Santa Rosa CA

Caltrans reduced the morning hours for a carpool lane on Highway 101 by two hours to enable more solo drivers to use the lane during peak commute times. | Sundry Photography / Shutterstock. Contributor's note: This is an update to the October 24, 2025, blog post, "When Carpool Lanes Cause...

Urine test kits issued by a state-run forensic lab in Santa Rosa were discovered to have been faulty, leading to potential false positives for alcohol intoxication in a small percentage of Sonoma County cases over nine years, and it’s unclear whether other counties were affected. As the Chronicle reports,...

Petaluma’s Salute to American Graffiti takes film lovers, classic-car fans, and travelers looking for a slice of small-town Americana to their happy place. Each spring, historic downtown Petaluma celebrates its starring role in George Lucas’ iconic film American Graffiti. Travelers from far and wide enjoy the sights,...

"When it opened in 2022, people in Sebastopol were really thrilled because it was like this kind of gorgeous, non-alcoholic elixir bar and event space." photo credit: Soft Medicine A screenshot of the business' interior, captured from the still-active Soft Medicine website on March 12, 2026. On the last day of...

North Bay Animal Services is seeking a foster home for Beezy, a dog scheduled for leg amputation surgery in the next few days. The shelter hopes to find a quiet home where she can rest and recover instead of staying at the shelter.

Erica Bergere is a farmer, albeit on a very small scale. In 2023, the Santa Rosa mom of two launched a microgreens farm in her garage and began selling them at the farmers market near her home. Her core six greens include arugula, broccoli, red cabbage — even cantaloupe.

The district finalized some tough cuts this month, closing six schools, laying off more than 100 staff members and slashing programs. Now, those cuts are being felt at schools and teachers and parents at Montgomery High are fighting back.

Firefighters from the Marin County Fire Department responded to a hiker rescue at the Muir Beach Overlook after the individual left the marked trail and became stuck in dense underbrush. There were no injuries, but crews used a chainsaw to clear a safe path to reach the hiker.

A state forensics laboratory in a Bay Area county alerted prosecutors that urine tests conducted between 2016 and 2025 may have resulted in inaccurate alcohol readings.

The room fills with the sound of glasses clinking and quiet conversation. A server sets down a plate, and the aroma of perfectly seared beef drifts across the table. That moment alone is enough to make people plan entire trips around dinner. Great steakhouses have a certain pull. People talk...