misinformation to spread across the Internet. “Fake news” means stories that contain fabricated information, or information that’s based on rumor, shoddy…
Newsom: Cities Blocking Hotels for Homeless Will Be ‘Judged’ by History

By Matt Levin, CalMatters As California scrambles to protect more than 150,000 homeless residents from contracting and spreading novel coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom had some harsh words Saturday for cities he accused of blocking the conversion of…
Los Cien Sonoma County Hosts Congressmen for Virtual Coronavirus Town Hall

Los Cien Sonoma County hosted a virtual Coronavirus Town Hall on Friday with Congressmen Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, who outlined the economic and health challenges facing the region, and federal programs to address them. More than 300 people…
Cut Farmworker Pay During the Crisis? Don’t Do It, California Growers Say

By Kate Cimini, The Salinas Californian The Trump administration is considering cutting the pay of guest visa farmworkers during the coronavirus pandemic to help the farm industry. But California growers aren’t thrilled: They say it won’t help them…
Santa Rosa Police Begin Citing Businesses, Individuals for Violating Shelter-in-Place Order

The Santa Rosa Police Department has begun issuing citations to businesses and individuals who are violating the county public health order to shelter-in-place. In the last week, the department has issued 40 business written warnings, two individual…
What Comes Next for California Cities? Deficits, Bailouts and Long Recoveries

By Jackie Botts, Ben Christopher, Elizabeth Castillo, Ana B. Ibarra and Matt Levin, CalMatters Cities have been ground zero in California’s coronavirus response — with many initiating shelter-in-place orders, organizing emergency housing for…
Acts of Grace from Everyday Californians Are Getting Us Through

By Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters From inside our homes, this might seem the loneliest moment in modern history. Slowing coronavirus has meant many of us are physically cut off from friends and family, schools and workplaces, senior centers, book clubs…
Recursos Alimentarios Durante COVID-19

La alimentacion es una gran prioridad para muchos durante esta pandemia de COVID-19- cómo mantener a su familia alimentada en medio de despidos del trabajo, preocupaciones sobre salidas para conseguir comestibles y la posibilidad de transmisión por…
COVID-19: Leaders Discuss Food Insecurity and Safety

During our Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall on April 14, we invited leaders from around Sonoma County to discuss how they are keeping our community fed. Some families are lacking the daily lunches and other meals provided by schools; many have lost…
Sonoma County Medical Facilities Must Screen Staff, Visitors for COVID-19 Symptoms and Require Masks

Sonoma County’s health officer has issued a new order requiring all congregate care facilities to screen all staff and visitors for signs of illness and adhere to a strict mask-wearing policy to slow the spread of COVID-19. The order, which went…
Reopen California? That’s The Toughest Phase Yet, Newsom Says

By Ben Christopher and Rachel Becker, CalMatters When will Californians emerge from house confinement? What will life look like? In a roadmap unveiled Tuesday with top public health officials, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will not lift his…
Undocumented Workers Face Obstacles Qualifying for Benefits During the Pandemic

By Jacqueline Garcia, La Opinión and Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Hector had a stable job as a cook at an Italian restaurant in Oakland. Suddenly, in mid-March, about a dozen workers were laid off, including him.…
COVID-19: Food Resources

Food is top of mind for many during the COVID-19 pandemic — how to keep your family fed amid layoffs, concerns about grocery outings and food transmission, all while trying to maintain social distance. If you’re struggling to put food on the table,…
Santa Rosa Fire Department Creates Pandemic Response Unit

The Santa Rosa Fire Department has created a new Pandemic Response Unit to respond to patients suspected of having COVID-19 or that are experiencing flu-like symptoms within the city. The department says the new squad, which had its first shift…
Kaiser Employees Receive Help With Child Care, Shelter and Extra Leave Under Union Agreement

A union agreement with Kaiser Permanente will ease the burdens of about 80,000 health care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the agreement, members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions will receive assistance with…
Sonoma County Human Services Department Answers Questions About Public Benefits During COVID-19

Despite its office being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sonoma County Human Services Department is continuing to help connect community members with public benefits. On Monday, the department shared answers to some frequently asked…
Santa Clara County Says Shelter-In-Place Appears to Be Working, Provides COVID-19 Updates

Santa Clara County says sheltering in place appears to be “flattening the curve” — or slowing the rate of coronavirus infection in the county. “However, the number of infections is still rising, and we have not yet reached the peak,” says Antoinnae…
Santa Rosa CityBus to Further Reduce Service in Response to Pandemic

The Santa Rosa CityBus will further reduce its service this week to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Starting Monday, April 13, the bus will operate on a Sunday schedule seven days a week for essential travel only. Sunday routes run from about…
California Offers Discounted Hotel Rooms to Health Workers Exposed to Coronavirus

By Laurel Rosenhall, CalMatters California health care workers may qualify for discounted hotel rooms under a new arrangement Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday as part of the state’s ongoing effort to limit the spread of coronavirus. More than…
Here’s How Putting California’s Homeless in Hotels Actually Works

By Matt Levin, CalMatters Richard Dobbs was coughing, feverish, and preparing to sleep on the sidewalk again. Dobbs, 60 and homeless in Sacramento for the past two years, had just been discharged March 28 from Sutter Medical Center’s emergency…
Sonoma County To Establish Surge Hospital At Sonoma State University

Sonoma County is establishing an alternative care site (ACS) at Sonoma State University where about 580 patients can be treated in the event of a COVID-19 surge. The site will be operated by the Petaluma Health Center, and patients will be placed in…
COVID-19: Recursos Para Indocumentados y Sin Beneficios

English version available here. A medida que la pandemia de coronavirus da vuelta la economía de la nación y deja a muchos sin trabajo, los inmigrantes indocumentados son particularmente vulnerables. En esta página encontrará recursos para ayudar a…
COVID-19: Educational Resources for Learning at Home

The Sonoma County Office of Education has recommended as of March 25 that all Sonoma County school districts continue distance learning through at least May 1. Previously, Sonoma County school districts had announced that they would suspend…
Covid-19 Business Roundtable: Sonoma County Is Hurting

For our Tuesday, April 7 Coronavirus Town Hall, we gathered a panel of county leaders to talk about business in the shadow of Coronavirus. Our guests are: Elizabeth Gore, co-founder of Hello Alice and of the Covid-19 Business Resource Center; Herman…
COVID-19: Resources for the Undocumented and Uninsured

As the coronavirus pandemic upends the nation’s economy and leaves many without work, undocumented immigrants are particularly vulnerable. On this page you’ll find resources to help undocumented community members and the uninsured. UndocuFund for…
California Eases Child Care Regulations for Critical Workers

By Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Californians struggling to juggle going to work at hospitals, fire stations and grocery stores while worrying about child care are the intended beneficiaries of a new executive order Gov. Gavin Newsom signed over…
Wear a Mask! OK, But What Kind?

By Julie Cart, CalMatters The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday recommended every American wear a face mask while in public to protect against contracting coronavirus. The agency announced that non-medical fabric masks – even…
Without Shelter-In-Place Order, COVID-19 Patients Would Overwhelm Sonoma County Hospitals

New models of the spread of coronavirus in Sonoma County show that the local shelter-in-place order will help reduce the number of deaths and hospitalizations in the county. But when infections peak about two months from now, patients could still…
Asm. Wood Asks Public to Raise Awareness About Dangers of Domestic Violence Amid COVID-19

For people experiencing domestic violence, stay-at-home orders may be trapping them with their abusers. California Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) is asking the public to raise awareness about these dangers as directives to shelter-in-place…
COVID-19: Santa Clara County Resources

Santa Clara County’s Public Health Department is providing detailed information about COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospital capacity on several data dashboards available online. The county has also assembled a variety of COVID-19 resources, as listed…
A Coronavirus Property Tax Delay? Californians Shouldn’t Count On It

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters The global pandemic notwithstanding, most California owners are still on the hook to pay their property taxes next week — thus far, the state isn’t granting any reprieves. Though both federal and state lawmakers…
Sonoma County Will Consider Property Tax Penalty Waivers on Case-by-Case Basis

Sonoma County says it will consider waiving penalties for late property tax payments related to COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis. The second installment of the 2019-2020 Annual Secured property tax bill was due Feb. 1 and becomes late if not paid by…
COVID-19: How to Help

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take lives and strain resources, you might be wondering how you can help. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is help slow the spread of the virus by following public health guidance. But if you’re still…
‘Am I Going to Die?’ Alone and Scared, Confined Seniors Struggle with Anxiety

By Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News For the past few weeks, as coronavirus radically altered daily life, 79-year-old Diana Fernandes has been struggling quietly inside her San Francisco home, weathering a challenge from within. Fernandes lives alone…
Sonoma Joins Six Bay Area Counties And Extends Shelter-in-Place Order

Sonoma County joined six others in the Bay Area in announcing stricter shelter-in-place guidelines. As of Tuesday, March 31 millions of residents in Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Francisco Counties are now…
California Starts Recruiting Retired and Student Doctors, Nurses to Handle Surge in Severely Sick People

By Julie Cart, Elizabeth Aguilera and Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters As the number of people hospitalized in California with the coronavirus doubled in just four days, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday sent out an urgent call seeking help from the state’s…
New Model Projects Coronavirus Deaths In California Will Peak In Late April

A new model from the University of Washington projects that coronavirus deaths in California will peak in late April, with a total of 5,086 deaths predicted in the state through Aug. 4. The study from the university’s Institute for Health Metrics…
Santa Rosa Police Department Mourns Loss of Detective

Updated March 31, 2020, 4:00 p.m. The Santa Rosa Police Department reported today that Detective Marylou Armer passed away from complications from COVID-19. Detective Armer served with the Santa Rosa Police Department for 20 years and was recently…
What is an Equitable Response to COVID-19: Interview With Ana Lugo

During emergencies, vulnerable community members are often left out of response plans. Assistant News Director, Adia White, asked the founder of Equity First Consulting, Ana Lugo, about how everyone in our community can be supported equitably during…
California Ramps Up Output of Ventilators As COVID-19 Cases Grow

By Nigel Duara and Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed confidence Saturday that California has the capacity to produce enough ventilators to meet its projected needs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But during a tour of a…
COVID-19: Financial Resources for Sonoma County Residents

California and the nation have seen a surge in unemployment claims as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to close their doors, leaving workers with reduced hours or laid off their jobs entirely. Local, state and federal governments are…
Santa Rosa Outlines COVID-19 Support for Homeless

The city of Santa Rosa says it’s following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect people experiencing homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic. Steps taken so far according to an update on the city website…
Los Angeles Will Mirror New York As Coronavirus Surges, Newsom and Garcetti Warn

By Judy Lin, Ben Christopher and Matt Levin, CalMatters Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued dire warnings Friday that the nation’s second-largest city is headed for the same surge in COVID-19 cases as New York City after a…
COVID-19: Sonoma County Resources for Seniors and Vulnerable Populations

On March 17, Sonoma County’s health officer issued an order for all residents to shelter in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The order directs all people to stay at home except for essential activities like getting groceries or going to…
Here’s What Happens to Science When California’s Researchers Shelter in Place

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters As California officials desperately try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Chris Miller is coaxing a sample of the virus to grow in a secure laboratory at UC Davis. Working in a laboratory nestled inside…
COVID-19: Sonoma County Mental Health Resources

Fears about the coronavirus pandemic and being socially isolated can significantly affect mental health. Whether you have a mental illness or are just feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, it’s important to do what you can to support yourself…
Sonoma County Office of Education Recommends Schools Extend On-Campus Closures

On March, 25, The Sonoma County Office of Education recommended that school districts across the county shut down in-person classes until at least May 1. This guidance was based on consultation with the Sonoma County Health Officer, Dr. Sundari…
Undocumented Workers Struggle as Economy Grinds to a Halt

By Jacqueline Garcia, La Opinión and Jackie Botts, CalMatters More than 2 million undocumented workers, who do not qualify for many state and federal benefits, are among the hardest hit Californians as the economy is battered by the coronavirus…
All Parks Closed in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, ordered the closure of all parks in Sonoma County. The order went into effect on March 24 and did not list an end date. The order comes after too many people crowded Sonoma County beaches, parks and…
Sonoma County Sup. Susan Gorin Coronavirus Update 3-23-20

We spoke with Susan Gorin, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Monday morning to provide an update about the county's response to the Coronavius pandemic. Here's our unedited conversation.
SMART Makes Additional Schedule Changes Amid Statewide Shelter-in-Place Orders

In response to changes in ridership demand resulting from what is now a statewide Shelter in Place order, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District is making additional changes to its train service schedule. SMART is committed to serving…
How Overwhelmed is California’s Health Care System About to Be?

By Rachel Becker, Ana B. Ibarra and Judy Lin, CalMatters As the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic mounted Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom prepared Californians for an unprecedented ramp-up of the hospital system, saying the state is procuring…
Shelters Work to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus Among Residents

Sonoma County homeless shelters are adapting to prevent the spread of Novel Coronavirus. Catholic Charities runs three shelters in Sonoma County which can house more than 300 people in total. KRCB’s Adia White spoke with Jennielynn Holmes, the Chief…
Newsom: Coronavirus Likely To Close California Schools for Rest of the Year

By Ricardo Cano and Laurel Rosenhall, CalMatters In a stunning announcement that revealed disruption from the coronavirus is far from over, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California schools will remain closed not just until sometime next month,…
Meals on Wheels Offers Free Food Delivery to Qualifying Seniors

While shelter in place orders do not apply to going to the grocery store, you may still be concerned about leaving your home. The Sonoma County Council on Aging offers a number of resources available to seniors during this time, including their…
Sonoma County Health Officer Issues Shelter in Place Orders

SANTA ROSA, CA – The Sonoma County Health Officer has issued a Health Order directing residents to shelter in place effective midnight on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. This recent Order comes after the County received two additional cases of local…
More Than 22 Million Californians Could Contract Coronavirus Without Mitigation, According To Gov. Newsom

Note: We've changed the headline of this story to reflect that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson said these figures are possible without mitigation efforts. We have also updated the figure to 22 million to correct a math error in the governor's…
California and Coronavirus Testing Right Now: 3/18/20

By Rachel Becker and Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters Coronavirus testing has been plagued by confusion, delays and chaos, with the number of available, usable tests far outstripped by the need. The situation, health care providers and experts say, has…
SMART Cancels Selected Weekday Service Because of Shelter-in-Place Orders

In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and shelter in place orders for Sonoma and Marin counties, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District is temporarily canceling the following train trips: • Southbound 7:10 AM out of…
SCOE Announcement: All Sonoma County School Districts Have Announced Suspension of In-Person Classes

All Sonoma County School Districts Have Announced Suspension of In-Person Classes As part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the community, and based on recommendations released by the Sonoma County Department of Health…
County Moves From Advisory to Order on Event Cancellations

Sonoma County has issued the following press release Friday afternoon, March 13 SANTA ROSA, CA – The Sonoma County Health Officer, out of an abundance of caution, has issued an Order canceling mass gatherings of 250 individuals or more to prevent…
Mayor Joe Callinan's Statement on Coronavirus in Rohnert Park

**Versiòn en Español abajò** For Immediate Release: On Friday, March 15, 2020, Rohnert Park Mayor, Joe Callinan, issued the following statement: ”A Rohnert Park Health Center employee has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The…
Nine Active Coronavirus Cases Reported in Sonoma County

As of Thursday, March 19, there are nine known cases of Novel Coronavirus in Sonoma County. Two cases were announced on Wednesday, March 18 and one more was announced on Thursday, March 19. No additional information about these cases has been…
Video Discusses California Response to COVID-19

How California is responding to the coronavirus By Byrhonda Lyons and Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters As more Californians test positive for the novel coronavirus, state health officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom are trying to control the outbreak. The U. S.…
Demonstrators Demand More Protections For Undocumented Community

Santa Rosa immigrant rights activists rallied outside of the Sonoma County Courthouse late last month in a demonstration against recent arrests of undocumented immigrants. KRCB’s Adia White attended the demonstration and has this report.…
As Coronavirus Toll Rises Statewide, So Does Health Care Workers’ Alarm

By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters When the novel coronavirus hit California, Jamille Cabacungan, a registered nurse at UCSF Medical Center, rushed to sign up as a volunteer to treat infected patients. She hesitated to answer, however, when asked recently…
Coronavirus Special & Resources

Coronavirus: What You Need to Know - March 11, 2020 Northern California Public Media hosted a Virtual Town Hall, in partnership with Sonoma County, to share information about Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). News Director Steve Mencher and Assistant…
Sonoma County Point-in-Time Count Aims to Tally The Homeless Population

One of the populations most at risk for the Novel Coronavirus is the homeless. Most of those living on the streets lack a way to wash their hands frequently; many also have underlying health issues. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban…
For Gig Workers and Hourly Earners Coronavirus Is a Test

The spread of Covid-19 in the Bay Area has caused businesses to ramp up their plans to protect employees and customers. Conferences have been cancelled; staff is being encouraged to work from home at companies like Facebook and Google. Reporter Pamela…
“Your Bills Don’t Get Sick”: Workers Say Coronavirus Prevention Isn’t Easy

By Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News For five years, Mostafa Maklad has driven for rideshare companies, clearing about $100 a day after expenses. At 36, he shares a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco with five other roommates and tries to drive up…
30 Healthcare Workers at Local Hospital Directed to Self-Quarantine, According to Their Union

At least thirty healthcare workers at Sutter Health Santa Rosa were quarantined on Thursday, according to their union, SEIU United Health Care Workers West. As of Thursday evening, neither Sutter Health nor Sonoma County Officials have confirmed the…
2nd Sonoma County Resident Diagnosed With Novel Coronavirus After Returning From Cruise

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services confirmed that a second local passenger on the Grand Princess Cruise Ship was diagnosed with COVID-19. The first Sonoma County resident diagnosed with the virus was reported on Monday, March 2. Both…
Coronavirus: U.S. Death Toll Now At 14; New Cases In Maryland, Colorado, Pennsylvania

Enlarge this image A medic drives an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash, which has been linked to most of
California Schools Brace for a Coronavirus Disruption

By Ricardo Cano, Felicia Melloand Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Early reports indicate children infected by the coronavirus experience a milder response than older adults. But as it arrives in Northern California, school and college officials are…
County Health Officials Work to Track Down Contacts of Local Coronavirus Patient

Sonoma County officials are working to track down anyone who may have come into contact with a county resident who tested positive for the new coronavirus. The patient recently returned from a cruise to Mexico and had been in the county for ten days…
AB5 Sparks Controversy Among California's Independent Contractors

For employers and independent contractors in California, AB5 has sparked some confusion and controversy. The new gig worker law went into effect January 2020 and many independent contractors are still unsure how the law will affect their business.…
The Developer Bonus Tucked Into the School Bond on Your Ballot

By Matt Levin, CalMatters California voters are being asked to approve a controversial measure making it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit. Most will think they’re only voting on whether the…
Annual Pliny the Younger Beer Release Boosts Tourism in Sonoma County

Beer enthusiasts lined up for hours at the Russian River Brewing Company in downtown Santa Rosa earlier this month. They also gathered at the company’s new pub in Windsor to experience the legendary beer – Pliny the Younger. (Image: Russian River…
California Pushes For More Coronavirus Testing After First Case Of Community Transmission

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials will update the public on how they are responding to new cases of coronavirus disease COVID-19, including the first possible case of community transmission in the U.S., which is being treated…
Proposition 13 Seeks $15 Billion for California's Schools

Proposition 13 is the only statewide initiative on the ballot March 3rd. The proposed bond would funnel 9 billion dollars into the state's k-12 schools, and a total of six billion for community colleges, the 23 campuses of the State University…
New Coronavirus Affects Tourism in San Francisco's Chinatown

Travel restrictions prompted by fear over the spread of the New Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, have caused some tech companies in the Bay Area to cancel upcoming events. Tourism is down, too. The significant loss of visitors to the area will…
March 2020 Vote: Election Results

On March 3, California participated in the Super Tuesday presidential primaries for the first time since 2008. Democratic candidates competed for the rich delegate haul in California, Texas and a dozen other states, with 1,357 delegates at stake.…
David Cook Challenges Gorin For First District Seat

City of Sonoma Councilmember David Cook is challenging Susan Gorin for the first district seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. He spoke with KRCB’s Steve Mencher about his previous experience and how his priorities would differ from his…
Gorin Runs for a Third Term on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Susan Gorin, is running for a third term on the board. Her opponent for the district one seat is City of Sonoma Councilmember, David Cook. KRCB’s Steve Mencher spoke with Gorin about whether the…
Former Mayor Chris Coursey Challenges Zane for District 3 Seat

Former Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey is challenging incumbent Shirlee Zane for her seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. KRCB’s Steve Mencher spoke with Coursey about his priorities and how his approach to homelessness would differ from…
Shirlee Zane Defends Her Seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

Shirlee Zane is squaring off with former Santa Rosa mayor Chris Coursey in the district 3 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors race. Zane is hoping to win a fourth term as supervisor. She spoke with KRCB’s Steve Mencher about her record and how the…
Lynda Hopkins Makes Her Case for a Second Term as Supervisor

Lynda Hopkins is defending her District 5 seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Hopkins holds a master's degree in land-use policy from Stanford and is running for her second term as supervisor. She joined KRCB’s Steve Mencher at the end…
Mike Hilber Challenges Lynda Hopkins for District 5 Seat

Mike Hilber is challenging incumbent Lynda Hopkins for the District 5 seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Hilber has a master's in electrical engineering from Stanford and worked in the defense industry in Southern California. In the…
Interview: Reporter Will Houston Lays Out the Pros and Cons of Measure I

Marin and Sonoma County voters will soon decide whether to extend a sales tax supporting the SMART train until 2059. Campaigns on both sides of the issue have each received over a million dollars in support of their positions. Reporter Will Houston…
Local Activist Speaks Out on Missed Opportunity in Cancelled "American Dirt" Talk

Author Jeanine Cummins’ planned book talk at the Petaluma Copperfield’s Bookstore evaporated with the rest of her scheduled appearances last week when the publisher of her novel “American Dirt” canceled her book tour out of concern for her safety.…
California Lawmakers Have Refused to Restrict Flavored Vaping —Is That About to Change?

By Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Milk and waters in kids’ meals. Smaller “Big Gulps.” No teens on tanning beds. Officials here pride themselves as national leaders in protecting the health of Californians —so much so that conservatives deride it as…
Lisa See, Author of "The Island of Sea Women," Speaks at Sonoma Valley Regional Library

Lise See launched her literary career with the non-fiction book “On Gold Mountain." The story chronicles her great-great grandfather’s journey from China to California and follows multiple generations. She's written ten novels since then. See spoke…
In California, Not Every Kid Has a Fair Chance at Success

By Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News San Jose area scores near the top for giving children the best chance of achieving economic success and good health. Bakersfield is at the bottom. Children who grow up in the San Jose area are better off than those…
California Students Missing School Due to Wildfires and Other Disasters

At the beginning of the school year, over 360 schools in California had to close for at least a week due to power outages, wildfires, or other crises. That’s according to Ricardo Cano, an education reporter at the state-wide news outlet CAL Matters.…
Sonoma County Plans to Clear Joe Rodota Trail By Friday

Sonoma County set a goal of clearing the Joe Rodota trail by Friday. County officials switched their policy to enforcement mid-week and began issuing warnings and citations to those still camping there. KRCB’s Adia White talked to people camping on…
Podcast: Activist homeless moms score an Oakland win

By Jakob Lazzaro and Matt Levin, CalMatters Last November, a group of homeless and housing insecure moms took over a vacant home in West Oakland. It was a protest against corporate ownership of housing, gentrification, displacement and the lack of…
Doctors Fail to Help Patients Stop Smoking, Says Report

The United States Surgeon General declared in a new report last week that health professionals do not provide cigarette smokers enough support for quitting their smoking addictions and may not even bring up smoking cessation to their patients.…
Rodota Trail Situation Delays Homeless Count for a Month

The annual Point-in-Time homeless count was set to happen this week, but because of the health emergency on the Joe Rodota Trail, where more than 200 people are sleeping, the count has been delayed by a month. KRCB's Adia White spoke with county…
Former Director of IOLERO Works to Pass Initiative to Strengthen the Office

The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach, or IOLERO, was created to strengthen transparency and trust in the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. This was in 2015, two years after a Sheriff’s Deputy shot and killed 13-year-old Andy…
Sonoma County Prepares to Evict Campers Along the Joe Rodota Trail

The temporary homeless shelter at Los Guilicos opened on Sunday. The sanctioned encampment has room for about 60 of the 250 people currently camping along the Joe Rodota Trail. All residents have been told to leave the trail by Wednesday, January…
Sanctioned Homeless Camp at Los Guilicos Scheduled to Open Sunday

Sonoma County officials delayed efforts to relocate around 60 people living along the Joe Rodota Trail to a sanctioned camp at the Los Guilicos Juvenile Justice Center. Local non-profit, St. Vincent de Paul will manage services there. KRCB’s Adia…
Sonoma County Libraries Host Tamale Making Workshops

The library might not be the first place you’d expect to learn how to make tamales. But that’s exactly what happened last December in Santa Rosa. KRCB’s Camille Escovedo attended one of seventeen free bilingual cooking classes at Sonoma County…
Meet Leah Gold, Healdsburg's New Mayor for 2020

The start of the new year means a new mayor for the City of Healdsburg. Vice Mayor Leah Gold was selected to take the reins from David Hagele in a unanimous vote by the city council mid-December. She started her year-long term at the beginning of…
Around 1,000 People Attend Santa Rosa Women's March

Around 1,000 people joined the women’s march in downtown Santa Rosa on Saturday. Marchers focused on electing women to office in 2020, reducing fossil fuels, immigration reform and a host of other issues. This year’s march kicks off a momentous year…
Contractors Begin to Set Up Sanctioned Encampment Near Oakmont

Sonoma County is contracting with Washington based company Pallet, to set up temporary units to house the homeless on the Los Guilicos Juvenile Justice Campus. A demo unit of the same type was on public display in Roseland yesterday. KRCB’s Adia…
WATCH LIVE: Managers Read Impeachment Articles, Senators Sworn In Ahead Of Trial – Thursday at 7am

Congress is taking additional steps to prepare for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial. The newly appointed House impeachment managers, who will present the case for impeachment, are reading the articles in the Senate chamber. Senators are also…
Supervisors Pick Sonoma Valley for Temporary Homeless Shelter

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to relocate many of the campers along the Joe Rodota Trail to the Los Guilicos juvenile justice center campus in Sonoma Valley. Supervisor Susan Gorin was adamantly opposed to the relocation of the camp to her…
Next Stop for Free College: Cal State University?

By Felicia Mello, CalMatters In yet another push to make higher education more accessible in California, a bill filed in the state Legislature last week would extend the state’s tuition-free college guarantee to four years —and beyond community…
Sonoma County Women’s March to Take Place Saturday

The fourth annual women’s march is happening this Saturday in downtown Santa Rosa's Courthouse Square. Organizers estimate that between three and five thousand people will attend the event. KRCB’s Adia White spoke with lead organizer, Leslie Graves…
Cities Should Act on Homelessness or Face Lawsuits, Newsom Task Force Says

By Matt Levin and Jackie Botts, CalMatters Declaring that moral persuasion and economic incentives aren’t working to bringSacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, left, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who are leading Newsom's task…
Do You Know What Should Go in Your Emergency Kit?

It’s hard not to think about disasters during fire-season, but during the winter months, emergency officials worry that we don’t think carefully enough about planning for other scenarios. The Sonoma County Library is working to change this by…
Sonoma County Library Hosts Disaster Preparedness Classes

Last year, Sonoma County was hit with a devastating wildfire, rolling blackouts, and historic flooding. Starting this month, The Sonoma County Library is hosting a series of classes to teach residents how to prepare for disasters. Twelve library…
Should California Restrict Building in High-Risk Fire Areas?

In her recent article, entitled “Fire Amnesia”, Felicity Barringer from the Bill Lane Center for the American West, argues that Californians are resistant to policies that would limit building in high-risk fire areas. KRCB’s Adia White spoke with…
Anniversary Gives Rialto Cinemas Founder Chance to Reflect

Ky Boyd opened his first Rialto movie theater 20 years ago in Sonoma County. Today, there are three Bay Area Rialtos, including one in Sebastopol. At those theaters, live and taped opera, ballet, and drama mix with Hollywood blockbusters and art…
Santa Rosa Junior College Receives $7 Million for Disaster Recovery Workforce Training

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday morning that the department’s Economic Development Administration will award over 7 million dollars to better equip Sonoma County's workforce for disaster recovery. The funds will be used to build The…
Educators Release Plan for Expanding the Arts in Schools

Nearly 80 percent of Sonoma County high schools do not offer comprehensive, arts education. That’s according to an analysis by the Sonoma County Arts Alliance. The alliance is a partnership between the non-profit Creative Sonoma, the Sonoma County…
Sonoma West Publishers Plans Big Changes for 2020

2019 was a big year for Sonoma County, with historic flooding along the Russian River, rolling PG&E blackouts, and another catastrophic fire season. In the midst of reporting on these crises, Sonoma West Publishers, which runs four local newspapers,…
New Book Offers Background on Ukraine's People and Culture

“From Chernobyl With Love” is author Katya Cengel’s new book about the collapse of the Soviet Union and her experience reporting from Russia and Ukraine. In light of Ukraine’s growing significance in U.S. politics, it’s crucial to understand the…
Author Ibram X. Kendi Says "Not Racist" is Not Enough

Ibram X. Kendi, won the National Book Award in 2016 for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. He spoke at the Sonoma County Library earlier this month about his latest book How to Be an Antiracist. It goes…
Schools Can Hire Teachers of Color, but Will They Stay?

The number of teachers of color in California isn’t keeping pace with the number of black and brown students in our classrooms. One problem is that too many of these teachers leave the profession. As part of our California Dream collaboration,…
Diversifying the Ranks of Teachers. Race and Gender Matter

Fewer than 10% of California’s teachers are men of color. And that’s a problem, because they could play a significant role in helping to close the achievement gap for black and brown boys. As part of the California Dream collaboration, KQED’s…
Sonoma County Releases Resident Health Report Card

How healthy is Sonoma County? The Department of Health Services released a report this November that measures health disparities, leading causes of death and premature mortality rates from 2015-2017. This is the second time the county has released…
Emerald Cup Cannabis Festival Attracts Visitors From Across the Country

Thousands traveled from around the country over the weekend to attend Santa Rosa's annual cannabis extravaganza at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. KRCB's Adia White tells us the highlights of this year's Emerald Cup. For a list of the 2019 Emerald…
Santa Rosa City Council Votes To Terminate Rental Price Gouging Ordinance

The Santa Rosa City Council voted Tuesday night to terminate the emergency ordinance on rental price gouging. KRCBs Adia White tells us what this means for the city’s tenants and landlords. Camille Escovedo contributed to this report. (Image Credit:…
Death of Petaluma Man Calls Use of Carotid Hold Into Question

The death of a Petaluma man while in the custody of the Sheriff’s Office is raising questions about law enforcement oversight. 52-year old David Ward died the day before Thanksgiving after being placed in a carotid hold by a Sonoma County Sheriff’s…
Santa Rosa Police Department Finishes Community Listening Sessions

The Santa Rosa Police Department recently completed five community listening sessions to find out how it can better serve the community. This is the first time the police department has completed a series of sessions with intent to incorporate the…
Sonoma County EDB Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center for Kincade Fire Victims

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to California businesses and residents affected by the Kincade Fire that occurred October 23 – November 7, 2019. Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 20, representatives from the Small Business…
PG&E Announces $13.5 Billion Settlement With Victims Of Northern California Wildfires

Pacific Gas and Electric announced a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of the Camp Fire and 2017 Northern California wildfires Friday. The settlement is subject to approval by a bankruptcy court.
Can California Reduce Homelessness Through Better Prevention?

By David Wagner, KPCC A Chicago call center worker asks callers how they ended up on the verge of homelessness. Credit: DAVID WAGNER/KPCCDespite billions in new spending, the number of people experiencing homelessness keeps rising in cities across…
Organization Works to Improve First Responder Mental Health

Firefighters and first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. North Bay Paramedic, Susan Farren, wants this to change. That’s why she founded a training program, called First Responder Resilience Incorporated. KRCB’s…
Local Non-Profits Running Out of Funding for Fire Aid

Many nonprofits are running out of aid for families who lost their homes or income during the Kincade Fire. KRCB’s Adia White visited one local non-profit, seated in the heart of the disaster area, to find out how much need is unmet. For an updated…
On Thanksgiving, Remembering an Anniversary

On November 20, 1969, American Indian activists traveled to Alcatraz to begin an occupation of the prison island. It lasted 19 months. They were focused on the sovereignty and lost rights of native peoples. That anniversary has been celebrated this…
New Documentary Celebrates First LGBTQ+ Native Powwow

In the film,Two-Spirit Powwow, Rick Bacigalupi follows the development of the first LGBTQI Native American powwow in the United States. Thousands travel from across the region to attend this annual gathering in San Francisco. KRCB’s Adia White has a…
Impacts Expected on Russian River After Kincade Fire

The Russian River provides water to as many as 700,000 local residents; close to a million visitors use the river for recreation in the summer. Reporter Pamela Lorence visited Healdsburg last week to meet with Don McEnhill, the head of the nonprofit…
Healdsburg Residents Undeterred by Kincade Fire

After the Kincade fire, there’s some talk of folks pulling up stakes — tired of the alerts, the blackouts, the evacuations. But for two residents of Healdsburg, the latest fire has only deepened their love of home. Pamela Lorence has the story.…
A Year After the Camp Fire, Survivors Share Stories of Loss and Healing

A year ago today, 85 lives and over 13,000 homes were lost in the Camp Fire. With so much lost, resilience means something different to everyone. NSPR's Sarah Bohannon tells us how survivors are sharing their process of healing with others. (Image:…
Building Resilience After Tragedy

Friday marks one year since the devastating Camp Fire. The anniversary, in addition to the Kincade Fire, will trigger traumatic memories for many in our community. But hardship can be used to build strength. Joyce-Mikal Flynn is a professor of…
KBBF Radio Santa Rosa Updates Community During Kincade Fire

Our neighbor and partner KBBF FM Radio 89.1 has been recognized with two feature stories about their heroic efforts to make sure our community stayed informed during the recent Kincade Fire. For the station, jumping into action was second nature,…
2017 Lessons Saved Lives and Property During Kincade Fire

In an article last week, Laura Hagar, editor of the Sonoma West Times and News asked the question we're all asking: How was the loss of property and life from the Kincade Fire minimized, even as it grew to twice the size of 2017's Tubbs Fire? Read…