Smoking ban proposal sparks backlash from business owners in coastal town
A Bay Area town has passed a comprehensive tobacco sales ban despite small business opposition, with new restrictions on nicotine products taking effect this December.
It takes a (small, paper) village
Sebastopol artist Anne Louvau makes small, meticulous, paper buildings that give off a soft, warm glow. You may have seen them on Etsy or Instagram. That’s where I first encountered and admired them, but I discovered only recently that she lives in Sebastopol.
Man’s Best Friend: How Dogs Have Helped Veterans With PTSD, Disabilities For 50 Years
As the old saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But as one organization has shown over the course of five decades, a dog can become a veteran’s new best friend. This past Fourth of July the national nonprofit Canine Companions celebrated 50 years of providing expertly trained service dogs to veterans,...
Sonoma County farmers confront new avian flu wave and debate over vaccine
The first tastes of wintry weather have brought an ominous feeling back to Sonoma County’s poultry producers. At least three farms have tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu, or HPAI, in the past three weeks — early echoes of the 2023-24 winter outbreak that devastated the local industry.
With some help from his friends, local teen creates ‘Sonoma County Honor Field’
The Honor Field will be on display through the weekend, with closing ceremonies taking place on Sunday, Nov. 16. from 11 to 2 pm. photo credit: Courtesy of Brody Hansel The Sonoma County Honor Field on Wing and Barrel Ranch land. Driving on Highway 37 near the Sonoma/Solano county line in the last week, you may have...
Sonoma Co.: Man Convicted Of Forcible Rape In 1996 Denied Parole
A man found guilty of rape in the '90s has been denied parole in Sonoma County, according to the District Attorney's Office. Felimon Torres, 61, was given a 25-years-to-life sentence in 1996 for a forcible rape he committed after breaking into a woman's home. Torres entered the woman's bedroom armed with a knife and...
Upcoming Nighttime Closures on State Route 29 Between Trancas/Redwood and First Street May Affect...
Caltrans will close sections of State Route 29 in Napa County for nighttime road work on Sunday, November 9, and Monday, November 10, 2025. The closure will be from the Trancas Street/Redwood Road overcrossing to First Street. Work will take place from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM to limit impact on daytime traffic.
Local animal rights activist speaks out following felony conspiracy conviction
An animal activist from San Luis Obispo is facing several felony and misdemeanor convictions after taking four chickens from a California poultry plant— an act that she claims was a necessary rescue.
Police Respond to Scene of Single-Vehicle Collision, Reportedly Arrest Juvenile for Alleged DUI
PETALUMA, CA — “On November 9, 2025, at approximately 12:01 a.m., Petaluma Police officers responded to a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Washington Street and Lakeville Street. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle that had collided with the railroad crossing arms. The driver and sole occupant, a...
‘Burden for families’: Doctors, parents speak out after North Bay hospital closes pediatric unit
"It's one of the most vulnerable times in a family's life, having their child need to be hospitalized." The move could leave many North Bay and North Coast families up to the Oregon border without a designated pediatric ward.
