Governor Newsom today, instituted a statewide "stay at home" order, which includes a 3-week shut down for 5 regions, including the Bay Area. Newsom says it's being based on areas where capacity at intensive care units, falls below 15%. The Bay Area has a larger capacity than other parts of the state, so the new orders may not be implimented until a few days from now. This is what the order entails: the temporary closure of bars, wineries, hair and nail salons; Restaurants, can remain open for take out and delivery. It means retail, stores and malls, will remain at 20% capacity. The order does not impact schools that have received waivers to reopen. And, all non essential travel is not allowed. The link to the state's website to learn more about the orders is: www.http://covid19.ca.gov (photo courtesy The Straits Times)

With word of coronavirus vaccines being shipped out in the weeks ahead, the big quesiton is when will they be available here, and who will receive the vaccines first. Yesterday Sonoma County Health Officer Dr Sundari Mase said the guidelines will be coming from state health officials and the CDC. But, it expected that Healthcare workers and those in long term care facilities will be among the first to receive the precentive treatment when it becomes available. (photo courtesy SF Chronicle)

The State Transporation Commission approved $40 million for the Marin narrow project to help relieve traffic snarls through that area of commute. The decision marks the beginning of the end for the largest road project in the North Bay in a generation, with the addition of a third lane in each direction from Windsor to Sausalito, at an estimated cost of more than $1.2 billion. It is expected to finish in late 2023 or early 2024. (photo courtesy Marin Independent Journal)

Survivors of recent fires will be able to hear about the debris removal program following the Walbridge, Meyers, and Glass Fires this year, and officials will also discuss who is eligible for the state debris removal program by the California Office of Emergency Services. The virtual meeting begins at 5pm. (photo courtesy SF Chronicle) Here is the link and information for the Zoom meeting: https://sonoma.county.zoom.us To join the meeting by phone, call (669) 900-9128. Meeting ID: 935 9204 0951 Passcode: 001422

Huge numbers of new COVID 19 cases were posted on the socoemergency.org website last night. 343 new cases after more than 2400 tests, and 3 more deaths. Governor Newsom announced that around 327,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine could arrive in California as early as Mid December, with another round of supply three weeks later. The Pfizer vaccine has been shown to be more than 90% effective. In California, the first phase of its vaccine distribution program prioritizes health care workers at the highest risk of infection, working in both clinical and non-clinical settings. (photo courtesy PBS)

Sebastopol has a new city council member, and a new mayor. At last night's online meeting, new member Diana Rich was sworn in, along with councilwoman Neysa Hinton who won her second term. Una Glass was chosen to serve as Mayor for the coming year, and Glade Gurney as Vice Mayor. (photo courtesy The Press Democrat)

PG&E will be using their helicopter chainsaw to trim trees along power lines in Sonoma County over the next few weeks. The work will take place along 46 miles of powerline corridors and rights of way form Fort Ross north to Gualala, Elk and up to Fort Bragg. (photo courtesy New York Post)

Governor Newsom is considering Stay At Home orders for Californians. Hospitals are becoming impacted by the number of COVID 19 patients needing respiratory assistance along with serious conditions. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have increased nearly 90% and officials say they could triple by Christmas, overwhelming intensive care units. Along with the current nighttime curfew, the reinstituted daytime stay at home orders could come within the next few days. (photo courtesy The Straits Times)

Sonoma County is bracing for a surge in COVID 19 cases due to the Thanksgiving Weekend. Health officer Dr. Sudari Mase has announced a plan to double the daily testing capacity at the three public test locations. A third state sponsored site has been added in Petaluma, and a third drive through lane at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds location. People experiencing symptoms should be tested ASAP. Last night, another 121 were added to the case list locally. Today, pop up test sites will be at Coddingtown this morning, and Andy's Unity Park in Santa Rosa this afternoon. (photo courtesy Consumer Reports)

Today, debris removal begins for victims of the Glass Fire. The Household Hazardous Waste sweep will be conducted by the state at no cost to the home owners affected by the Glass Fire. The State Contractor will inspect properties, and remove anything that might be a threat to human health, to animals, or to the environment. (photo courtesy Petaluma Argus-Courier)

New research shows students have fallen behind in math since the pandemic disrupted school, while most are progressing at a normal pace in reading. The findings released this morning show that, compared to last year, students in grades 3-8 scored considerably lower on standardized math tests this fall. But the researchers caution they may be underestimating the pandemic's impact on minority and economically disadvantaged students. (photo courtesy mathnasium)

Today is Giving Tuesday, the annual day to help nonprofits with financial donations. Many Sonoma County organizations are hoping for help, but with the pandemic and economic fallout for many Americans, the predictions are unclear. Donations are down 7% from last year. In the past weeks, non-profits have been contacting residents and businesses to prepare them for today, with pleas to consider giving. (photo courtesy Animoto)

Sonoma County COVID 19 cases have continued to parallel the state's rise in numbers. This morning there are 149 more cases in the county, bringing the number to 12,198. And, Sonoma County remains in the most restrictive level of the state's four tier reopening plan. There are several testing sites available at socoemergency.org, including the pop up sites today at Sonoma Park & Ride in Boyes Hot Springs this morning, and Burton Ave Recreation Center in Rohnert Park this afternoon. (Delta Optimist)

Today is Cyber Monday, with people turning to online shopping instead of heading to the stores. Adobe Analytics says consumers spent an estimated $9 billion on U.S. retail websites on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. That eclipses the previous record of $7.4 billion set last year _ and marks a 22% increase. And, today is expected to be even bigger. (photo courtesy CarbonTV)

Petaluma saw the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by tugboat on Saturday. The Petaluma Downtown Association leadership decided that Santa’s annual riverboat cruise could continue Saturday, with modifications to try to keep things pandemic-appropriate. (photo courtesy Sonoma Index-Tribune)

Healdsburg's Police Chief will be retiring in a few months. Chief Kevin Burke has been with the Healdsburg for 10 years, after serving as Chief in Lakeport, and before that a decade with the Los Angeles Police Department. Burke has been at the helm during the recent fires, and with this past summer's racial disparity protests. (photo courtesy newsbreak.com)