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Santa Rosa Man Convicted of Attempted Second Degree Murder Sentenced to Serve Nine Years in State Prison
Defendant Vincent Cervantes, 29-years-old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to serve nine years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in July of this year to charges of attempted second degree murder and assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Read full story
Board of Supervisors to review 2023 Sonoma County Housing Element update at Tuesday meeting
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider adopting the 2023 Sonoma County Housing Element update at its Aug. 22, meeting. The Housing Element update includes policies and programs to encourage an adequate supply of housing for residents of all income levels and to further fair housing. Read full story
North County Fire awarded $7.4 million grant for vegetation management
The Cloverdale and Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection Districts, operating under a joint power authority as “North County Fire,” are set to receive $7.4 million in grant funding from FEMA and CalOES for fire prevention and vegetation management work in the wider Cloverdale area. Read full story
Sonoma County launches new community health dashboard
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services today launched a new community health dashboard to increase public awareness of local health trends and improve the community’s ability to respond to changing health needs. Read full story
Former Social Advocates for Youth Employee Sentenced for Embezzlement
Defendant Lisa Fatu, a 42-year-old former employee of Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) in Santa Rosa, CA, was sentenced today by the Honorable Robert LaForge for stealing more than $50,000 of SAY funds to pay her personal bills. Ms. Fatu was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to serve four months in county jail. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the full amount of the loss and to make monthly payments. She made an initial payment at her hearing of $5,000. Ms. Fatu had been a long-term employee of SAY, which is a community organization that serves vulnerable youth and their families in Sonoma County. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves $1.4 million in loans to address homelessness and housing in Sonoma County
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted today to provide $1,415,130 in loans to expand the supply of affordable housing in the county by constructing 159 new housing units in Santa Rosa, Windsor and Guerneville. Read full story
Sonoma County leaders offer recovery support to Maui
County of Sonoma leaders are offering assistance and condolences to victims of the Maui wildfires as well as providing insights on wildfire recovery, given Sonoma County’s experiences in the aftermath of major wildfires in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Read full story
Man sentenced to maximum sentence of 24 years, 8 months in state prison for robbery, high speed pursuit causing serious injury, & driving under the influence of methamphetamine
Jose Angel Mendez Torres, 36 years old of Watsonville, was sentenced on Friday of last week by the Honorable Judge Mark Urioste to serve the maximum sentence allowed of 24 years, and 8 months in state prison after a jury returned guilty verdicts on June 9, 2023 for multiple charges, including robbery, commercial burglary, driving under the influence of a drug causing great bodily injury, fleeing a peace officer, and possession of tear gas by a convicted felon. Read full story
Extended nomination period opens for November 7, 2023 Election
Candidate nominations for select special district offices scheduled for election in November have been extended to Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 5 p.m. for any qualified person -- except the incumbent(s) -- because one or more of the incumbent(s) did not file. Read full story
Sonoma County Registrar of Voters seeking public feedback on second draft of Election Administration Plan
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office is seeking public input on its 2023 Election Administration Plan, which informs voters about all aspects of the California Voter’s Choice Act including Voting Center services, ballot drop box locations, and information specific to voters with disabilities and language minority voters. Read full story