PG&E Watch And Warnings

Posted yesterday at 9:24am

With high fire danger in fhe forecast this weekend, PG&E will be using a new tool to inform and warn of the potential for power shut offs. Watch and Warning alerts will be sent out in emails, texts, and phone messages, with information about upcoming shut offs, and then updates on restoring power at least once a day until power is back on. PG&E Customers are encouraged to update their contact information and indicate their preferred language for notifications by visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts. (photo courtesy Business Wire)

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Reopening Sonoma County

Posted yesterday at 9:22am

Sonoma County's Health Officer said the county could meet state benchmarks as soon as next week that would allow it to resume a wider range of public activities by mid October. If Sonoma County can show a slowing of the spread of the coronavirus for two weeks, then the state will allow Sonoma County to reduce to the red level, allowing more openings of businesses that are currently hindered. Sonoma and Contra Costa counties are the only two Bay Area counties left in the most restrictive level, coded purple. (photo courtesy Sonoma County Tourism)

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Smoke Taint Grapes

Posted yesterday at 9:19am

The president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers says the fires will be the single worst disaster the wine-grape growing community has ever faced. Smoke from the wildfires has tainted grapes, and the resulting ashy flavor could spell disaster for the 2020 vintage. Growers are trying to assess the extent of the smoke damage in California, Oregon and Washington. (photo courtesy WhisperKOOL)

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Police Workplace Fine

Posted Wednesday morning

Santa Rosa Police Department has been cited for failure to safeguard its employees from the coronavirus, which will cost SRPD $32,000. California's Workplace Safety Agency says the failure contributed to at least nine officers and employees becoming infected with COVID 19, and one death from the virus. SRPD Chief Ray Navarro said his agency's actions to protect employees aligned with citywide protocols and county health orders. (photo courtesy City of Santa Rosa)

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Vacation Rentals

Posted Wednesday morning

The number of vacation rentals in Sonoma County will remain capped through the rest of 2020. County Supervisors discussed the situation yesterday and are attempting to impose a longer lasting limit. The measure is intended to prevent transformation of a wider share of existing housing into short-term rentals, ensuring more homes remain for residents. (photo courtesy Short Term Rentals)

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Officer Of Equity

Posted Wednesday morning

Sonoma County has a new Officer of Equity. Yesterday, Supervisors selected Alegria De La Cruz for the permanent job, after working on an interim basis since mid July. De La Cruz will root out racist policies and managin efforts to address systemic inequility. De La Cruz had been with the Sonoma County Counsel’s Office, serving as Chief Deputy County Councel (photo courtesy La Prensa Sonoma)

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Wildfire Prevention Money

Posted Tuesday morning

PG&E has joined Fire Safe Councils to enhance the safety and preparedness of local communities in connection with the 2020 wildfire season. PG&E is providing $2.3 million to fund the organizations’ projects across 28 counties to reduce the threat of wildfires and help keep communities safe. This includes $79,000 to Fire Safe Sonoma and $52,000 to Bennett Ridge Fire Safety Organization, to clear hazardous trees and brush along roads and near powerlines. (photo courtesy Rivendell Tree Experts)

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COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Posted Tuesday morning

The number of coronavirus patients in Sonoma County who need to be hospitalized has dropped to levels unseen since the beginning of July. This is the same trend being seen across the State. More effort is still needed at senior living facilities and nursing homes where 80% of the 114 local deaths from COVID 19 have taken place. In the past 24 hours 52 more active cases have been added to the Sonoma County list. (photo courtesy Patch)

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Voter Registration Day

Posted Tuesday morning

Today is National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan effort by the Sonoma County Supervisors and Registrar of Voters office to highlight the importance of participating in democracy by encouraging all eligible Sonoma County residents to register to vote. You can apply by going to RegisterToVote.ca.gov. Voter guides are being mailed now, and ballots will go out October 5th. (photo courtesy Imgur)

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Homeless Project Gift

Posted Monday morning

A housing project for homeless in Sonoma County just got a big boost from Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. The $1 million gift will help Caritas Village in downtown Santa Rosa. It's a combination housing and homeless shelter project. Santa Rosa City Council approved the project earlier this year. (photo courtesy City of Santa Rosa)

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Schools To Remain Online

Posted Monday morning

Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Mase is urging all local schools to continue teaching online until they can prove safety to reopen. Sonoma County is still in the most restrictive stage of the state's new plan for reopening. Because of the school closures, Dr. Mase believes students have avoided virus outbreaks. Currently there are 62 new cases, however 405 have left the active list, and 467 people have recovered from the virus locally. (photo courtesy The Daily Californian)

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Unemployment Claims Stall

Posted Monday morning

California will not accept new unemployment claims for the next two weeks as the state works to prevent fraud and reduce a backlog as more than 2 million people are out of work statewide during the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 600,000 Californians are part of a backlog where their unemployment claims have not been processed by the state's Employment Development Department for more than 21 days. (photo courtesy the social media monthly)

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SPORTS

Posted Monday morning

The Giants beat the A's yesterday 14-2, but the A's won the 3 game series, winning Friday and Saturday. Tonight the Giants play the Rockies, and the A's play the Dodgers tomorrow. The 49ers got a 31-13 win over the Jets, but with several injuries of key players. The team will evaluate players' health this week. At theTour De France, Ireland's Sam Bennet won the last stage yesterday, but it was Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia who ended as the overall winner of the 21 stage event. (photo courtesy logos)

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