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Local News

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Mar 28, 2023

Con-man who scammed millions from vintners, collectors, dead

by Marc Albert
Anderson's death bookends a case that brought down producers, stunned an industry
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Mar 24, 2023

New play looking squarely at gun violence makes local debut

by Noah Abrams
The play draws from, and is the first stage adaptation of the 2019 book If I Don't Make It, I Love You
Mar 24, 2023

Deadline nears to join committee that will select firestorm remembrance monument

by Marc Albert
Locals can help shape a planned Sonoma County memorial commemorating the loss and recovery from the 2017 wildfires, but time is running out. Officials are forming a citizen task force to…
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Mar 23, 2023

Healdsburg repeals longstanding cannabis business ban

by Noah Abrams
Dispensaries will be allowed under the new plans, but other cannabis business actvities remain restricted
Mar 23, 2023

Research & studies at Bodega Bay to continue as county and UC ink deal

by Marc Albert
Fifty-acres of tidelands in Bodega Harbor will stay a nexus for environmental research for at least another quarter century. The land will remain, as it has since 1965, under the aegis of…

NPR News

Mar 27, 2023

Allentown is over its Billy Joel song

Forty years after singer Billy Joel's song "Allentown" put Allentown, Pa., on every pop station, city leaders say they're ready to move on.
Mar 27, 2023

Morning news brief

There are mass protests in Israel after the defense minister is sacked, Mississippi cleans up after a deadly tornado and jury selection is to begin Monday in the trial of
Mar 26, 2023

Hundreds are displaced after tornado hits Mississippi

President Biden has approved a federal emergency declaration for Mississippi, after a tornado hit four counties killing at least 25 people, injuring dozens of others and destroying countless homes.
Mar 25, 2023

A tornado kills dozens in Mississippi

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Emily Wagster Pettus of The Associated Press about a rare, long-track tornado that left a trail of devastation across western Mississippi on Friday night.
Mar 23, 2023

Clowns converge on Orlando for funny business

This week, dozens of clowns descended on Orlando, Florida for the 40th annual World Clown Association convention. But these aren't your scary clowns, the ones you might know
Mar 23, 2023

Acknowledging layoffs at NPR

NPR is undergoing a reduction of roughly 10% of its workforce. The layoffs include members of the All Things Considered team.
Mar 21, 2023

5 ways the banking turmoil could affect you

The news about bank collapses and emergency rescues can seem both alarming and distant. Maybe you wondered: is my bank account safe? If it's under $250,000, your money is
Mar 18, 2023

Opinion: The city that fell for a hoax

Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark was gracious in January at a ceremony to make Newark "sister cities" with the "Hindu nation" of Kailasa. "I pray that our relationship helps
Mar 16, 2023

Bands at SXSW are calling for better pay

Bands chosen to play at South By SouthWest in Austin get paid just $250 while organizers are making good profits. Musicians are speaking out about needing more money as exposure
Mar 16, 2023

A train carrying corn syrup derails in Arizona

A train carrying corn syrup derailed Wednesday evening in western Arizona, the railroad operator confirmed. The county sheriff's office told NPR there were no injuries and it was "not
Mar 09, 2023

The dirty secret to credit card rewards

Credit card perks are being subsidized by people who have less, argues Chenzi Xu, a finance professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Mar 08, 2023

A new AI-powered TikTok filter is sparking concern

A new AI-powered TikTok filter makes users look younger and more glamorous are freaking people out. There are concerns the tools promote unrealistic beauty standards and blurs the lines of
Mar 07, 2023

Jimmy Carter: The 'Fresh Air' interviews

At 98, Carter is the oldest living president in U.S. history. After serving his term, he worked to promote safe housing, human rights and conflict resolution. Originally broadcast in '93,
Mar 06, 2023

Another Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio

A Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday evening in Springfield, Ohio, sending 28 cars sliding diagonally across the tracks but injuring no one, according to several state and local agencies.
Feb 27, 2023

Major League Baseball is on the clock

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Grant Brisbee of The Athletic about the new Major League Baseball rules that have some baseball purists outraged.
Feb 20, 2023

Don't dunk on the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

A key part of the NBA All Star Weekend is the Slam Dunk Contest. We look at how both pro basketball and dunking have evolved and why fans can't get
Feb 15, 2023

Washington state's push to reduce emissions

Several states have new laws to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel rising temperatures. Washington has changed how big businesses use energy and how people fuel their vehicles.
Feb 13, 2023

My Unsung Hero: An unknown navigator

In 2003, Julie Cadwallader's husband died of cancer. Not long after, she decided to go visit a friend in Boston. Her husband had always been the navigator on their trips,
Feb 09, 2023

Junk food abounds on YouTube videos for kids

Child influencers have huge followings on social media. A new study finds that their videos are frequently exposing their young viewers to junk foods like candy, salty snacks and sugary
Feb 09, 2023

Nicaragua frees 222 political prisoners to the U.S.

The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has released 222 political prisoners and put them on a flight to Washington, D.C., officials in both countries said Thursday. At Washington's
Mar 21, 2023

Search continues for Santa Rosa senior, missing three weeks

Officially missing three weeks as of Monday, the family of Santa Rosa resident Larry Atchison is redoubling efforts. Over the weekend, family members passed out three hundred care packages to area homeless, each with Atchison's photo. On Monday, Atchison's daughter made the rounds of San Francisco shelters, soup…
Marc Albert
Mar 15, 2023

County joins local cities in prohibiting new fueling stations

Echoing a number of local municipalities, Sonoma County officials Tuesday narrowly prohibited new gas and diesel infrastructure in parts of the county. The move won't force any of the 46 stations located in unincorporated areas to close, though they won't be allowed to add more pumps. Cashless stations dispensing gas…
Marc Albert
Mar 09, 2023

What is an atmospheric river?

The meteorological phenomenon known as 'atmospheric rivers' has a significant impact on the frequency and severity of floods and droughts in the Bay Area of Northern California. Advanced forecasting techniques currently being developed to monitor these storms could mitigate the impact of floods while preserving the…
Darren LaShelle
Mar 09, 2023

Plaintiffs: parking ban a fig leaf for anti-homeless policy

Litigation against the city of Sebastopol over a parking ordinance said to discriminate against homeless people prompted elected leaders to meet behind closed doors this week. The city is under pressure to repeal rules barring people from sleeping in vehicles.
Marc Albert
Mar 07, 2023

Marin coroner releases Chavez autopsy report

More than six months after KRCB News requested to see the coroner's report in a fatal officer-involved-shooting near Healdsburg last summer, a copy has been sent to the newsroom.
Greta Mart and Marc Albert
Mar 02, 2023

Cannabis glut upending growers; tax revenue falling short

County elected leaders again shifted gears on the contentious issue of cannabis Tuesday, opting to keep in place a taxation system some growers say is squeezing them out, while adjusting tax rates. Broader changes are likely in the future as work on an environmental assessment proceeds.
Marc Albert
Mar 01, 2023

New documentary focuses on Sonoma County's pottery luminary

In the forested hills above Guerneville sits the historic Pond Farm - a world renowned pottery studio and longtime home to one of the 20th century’s great potters. Marguerite Wildenhain was a German Jewish potter, and the first female master potter in Germany. From the 1950's to the 1980's Wildenhain taught hundreds…
Noah Abrams, Doug Jayne
Feb 28, 2023

County workers rally hours before current contract expires

With their union contract expiring at midnight February 28th, a large crowd of county employees rallied outside the board of supervisors chamber Tuesday afternoon, pushing for an improved contract. "We are the union," County workers chanted. "The mighty mighty union."
Noah Abrams
Feb 28, 2023

Fairly simple, mostly inexpensive ways to fortify your home against wildfire

With rains enlarging standing pools on a soggy landscape, an out of control wildfire tearing into neighborhoods seems impossible. In just a few months, that won't be the case. With time still available to prepare, state fire prevention officials Monday detailed ways to reduce the chance a home will be lost to fire.…
Marc Albert
Feb 27, 2023

African American experience in Healdsburg put in focus

Community members and city officials gathered once again this month for the latest Healdsburg encuentro. They're series of meetings that seeks to understand the experience of residents from various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
Noah Abrams
Feb 27, 2023

Sonoma County families receive their first $500 monthly check

The first five-hundred-dollar monthly checks have gone out to just over three hundred Sonoma County families. It's part of a two-year pilot to gauge the success of unrestricted cash aid to those who need it most. Amid the local bounty, there's plenty of need. More than six thousand applied.
Greta Mart and Marc Albert
Feb 24, 2023

Parks Service readies removal of small dam in Marin

Hike through Marin’s Tennessee Valley and you’ll pass by a small duck pond set just back from the beach. Holding in the pond: a small earthen dam - whose days are numbered. The dam was originally built by a private landowner around 1960 according to Julian Espinoza with the National Parks Service - the same time that…
Noah Abrams
Feb 24, 2023

County transportation agency approves millions in funding

Many more millions will be pouring into local transportation projects after the Sonoma County Transportation Authority secured $67 million in project funds earlier this month. The funding comes from both grants and a variety of tax streams like Measure M and Measure BB also known as Go Sonoma.
Noah Abrams
Feb 23, 2023

Sonoma County launches guaranteed income pilot program for families in poverty

Hundreds of low-income families in Sonoma County will begin to receive $500 a month in a two-year trial of a new guaranteed income program, the county announced Wednesday. The Pathway to Income Equity pilot program mirrors similar programs throughout the state that provide guaranteed, relatively unconditional payments…
Katy St. Clair Bay City News
Feb 23, 2023

Thunder, rain, snow…all happening this week in North Bay

The North Bay is experiencing a rare mixture of weather phenomena on Thursday as cold temperatures bring rain that turns to snow in some areas while thunderstorms are forecast for the evening. A mixture of hail and graupel -- slushy snow pellets -- pelted Vallejo around noon and more hail was reported in Santa Rosa…
Katy St. Clair Bay City News
Feb 23, 2023

Sebastopol proceeding with road repair, 'unsafe' bike lanes

Reconstruction of part of Sebastopol's pothole-choked Bodega Avenue should be completed this fall. But the mood among city leaders agreeing to move forward was more regret and misgiving, than celebration.Few deny the deeply rutted obstacle course filling the role of major arterial is well past its expiration date.…
Marc Albert
Feb 23, 2023

$50 million sought to boost Geysers energy production

Local officials are hoping to snag a fifty million dollar federal grant to bring emerging technology to the Geysers geothermal field, potentially boosting power generation by a third. The technology aims to provide more carbon free electricity when solar and wind sources drop off, such as on cloudy, still days and…
Marc Albert
Feb 22, 2023

Public drinking moves closer to a reality in Healdsburg

Healdsburg could soon join the city of Sonoma in allowing public drinking within the city's plaza. The city's Community Services Director Mark Themig said Healdsburg's new ordinance would continue relaxed pandemic era regulations.
Noah Abrams
Feb 21, 2023

Cotati weighs new city seal

A city’s official seal...some are intricate, some simple...many go unnoticed. If you’ve driven on Old Redwood Highway through Downtown Cotati there’s a good chance you’ve seen the city’s seal adorning the billboard out front of the Rancho Adobe Fire station.
Noah Abrams
Feb 17, 2023

Rising demand for counseling, senior services in West County

'Doing-more-with-less' is a saying that's practically cliché. At the same time, for many, it's reality. And the agencies and other entities tasked lending a hand, they're often in a similar boat. Not enough funding, or not the right kind. With its $6 million dollar budget and 70 full and part time employees, that's…
Marc Albert and Greta Mart
Feb 17, 2023

Chavez family waits while Sonoma County DA decides if charges filed in police killing

Relatives and supporters of David Palaez-Chavez gathered in Courthouse Square on Friday Aug 5 2022, protesting what they described as an unjust, extrajudicial killing of a man by Sonoma County Sheriff DeputiesPhoto Credit: Marc Albert More than six months after a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy killed 36-year-old David…
Natasha Kimmell
Feb 17, 2023

Sonoma County to lift COVID-19 public health emergency

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services will be lifting the COVID-19 local public health emergency status after three years of having it in place. County health officer Dr. Sundari Mase on Thursday announced that the public health emergency will expire on Feb. 28, the same day that Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered…
Katy St. Clair/Bay City News
Feb 16, 2023

Healthcare board tussles with Providence over birth center

Tensions continues to rise over plans to close the maternity center at Petaluma Valley Hospital, as Providence and the Petaluma Healthcare District Board continue to fight over the future of the Family Birth Center. Board Vice President Elece Hempel said the board feels as though the decision has been dictated to them.
Noah Abrams
Feb 16, 2023

Bees to swarm Healdsburg as county inks deal to store commercial hives

Healdsburg will welcome thousands of new seasonal residents in the months ahead. There's no negative buzz, however. That's because they'll be winged, and randomly gathering pollen. Sonoma County announced this week a deal with Tauzer Apiaries to store bee boxes near the county's transfer station. Claire Tauzer is…
Marc Albert
Feb 15, 2023

New bill aims to make direct physician employment permanent

For the past 20 years California hospitals have experimented with directly employing physicians - bypassing the traditional method of a private practice doctor with admission privileges. Now North Bay state assembly member Jim Wood is hoping to make that experiment permanent for California’s rural hospitals, Cathy…
Noah Abrams
Feb 14, 2023

Staff speak out against planned closure of birth center

Providence Healthcare is planning on closing the birth center at the Petaluma Valley Hospital this year. It's a move that has come as a shock to many - but not necessarily a surprise. Despite a contractual obligation to keep the hospital’s Family Birth Center open for five years following its 2021 purchase, in January…
Noah Abrams
Feb 14, 2023

Newts find helping hands in journey across a corner of Sonoma County

Newts. They’re small, orange, wet and slimy, and they’ve got to dodge a big obstacle. But as KRCB found out, they’ve got some helping hands. When the rain comes down most of us cozy up inside. But in the Chileno Valley, west of Petaluma - the rain brings one amphibian out in droves: newts.
Noah Abrams
Feb 14, 2023

Newly rehabbed, school developmentally challenged students unveiled

Years in the making, educators in Rohnert Park have unveiled a $10 million school remodel to encourage learning and community among pre-school children with developmental disabilities. Mandy Corbin is associate county superintendent...and before a ribbon cutting in front of a pint-sized-climbing wall, an element of a…
Marc Albert
Feb 10, 2023

Hotel workers and supporters gather to support union drive

A large crowd of close to 200 people stood in front of the Fairmont Sonoma Hotel Thursday night, there in solidarity with hotels workers trying to unionize. Labor leaders, community figures, a representative for newly-elected State Assembly Member Damon Connolly, and hotel workers themselves addressed the…
Noah Abrams
Feb 10, 2023

Local State of the Union guest details experience

North Bay congressional representative Mike Thompson was notably absent from this year's State of the Union address. That's because he was a designated survivor, meaning the congressman took in the speech from a secure location in case of a catastrophe at the U.S. capitol. KRCB spoke with Thompson’s guest attendee…
Noah Abrams
Feb 10, 2023

Bringing astronomical utility bills back down to earth

Receive a shockingly high bill from Pacific Gas and Electric this month? You’re not alone. While PG&E says it's not to blame and the governor demands an investigation, the company says it can help those struggling to pay. Unless you're completely off grid, you've probably heard that incoming utility bills are bringing…
Marc Albert
Feb 09, 2023

Ruth Asawa Fountain return edges closer

The Asawa Fountain was once a defining feature of Santa Rosa's Old Courthouse Square, before a 2016 reconfiguration. The artwork was sculpted in the late 1980’s by the famed late San Francisco artist Ruth Asawa, with help from then-students at Santa Rosa’s Burbank Elementary school.
Noah Abrams
Feb 09, 2023

Learning and adaptability crucial to groundwater plans

Regional groundwater sustainability plans were recently approved by state water regulators, earlier than expected. Sonoma County is home to around 40,000 registered wells. Groundwater is central to the everyday life of Sonoma County, its people, its plants, and its produce.
Noah Abrams
Feb 09, 2023

Video looking into Sonoma County's future climate debuts

When it comes to reversing climate change, one group in Sebastopol is looking into Sonoma County’s future as a place to start. A buzzy crowd around 60 strong, many friends, neighbors, or at the very least acquainted, gathered recently at the Sebastopol Grange for a first look at “Sonoma County Climate 2050.”
Noah Abrams
Feb 09, 2023

Even with new money, a fix for SR 37 still a long way off

If you read recent headlines concerning the regional measure three lawsuit, you might think the heavy equipment is ready to roll into place to fix Highway 37. That's not exactly the case. The suit, by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association put money raised by a bridge toll increase in limbo. Now, officials are…
Marc Albert
Feb 09, 2023

Supes ponder bond measure to repair, upgrade Vets buildings

Part club house, community center and shelter of last resort, Sonoma County's veterans halls are in sorry shape. The vast majority of halls were built immediately after the second world war and are showing their age. An issue that has caught the attention of the County. Supervisor David Rabbitt said they have long…
Marc Albert
Feb 09, 2023

County's three Groundwater Sustainability Plans good to go

Sonoma County’s three groundwater sustainability agencies formed back in 2017. The state has now approved long-awaited plans to keep Sonoma County and Napa Valley's underground aquifers full far into the future. Petaluma Valley GSP Cover photo credit: Petaluma Valley GSA The groundwater sustainability plans were…
Noah Abrams
Feb 03, 2023

Commission advances county-wide ban on new gas stations

Fuel derived from fossils inched a bit closer to extinction Thursday, at least locally. Sonoma County officials are advancing a ban on new retail gasoline and diesel fueling stations in unincorporated areas. Several municipalities, including Petaluma, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, have already taken the step. But the…
Marc Albert
Feb 02, 2023

Rural areas could finally see fast internet service

People left in the slow lane of what was once billed as the information superhighway, may finally be able to dump the DSL and dial-up... and merge into graphics-heavy parts of the internet. On Tuesday, officials from the Golden State Connect Authority told Sonoma County officials that an ambitious program to extend…
Marc Albert
Feb 02, 2023

Strategic pruning, watering can buttress trees againt soupy soil, high winds

Late Sunday night, a towering tree gave way in a residential part of Santa Rosa, striking and severely damaging a home as it plummeted to earth, as reported in the Press Democrat. While unusual, Jamie Hodge of Santa Rosa's Atlas Tree Surgery, said recent weather likely played a role. "We had a bunch of rain, and then…
Marc Albert
Feb 02, 2023

County to ponder costs, details as further study of new county office complex approved

Another major public construction project will move forward, at least in concept, after county supervisors Tuesday unanimously agreed to further explore replacing the Sonoma County's mid-century office complex. The two proposed options, costing an estimated $721 and $682 million respectively, would cover only part of…
Marc Albert
Jan 30, 2023

Planned closure of Petaluma Birthing Center prompts unified pushback

Petaluma Valley Hospital's Family Birthing Center has received international recognition and has one of the highest in-hospital breastfeeding rates in the state. But Providence Healthcare, who owns Petaluma Valley Hospital through its secular subsidiary, NorCal Health Connect, has announced a plan to close the center…
Noah Abrams
Jan 30, 2023

City of Sonoma still has ground to make up in efforts to mitigate homelessness

Sonoma County’s 2023 point in time homeless count took place Friday, January 27th. In advance of the survey, the Sonoma City Council received an update on where the city’s efforts to mitigate homelessness stand. Hoping to get a clear picture on the state of homelessness in the Sonoma Valley, the City of Sonoma brought…
Noah Abrams
Jan 30, 2023

Legal battle brewing over Sonoma Developmental Center re-use plans

Two local environmental groups are awaiting a case number and initial hearing date, after filing a lawsuit against the county over re-use plans for the sprawling, Sonoma Developmental Center. The twelve page petition accuses the county of failing to adequately study the impacts of turning the abandoned 945-acre campus…
If braced against failure in a major earthquake, SDC's Sonoma House might become a boutique hotel
Jan 29, 2023

State approves sustainability plans for major North Bay groundwater basins

Plans for ensuring the long-term viability of four major groundwater basins in the North Bay were approved Thursday by state water regulators. The State Department of Water Resources announced that it gave the okay to plans developed for the Napa Valley Subbasin in Napa County and the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin, the…
Kiley Russell/Bay City News Foundation
Jan 27, 2023

Legal decision frees up funding for SMART rail extension to Windsor and Healdsburg

According to Santa Rosa's mayor, SMART rail should reach Windsor by 2025 and Healdsburg by 2026. Friday morning, Mayor Chris Rogers said in a Twitter thread that a ruling this week by California's supreme court means $40 million dollars in funding specifically for the extension of the SMART train will soon be…
Marc Albert and Greta Mart
Jan 27, 2023

New research finds prescribed burns may emit more carbon as trees die faster in CA forests

More trees are dying and drying out in California's forests due to a hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts, which is causing more severe wildfires and a mass altercation in how forests store carbon. That's according to Cal Fire-backed researcher Marissa Goodwin at a research webinar Wednesday. Goodwin, a graduate…
Olivia Wynkoop/Bay City News
Jan 25, 2023

County workers rally ahead of bargaining session

More than three hundred county workers briefly picketed and rallied in front of Sonoma County's administration building this morning, as contract talks continue. The rally occurred as county supervisors met inside, and a day ahead of the next bargaining session. Amos Eaton, a county employee who provides help to the…
Marc Albert
Jan 24, 2023

Vineyard community makes case for new water district

Facing an uncertain and highly variable water future, a group of landowners in Alexander Valley are talking about forming a new water district. That's according to wine industry figure and former Santa Rosa mayor, Mike Martini, who addressed the Healdsburg City Council about the proposal at recent meeting. "The…
Noah Abrams
Jan 24, 2023

Local public library governing board raises policy questions over displays and signage

For some, public libraries are meant to be neutral ground when it comes to civic disputes over culture, values, and identity in America. That's not always the case, including in Sonoma County. Walk into any one of the 14 different public libraries around Sonoma County and you’ll likely see Pride and Black Lives Matter…
Noah Abrams
Jan 24, 2023

Community, recovery, future, all on the mind at Healdsburg's Raven Theater

How are local performing arts venues faring after the dark days of the pandemic? In Healdsburg, the return of live performances have breathed new life into the Raven Theater. Their latest production: Cesar Died Today from playwright Gabriel Fraire. "As a writer, people always come up to you and say, I got this great…
Noah Abrams
Jan 24, 2023

When disaster strikes, locals often first to help

While state and federal disaster recovery groups like the Red Cross and FEMA are still mobilizing, the nonprofit Russian River Alliance is already handing out aid. Through fire, flood, personal setbacks and tragedy, gift cards handed out from a minivan is often the first bit of help offered. "Larger organizations will…
Marc Albert
Jan 20, 2023

Many still in need as storm relief funds run out

Special county relief funding had already run out Wednesday as a few people were still turning up at Guerneville's community health center, hoping to get help. Waitress Anna Haynes was among them. She said riding out the storm itself had her on edge. "The trees falling all around us. That was scary, hearing the trees…
Marc Albert
Jan 18, 2023

Train crushes pickup left on tracks, authorities searching for owner

Napa police are trying to find whoever owned a pick up truck that was destroyed Saturday night when the Napa Valley Wine train slammed into it. No one was injured either in the pick-up or aboard the train, according to Lieutenant Chris Pacheco of the Napa Police Department. Pacheco said the train was rounding a slight…
Marc Albert
Jan 17, 2023

Rain and research opportunities abound with parade of atmospheric rivers

The series of atmospheric rivers hitting the west coast have caused serious damage to infrastructure. The storms are also being studied extensively, including by Ryan Torn. "My work relates to understanding what is the predictability of landfall atmospheric rivers on the west coast of the United States," Torn said.…
Noah Abrams
Jan 13, 2023

Woman lost in flood leaves huge void, authorities ID two who perished in Sea Ranch

Authorities have identified the woman killed when her vehicle was apparently swept off of Trenton-Healdsburg Road Tuesday as 43-year-old Daphne Fontino of Ukiah. Fontino's body was found Wednesday morning in her vehicle under eight to ten feet of water in a vineyard, about 100 yards off the road, according to the…
Marc Albert
Jan 11, 2023

Woman found dead in flooded vehicle near Forestville

A Ukiah woman was found dead on Wednesday after her vehicle apparently became submerged in flood water in Forestville, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's dispatch received a call at about 10 a.m. Tuesday from the California Highway Patrol reporting that a car was stuck in flood waters in the…
Bay City News
Jan 11, 2023

Remote failure risks lurk as Lake Hennessey fills to capacity

There's something of a rare sight to see right now in the hills north of Napa. Thanks to a string of atmospheric river storms, Lake Hennessey has risen high enough to reach the dam's spillway, something celebrated by more than a few locals. Joy Eldredge is deputy utilities director for the City of Napa, which owns the…
Marc Albert
Jan 10, 2023

Help on standby as deluge pounds region

If you're feeling a little weather whiplash, you're not hallucinating. The switch from a desiccated landscape to an inundated one has been swift. Officials with the state department of water resources say more storms are on the way. That's after five have slammed into California since late December. "California is…
Marc Albert
Jan 09, 2023

Break in the clouds offers respite before next round of rain and flood projections

The muddy water keeps flowing and county work trucks keep moving along River Road, but earlier flood predictions failed to materialize on a sunny Monday afternoon in Guerneville. Pre-staged service trucks remain in place though, while cars and RV’s have been moved to higher ground in spots along River Road. Sandbags…
Noah Abrams
Jan 06, 2023

County infrastructure team regroups as more storms approach

This week’s powerful storms battered the landscape and wreaked havoc on power and communications infrastructure. While this storm wasn’t unprecedented, its impact on trees across Sonoma County was, Johannes Hoevertsz, Sonoma County's Director of Public Infrastructure said. "Yeah, it was an unprecedented number of…
Noah Abrams
Jan 06, 2023

Winds might back off but trees can still come down in coming storm

Sonoma County experienced a tragedy this week when a 2-year-old boy died during Wednesday's storm after a tree toppled and crashed down on his family's home in Occidental. While fierce storms aren't new to the North Bay, the number of downed trees so far is unusual. One local arborist has insight. "Advice is your best…
Noah Abrams
Jan 05, 2023

Concerned about a potential tree fall? Local arborist has advice

With so many trees coming down from high winds and rain, many people in Sonoma County might be thinking twice about that birch, oak, or redwood in the yard. Fred Frey is a licensed, certified arborist and owner of Vintage Tree Care in Santa Rosa. He said even in the midst of stormy weather, it’s not too late to take…
Noah Abrams
Jan 05, 2023

Storm coverage from Monte Rio

All photos by Lauren Spates Guerneville resident Tommy and his dog, Waylon, enjoy the Russian River during a break in the rain. The iconic Highland Dell hotel sits high and dry over the Russian River in Monte Rio. Under new management since 2022, The Monte Rio Theater and Extravaganza staff prepared sandbags to…
Lauren Spates
Jan 05, 2023

Heavy storm fells trees, powerlines, and claims a life in West Sonoma County

A night of serious rain and wind felled trees and power lines across the North Bay - fatally so in west county. The current atmospheric river lashed Sonoma County with serious force last night - claiming the life of a two year old in Occidental, according to Sonoma County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Juan Valencia.…
Noah Abrams
Jan 04, 2023

Early estimates projected a dry winter - one expert explains the wet conditions

Wet weather continues and the forecast calls for serious rain tonight - KRCB News spoke with Rick Canepa, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office in Monterey about it. Canepa said a storm of this strength is not unheard of. "I mean, we quickly reference a benchmark storm back in December,…
Noah Abrams
Jan 04, 2023

Officials closely monitoring mudslide risk where Glass Fire burned

orm One of the areas of highest concern during the current storm system is the roughly 70,000-acre footprint of the 2020 Glass Fire primed for mudslides. Officials are monitoring the area closely. Paul Lowenthal is a division chief and fire Marshal with Santa Rosa Fire. "It is susceptible to slippage and that could…
Marc Albert
Jan 03, 2023

Heavy rain and winds on the way - Here's what you need to know

Johannes Hoevertsz is director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure - formerly Transportation and Public Works. He told KRCB News people should prepare now for Wednesday’s deluge. "So if you need sandbags, I would recommend that you go get them now you're probably a little behind, but I think there's still time,"…
Noah Abrams
Jan 03, 2023

'Bomb cyclone' on the way; dire storm forecast for the Bay Area

The entire Bay Area will be under a flood watch beginning Wednesday due to a heavy storm system expected to be as bad or worse than Saturday's deluge and which will likely result in the loss of human life, according to a dire forecast update from the National Weather Service. The update issued Monday afternoon…
Bay City News
Dec 30, 2022

Celebrations continue at Sonoma County's third annual Kwanzaa event

Christmas is over, Hanukkah is passed, but the candles of Kwanzaa still burn. Derived from the Swahili word for “first” - Kwanzaa is celebrated widely, from Canada to the Caribbean. A decade ago polling showed that 4% of Americans planned to celebrate the week-long holiday - while 3% planned for Hanukkah. N’gamè Gray…
Noah Abrams
Dec 30, 2022

West County Health Centers grapple with creative care models and industry pressures

As with so many overlooked aspects of daily life, Covid-19 brought into focus the importance of robust and accessible healthcare. Dr. Jason Cunningham, CEO of West County Health Centers, said providing that care poses a worthy challenge. "Healthcare, it should be different," Cunningham said. "So we're not just…
Noah Abrams
Dec 28, 2022

A victory for salmon as superfluous dam comes down

From the Elwha River in Washington to the Klamath in California dams are coming down and fish are moving back up the freed waterways. Not all dam removals are large scale though. Just south of the little hamlet of Leggett where Highway’s 1 and 101 meet in Mendocino County sits Cedar Creek. A tributary of the South…
Noah Abrams
Dec 23, 2022

Petaluma adopts increased gun safety laws

Having a handgun inside your home puts occupants at increased risk - more than double - for a deadly homicide than those without handguns in the home. Hoping to mitigate the risk for those who do own firearms, Petaluma recently introduced new gun rules. Petaluma Deputy Police Chief Brian Miller explained them. "What…
Noah Abrams
Dec 20, 2022

Floating solar panel array latest project in Petaluma's green transition

Petaluma continues to move its infrastructure away from fossil fuels. Like Healdsburg, Petaluma is putting a floating solar array at the city’s water treatment plant - called the Ellis Creek Water Recycling facility. The solar array will be operated by the same company behind Healdsburg’s - White Pine Renewables. At…
Noah Abrams
Dec 19, 2022

Two die in hunting club accident

UPDATE 12/20/22 1 PM Here's the latest update from the Santa Rosa CHP office: Last night at approximately 5:42pm, Santa Rosa CHP and Monte Rio Fire personnel responded to a crash on private property at the Happy Hills Hunting Club. Response and rescue efforts by emergency personnel were hampered by difficult access…
Greta Mart
Dec 19, 2022

Supervisors approve SDC plan with 620 homes, real number could be much higher

The future of the shuttered Sonoma Developmental Center has been decided, at least in concept. But the most contentious aspect---the eventual number of homes on the site---remains something of a mystery. Slightly scaled back, but still ambitious redevelopment plans for nearly 1,000-acres of Sonoma Valley were approved…
Marc Albert
Dec 16, 2022

Finding funding for carbon neutrality work the next challenge for RCPA

Sonoma County has ambitious goals to reach carbon neutrality even sooner than the state. Right now the process is focused on raising funding and public awareness - so said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. "We are actually serious about securing funding for what is really, truly the greatest crisis of our…
Noah Abrams
Dec 15, 2022

Signs of movement, but no solutions yet for struggling organic dairies

Organic dairies, souring under a crippling jump in feed prices that's threatening businesses in Sonoma County and throughout western states, aren't suffering in silence. Local, state and federal officials have a growing awareness of the problems plaguing diaries, and are discussing solutions. Navdeep Dhillon is farm…
Marc Albert
Dec 14, 2022

Advocates ratchet up efforts to boot cattle from Point Reyes

Environmental and animal rights group, In Defense of Animals, has enlisted actor and narrator Peter Coyote in a campaign opposing cattle ranching at Point Reyes National Seashore. The on-going struggle pits the natural local fauna---free running Tule Elk, against longstanding ranching operations. "Hundreds of these…
Marc Albert
Dec 13, 2022

Clarification offered over concerns about coastal agriculture

An updated version of Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan is on the horizon. Some in the farming community concerned over what it might mean for agriculture along the Sonoma Coast. One major priority of the California Coastal Act is the protection of productive agricultural lands within the “coastal zone”. Wendy…
Noah Abrams
Dec 13, 2022

Substance abuse rehab center met with opposition at Planning Commission

A proposed substance rehab center in Santa Rosa drew a large virtual crowd to a recent Santa Rosa Planning Commission meeting with many concerns. Tensions have been growing in the Skyhawk neighborhood in Northwest Santa Rosa over a proposed private residential treatment facility just off Highway 12. City planner…
Noah Abrams
Dec 13, 2022

Feds appropriate funds to upgrade outmoded Lake Hennessey spillway

Considered a looming threat for decades, Congress has approved millions to address hazards at the seventy-six-year-old dam holding back the North Bay’s Lake Hennessey. Money to greatly improve the earthen dam's antiquated spillway and funding to study dredging the Napa River was added to the recent, must-pass National…
Marc Albert
Dec 13, 2022

Operators, opponents seeking revisions to Santa Rosa vacation rental rules

Santa Rosa officials heard hours of public input Monday evening on the thorny issue of short term rentals, as the city looks toward revising its recently enacted rules this spring. Barely more than a year old, in general, officials believe the regulations are working. Monday's meeting was an opportunity for the public…
Marc Albert
Dec 12, 2022

Water main break in Santa Rosa causes minor flooding, repairs under way

A major water main broke this morning in Santa Rosa causing road closures and lack of water for some area residents, according to a statement from the Santa Rosa Police Department. The break occurred on Carissa Avenue near Summerfield Road just before 4 a.m. and caused minor flooding of the roadway. Carissa Avenue was…
Mark Prell
Dec 08, 2022

Secret Santa program carries on in third decade running

The holidays are just around the corner and gifts are beginning to gather, including for a good cause. You might’ve seen paper hearts placed around businesses, banks, or buildings in Sonoma County recently and wondered what exactly they are. "It started with people needing help at Christmas and the Volunteer Center…
Noah Abrams
Dec 08, 2022

Newly unveiled mural transforms school walls and students in the process

Art transforms the world around us - just as it does the artist in action. One mural has helped the transformation of people and place in Santa Rosa. Amarosa Academy is hidden in plain sight among industrial spaces in Southwest Santa Rosa. Georgia Ioakimedes is the school’s administrator. "So our program exists…
Noah Abrams
Dec 08, 2022

Afghan refugee recounts travails on long journey to Petaluma

When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan last year, the world witnessed the plight of fleeing Afghans on their small screens. The cameras have gone and those who left their homes have begun to rebuild their lives, many in the US, some right here in Sonoma County. At recent meet and greet for the Afghan…
Noah Abrams
Dec 08, 2022

Doors open on renovated Sonoma State lecture hall

Recently Sonoma State University officials cut the ribbon on a remodel of one of the campus’ major lecture halls. Gone are the multi-million dollar lawsuit alleging asbestos-lined walls and dingy corridors of Stevenson Hall. Excitement for the renovated three story building is palpable; so said the dean of the School…
Noah Abrams
Dec 08, 2022

Restoration and conservation efforts help Marin's salmon overcome sizable hurdles

With the recent rains, KRCB’s checked in with local fisheries experts Eric Ettlinger and Josh Fuller. Here’s more from the conversation with Ettlinger, Marin Water’s Aquatic Ecologist. Last winter residents around the North Bay were wowed by video of salmon swimming through neighborhood creeks and small tributaries in…
Noah Abrams
Dec 07, 2022

First-ever California offshore wind auction nets more than $400 million so far

The first auction for leases to build massive wind farms off California's coast netted bids reaching $402.1 million Tuesday, signaling the beginning of a competitive market for a new industry producing carbon-free electricity. The auction -- the first on the West Coast -- includes five sites about 20 miles off Morro…
Nadia Lopez/CalMatters
Dec 05, 2022

Diversion of millions won't delay bike/ped bridge, officials say

Though millions set aside for it will now be spent elsewhere, Santa Rosa officials finalizing designs for a bike and pedestrian bridge over 101 say it will still open in 2026. The meeting Thursday mainly focused on accoutrements---lighting, fencing, paint colors and artwork rather than the core design, which has…
Marc Albert
Dec 02, 2022

Santa Rosa reduces rent Jan. rent hikes at most mobile home parks

Residents of most mobile home parks in Santa Rosa will likely see smaller rent increases than expected after the city council opted to forestall a pending inflation-linked jump set for January. Set to rise nearly 6 percent, the rent increase at regulated mobile home parks was trimmed to 4 percent. At the suggestion of…
Marc Albert
Dec 01, 2022

Rain heralds return of salmon to North Bay waterways

Winter rains signal salmon runs. We may not have gotten a lot of it so far, but fisheries experts weighed in about what the rain does mean for local salmon populations. Including Eric Ettlinger. "We've been anxiously awaiting this rain because it's been a pretty dry November and we've seen very few Coho salmon so…
Noah Abrams
Nov 30, 2022

Top ADA plaintiff pleads guilty to evading taxes on monies collected from settlements

A 60-year-old California man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Sacramento to filing a false tax return and admitted that he failed to report more than a million dollars he received from settling litigation he initiated under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Scott Norris Johnson, a quadriplegic who uses a…
Joe Dworetzky/Bay City News Foundation
Nov 30, 2022

PG&E mobilizing ahead of storm, says crews will race to repair outages

Clouds are gathering and winds picking up as the first significant winter storm approaches. Megan McFarland, a spokesperson for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., said utility teams are getting ready. "Our meteorologists see this storm coming in, hitting our service area late tonight and really all day Thursday and we're…
Marc Albert
Nov 30, 2022

Senior dining about more than just the early bird special

The thought of dinner at the local senior center isn't likely to inspire most people - but most people aren’t Anna Grant. "We call it the Bistro on Matheson," Grant said. "I am biased, but hey, it's the best meal in town." Grant is Healdsburg’s senior services director. What began as a simple inquiry into why the city…
Noah Abrams
Nov 29, 2022

Reinventing the wheel or creating community? A look at house-sharing in Sonoma County

Interviews and audio for this story comes courtesy of Nor Cal Public Media's Isabel Fischer as part of the series Bay Area Bountiful SHARE Sonoma County is an organization that matches someone seeking housing with someone who can provide housing – often a person with an empty bedroom that could be occupied by a tenant…
Noah Abrams
Nov 28, 2022

Paxlovid available to uninsured

Considered a life-saver for many COVID patients, the drug Paxlovid---administered after one has been infected---has been difficult to obtain without speedy attention and good medical insurance. That's changing in Sonoma County where a free clinic is connecting the uninsured with the new treatment. A dozen years after…
Marc Albert
Nov 27, 2022

Upcoming holiday celebrations around the North Bay

Though snow is never part of the equation, the Bay Area still loves to celebrate the holidays. Many cities and towns have free events for the whole family. Joyful and triumphant revelers can roam from county to county to take part in the season's fealty, buy one-of-a-kind Christmas crafts, enjoy the Hanukkah Festival…
Katy St. Clair/Bay City News
Nov 23, 2022

Petaluma rolls back development fees for affordable housing

In a push to encourage more affordable housing, Petaluma leaders have erased millions of dollars of impact fees it normally bills for new construction. The council unanimously approved the fee exemption for certain planned or under construction affordable housing projects. City Attorney Eric Danly said results won't…
Marc Albert
Nov 23, 2022

New moves from Cotati help to streamline multi-family housing permitting

More changes have been made in Cotati to help meet the city's housing construction goals. Convoluted and restrictive zoning laws have kept many cities in Sonoma County and across the state filled with low density, single family homes. New state laws have pushed cities to change their zoning rules - including Cotati.…
Noah Abrams
Nov 22, 2022

Gap in homeless services for North Sonoma County filled by new center in Healdsburg

Sonoma County’s most recent point in time homeless count showed an increase in the number of unhoused individuals in Healdsburg and North County. Healdsburg continues to make moves to address the issue. Healdsburg Housing Director Stephen Sotomayor said the city has completed a major objective towards trying to end…
Noah Abrams
Nov 21, 2022

Questions of belonging, inclusion, community on the table at Sebastopol town hall

Some in West Sonoma County have faced high profile scrutiny following a number of discriminatory interactions at Analy High School. Community members reflected on how to confront systemic issues and push for a more welcoming school culture following a recent town hall on inclusion and belonging held at the school.…
Noah Abrams
Nov 21, 2022

Petaluma considering dumping impact fees to speed affordable housing

Hoping to speed construction of more affordable housing, Petaluma officials this evening will consider waiving a host of development fees usually tacked on to new construction. The proposal would waive impact fees for traffic, open space and park acquisition, park development and city facilities development for…
Marc Albert
Nov 18, 2022

Local organic dairies withering under huge jumps in production costs

After decades of growing demand, drought and a far-away war are laying low local organic dairy farmers and processors. Without cash soon, it's feared several local dairy operators may soon close up shop. "We have a drought crisis that is extreme," said Albert Straus, founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery and…
Marc Albert
Nov 17, 2022

Respiratory illnesses at 'extraordinary' levels in Sonoma County, especially for children

Health experts in Sonoma County gave an update this week about the surge of respiratory illnesses plaguing the county and filling hospital beds. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are clogging hospitals across the state, especially children's hospitals, according to the California Department of…
Katy St. Clair/Bay City News
Nov 17, 2022

Santa Rosa commits to 'functionally ending' homelessness

Vowing to make homelessness rare, brief and non-reoccurring, Santa Rosa elected leaders this week unanimously approved a strategy to functionally end homelessness in the county seat by 2027. More a framework than a step-by-step roadmap, the 'strategic plan' commits the city and nonprofit agencies it contracts with to…
Marc Albert
Nov 16, 2022

Residents' appeal against Sebastopol RV village shot down

The fight over a sanctioned area for people living in RVs continues in Sebastopol. The city currently faces a challenge in federal court to its RV parking ban ordinance that applies to elsewhere besides the Horizon Shine RV Village. Planning Director Kari Svanstrom noted, the city does not exist in a vacuum. "There is…
Noah Abrams
Nov 16, 2022

Sonoma County celebrates newly-remodeled and expanded airport terminal

The long-awaited refurbished terminal at Sonoma County Charles M. Schulz Airport (STS) saw some fanfare Tuesday. Various county dignitaries and the public gathered to mark the completion of a big remodeling and expansion job and celebrate added capacity. Craig Schulz, one of the sons of the famed cartoonist, shared…
KRCB Newsroom
Nov 15, 2022

California commission overhauls rooftop solar proposal

The California Public Utilities Commission last week released a long-awaited overhaul of its proposal to regulate rooftop solar installations, removing an unpopular new fee but reducing how much utilities would pay homeowners for supplying power to the grid. The revised proposal comes after the CPUC earlier this year…
Julie Cart/CalMatters
Nov 14, 2022

Cotati gives the green light to urban agriculture

Residents say it’s been a long time coming, but Cotati’s rules for urban farming have come together. Open hours between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; parking access; two market days a week - those are just after some of the rules put in place after lots of back and forth. Now Cotati residents have the green light to open their…
Noah Abrams