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County of Sonoma - News and Press Releases

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June 06, 2024 | Natural Resources

Russian River inflatable dam being inflated

Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will begin the multi-day process of inflating its rubber dam located in the Russian River near Forestville on June 10. The rubber dam is a critical component of the Russian River water supply system that provides naturally filtered drinking water to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Read full story


June 05, 2024 | Office of the District Attorney

Serial Rapist Sentenced to Life In State Prison

Defendant Ricky Marion Bostic, 55 years old of Sonoma County, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve 15 years to life in state prison after having previously plead “no contest” to charges of felony assault with intent to rape, and rape of an intoxicated person. Read full story


June 05, 2024 | Office of the District Attorney

Convicted Child Molester Denied Parole

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate Nathan Stephens, 65 years old of Santa Rosa, was given a five-year denial of parole by the State of California Board of Parole Hearings following a contested hearing held on June 4, 2024, at North Kern State Prison. Read full story


June 04, 2024 | County Administrator's Office

Interest rate increases for financing through Sonoma County Energy Independence Program

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, which helps property owners pay for improvements that utilize energy and water more efficiently and strengthen buildings against wildfires and earthquakes, announced today that interest rates on new financing have increased a half percent to 7.99 percent effective immediately. Read full story


June 04, 2024 | County Administrator's Office

Avian Flu emergency ends in Sonoma County; recovery underway for local poultry farmers

The Board of Supervisors today voted to terminate an emergency proclamation that has been in effect since Dec. 5, 2023, in response to the outbreak of avian flu in Sonoma County. The outbreak was first detected at two local commercial poultry farms in late November 2023 and resulted in the immediate euthanizing of 250,000 birds to protect other flocks in the region and elsewhere in California Read full story


June 04, 2024 | County Administrator's Office

Board of Supervisors amends Sonoma County’s Living Wage ordinance

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today completed an 18-month effort to update the County’s Living Wage ordinance, approving a series of amendments that will expand the number of employers required to meet or exceed County requirements for pay and benefits. Read full story


June 03, 2024 | Sonoma Public Infrastructure

Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport named among top five best small U.S. airports in Newsweek awards

The Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport was ranked fourth among the top 10 winners of the 2024 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards contest for best small airport in the United States. A total of 15 airports were nominated by a panel of travel experts and Newsweek contributors. The final list was determined by Newsweek editors and votes were cast over the past month by the magazine’s readers. Read full story


May 31, 2024 | Office of the District Attorney

Resentencing denied for Polly Klass Murderer

A petition for recall and resentencing has been denied for convicted murderer Richard Allen Davis. Judge Benjamin Williams of the Santa Clara Superior Court denied the petition after finding that it amounted to an unauthorized challenge to the death sentence, which can only be done through a writ of habeas corpus. Read full story


May 31, 2024 | Office of the District Attorney

Save Mart Supermarkets to pay $1.6 million dollars to resolve claims they sold expired over-the-counter medications, baby food, and infant formula beyond “use by” dates

Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today the entry of a Stipulated Judgment by the Yolo County Superior Court to resolve a law enforcement consumer protection action against Save Mart Supermarkets, LLC, a California limited liability company that owns and operates retail grocery stores in California doing business as Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, and Maxx Value Food. Read full story


May 31, 2024 | Office of the District Attorney

Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Participates in Unlicensed Contractor Compliance Checks

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), conducted an unlicensed contractor compliance check operation on May 29, 2024. The compliance checks targeted unlicensed contractors operating in Sonoma County. Read full story