News Index
News from the Fifth District
Supervisor Lynda Hopkins provides a year-end update, reflecting on the state of the world, the country and the County. Read full story
Weekly Roundup for December 15, 2023
Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following: 1) Winter Celebration December 16 at Andy’s Unity Park; 2) How to know when and where warming centers will open; 3) Give the gift of emergency preparedness this year; and 4) Other Sonoma County news of note Read full story
Russian River Inflatable Dam lowered in advance of forecasted storm
In anticipation of a series of storms arriving in the next week and elevated river flows, the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will begin the process of deflating its rubber dam located in the Russian River near Forestville on Monday, December 18. Sonoma Water routinely deflates the rubber dam when Russian River flow forecasts show the river exceeding 1,600 cubic feet per second in order to prevent damage to the rubber dam from high flows. Read full story
Memorial to honor lives lost in Sonoma County’s unhoused community
On December 21, National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, HomeFirst and the Sonoma County Department of Health Services will host a memorial to honor individuals who lost their lives over the last year while living without housing in Sonoma County. The event will take place at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Read full story
Sonoma County’s Living Wage increases to $18.10 an hour
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday boosted the county’s Living Wage to $18.10 an hour, up from $17.65 an hour, to prevent inflation from eroding the incomes of low-wage workers covered by the ordinance. Read full story
Sonoma County increases transit discount for low-income adults through Bay Area’s Clipper START program
The Board of Supervisors today approved a continuation of county participation in the Clipper START program, a regional means-based pilot program launched in 2020 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Since 2020, Sonoma County Transit has offered a 20 percent discount on single-ride transit fares for eligible adults earning under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, Sonoma County Transit will increase the discount to 50 percent for eligible adults. Read full story
Mobile Crisis Units to expand countywide by year’s end
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved plans to expand Mobile Crisis Units, teams of mental health professionals who respond to emergency calls that do not involve law enforcement, throughout the county by the end of the year. Read full story
Sonoma County Homeless Coalition FY 2024-2025 Local Homelessness Services Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) available!
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS), on behalf of the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition (previously known as the Sonoma County Continuum of Care), invites new and renewal proposals from eligible applicants for local homeless services projects in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), also known as the “Local Homelessness Services NOFA”. Read full story
Nomination period extended for select offices up for election in March 2024
Candidate nominations for the following federal, state, and county offices up for election in the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election, have been extended because an incumbent candidate who was eligible to be elected did not file: Read full story
Weekly Roundup for December 8, 2023
Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following: 1) Final reminder: Sonoma County property tax is due December 11; 2) Remember to add “SoCo Alert” to your phone contacts list; 3) Registrar of Voters notice regarding Presidential Primary Election; and 4) Other Sonoma County news of note Read full story