View All County Press Releases
Sonoma County COVID response transitions to new phase
With federal relief funding set to expire at the end of the month, Sonoma County is completing preparations for transitioning its COVID-19 response to a new phase, one focused on providing critical resources for vulnerable communities. Read full story
Kindergarten readiness continues to decline in Sonoma County, opportunity gap persists
Fewer than one in three Sonoma County children were ready for kindergarten when they entered school last fall, according to a new report released by the county Department of Human Services that found persistent and troubling disparities along ethnic, racial and economic lines. Read full story
Job Market Tracker Report 2022 Quarter 1
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board released the 2022 First Quarter Sonoma County Job Market Tracker report. The report captures data on current job opportunities and desired skills from job postings in Sonoma County. The report also breaks down most in demand jobs and median salaries of job postings. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces housing plan Environmental Report Scoping Workshop
Permit Sonoma will host a virtual Housing Element Environmental Scoping Workshop on June 28 to solicit feedback on the scope of the proposed environmental review for the County of Sonoma’s new housing plan. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces fee increases for building and other permits
Permit Sonoma announced today it will be raising permit and other service fees by approximately 9 percent starting July 1, 2022. Permit Sonoma has not raised fees since 2019, and the new fees were determined by an outside consultant. Fees are Permit Sonoma’s primary source of revenue. All complete applications received before July 1 will still be considered under the current fee structure. Read full story
County of Sonoma, labor groups reach agreement on law enforcement oversight measures
The County of Sonoma and two labor groups representing county law enforcement employees, the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (DSA) and Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA), announced the finalization of an agreement Thursday to strengthen law enforcement oversight in the county. Read full story
Bay Area health officials urge awareness about monkeypox as summer travel and gatherings begin
As the summer season begins with increased travel and major events and gatherings, Bay Area health officials urge people to protect themselves against the monkeypox virus, which spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and bodily fluids, such as through crowded settings or sexual contact. Read full story
Former Santa Rosa Chiropractor Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Batteries on Patients
Defendant Darius Bunyad, 41 years old of Petaluma, was sentenced Monday, June 21 by the Honorable Dana Simonds to serve ten years in state prison (the maximum eligible sentence under the law) after being found guilty by a jury in 2017 of committing six counts of felony sexual battery by fraud, and multiple additional misdemeanor offenses. Read full story
County of Sonoma Health officials issue heat alert
The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services has issued a Heat Alert in response to the National Weather Service’s Heat Advisory for parts of the county from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. The heat alert applies to inland areas of Sonoma County, where high temperatures are forecast in the high 90s and low 100s. Santa Rosa is forecast to reach 103 degrees. Read full story
Registrar of Voters announces Wednesday deadline to “cure” ballot signature issues from June primary
Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Deva Marie Proto is alerting Sonoma County voters who have been notified that their ballots in the June Primary Election were challenged due to missing or mismatched signatures that must complete and submit the appropriate signature “cure” forms to the Registrar of Voters Office by 5 p.m. on June 22. Read full story