Santa Rosa Council member Natalie Rogers drops out of state Senate race, leaving Assemblymember Damon Connolly, a San Rafael Democrat, with an unopposed path, for now, in the June primary. #capolitics #SonomaCounty #SantaRosa www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/12/s...

ICYMI: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed new commercial cannabis regulations yesterday, marking the most significant changes to local rules since 2018. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/09/s...

The board voted 4-1 to approve the changes, including a last minute tweak to setback requirements. Story on the way. #cannabis

This morning: The #SonomaCounty Board of Supervisors will vote on a set of revised commercial #cannabis regulations, marking the most significant changes to local cannabis regulation since 2018. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/09/s...

One year ago #SonomaCounty Park Ranger Kat Pringle was murdered in her beloved mountaintop home, leaving her loved ones - like many who lose someone to #domesticviolence - grappling with overwhelming grief and more questions than answers. Reported for @sonomamag.com www.sonomamag.com/sonoma-count...

California's campaign finance watchdog agency is investigating a conflict of interest complaint filed against Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, related to the county's recently abandoned bid to buy a luxury office building for $56.1 million. My latest. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/24/s...

‘People have had enough’: Santa Rosa lawyer mounts long-shot congressional bid. @austinmurphy3.bsky.social has the story on the latest candidate to enter the race for the redrawn 1st District #californiapolitics www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/14/p...

Breaking: state Sen. Mike McGuire announced this morning that he is running for #California’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. He spoke with @austinmurphy3.bsky.social and I yesterday about his plans in an exclusive interview. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/13/i...

After ‘blue wave’ election, here's what elected leaders had to say about how Prop. 50 reshapes the North Bay and California politics. My latest reported with @austinmurphy3.bsky.social for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/04/f...

Early returns show strong support for Prop. 50 among voters in Sonoma, Napa counties, fueling landslide win #California #ElectionDay www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/04/f...

Will Mike McGuire run for Congress if Pop. 50 passes? @austinmurphy3.bsky.social and I took a closer look for @pressdemo.bsky.social #california #election www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/01/m...

Sonoma County departments and local nonprofits are bracing for #federalcuts that will likely force county leaders to choose what programs to prioritize. My latest for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/10/16/s...

Sonoma County supervisors on Tuesday approved a language "clean up" of the county's lodging tax policy, but steered clear of addressing exactly how the funds are allocated — the subject of heated debate for years. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/16/s...

With federal funding discussions unfolding over the next months, #SonomaCounty health officials worry cuts to critical programs, like housing vouchers, could jeopardize any strides the county has made in reducing #homelessness. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/09/h...

#SonomaCounty supervisors will vote tomorrow on a 2.4% ambulance rate increase, but the county's contracted ambulance provider says it's still planning to request a second rate hike. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/08/s...

The race for #SonomaCounty's 4th District is becoming competitive: Former Santa Rosa mayor and police chief, Tom Schwedhelm, has confirmed his plans to run for the seat. #localelections www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Just in: Santa Rosa is expected to be a ‘key’ piece of Gov. Newsom’s plan to redraw California's Congressional maps www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

The Board of Supervisors swiftly approved a $2.8 billion budget yesterday. Likely state and federal cuts, plus stagnant property tax revenue from property taxes - the main source of county discretionary dollars - left supervisors with little to debate. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

I'll be covering the hearings for @pressdemo.bsky.social until the Board of Supervisors approve a final budget. Key factors include: the likelihood of federal funding cuts under the Trump administration, spending reductions driven by the state’s $12 billion deficit and stagnant property tax revenue.

Day 1 of #SonomaCounty's budget hearings kicks off this morning. Supervisors will be deliberating over the recommended which totals $2.7 billion and what to do with limited discretionary funding amid the fiscal uncertainty at the state and federal levels. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

A branch of the ACLU is suing #SonomaCounty over its use of drone surveillance for code enforcement www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

The Sonoma County Fire District has proposed a 24.25% ambulance rate hike just 18 months into its exclusive $30 million contract with #SonomaCounty www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

In Sonoma and Napa counties, more than 50 AmeriCorps members were affected when the federal government terminated millions in AmeriCorps grants — their work suspended, their living stipends gone and the community programs they supported left scrambling.

Give this a read: Sonoma and Napa AmeriCorps programs gutted by federal cuts, forcing urgent local response. Reporting by Tarini Mehta and Adriana Gutierrez for @pressdemo.bsky.social #budgetcuts www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

The Board of Supervisors majority approved a building purchase agreement Tuesday. The deal is one piece of a contentious plan proposed by county officials to update and modernize aging and inadequate facilities. #SonomaCounty www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Really excited to share that @pressreno.bsky.social and I won a second place #NationalHeadlinerAward for "Trouble on the Tarmac," our coverage of safety problems at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport #localjournalism www.headlinerawards.org/2025-print-p...

This story by Amie Windsor got a shout out during budget workshops today. Sonoma Water is another county agency directly impacted by federal grant/policy decisions. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

State funding makes up about 24% of the county’s preliminary budget revenues, while federal funding amounts to 14%. Changing information at the state and federal levels means some hard decisions may be pushed out as far as October, Rivera said.

Day 1 of #SonomaCounty's budget workshops: The preliminary 2025-26 budget totals $2.6 billion, but uncertainty at the federal and state level means county staff have built the budget with “very little information.” #economy www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

A Sonoma County man’s Guatemalan relative was subjected to a 13-hour interrogation at LAX before being sent home. Important story by @skinnypost.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

It’s been a heavy week here at The Press Democrat.

Sonoma County officials, yesterday, slammed Avelo Airlines' decision to close its base at the county's regional airport and move resources Arizona where the company will provide deportation flights under a federal contract. #sonomacounty #immigration www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Assemblymember Damon Connolly joins race for Mike McGuire’s North Coast Senate seat. Story by Austin Murphy for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Sonoma County will appeal a court ruling that found the county’s well ordinance violated environmental law. It's the latest development in a years-long legal battle. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Sonoma County is locked in a contract dispute with its exclusive ambulance services provider - Sonoma County Fire District - that has caused nearly a year-long delay in the release of key performance data. Reported with @pressreno.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

“This is a generational investment by our board, probably the biggest investment that we will make in my … 10 years-plus, on this board,” said Supervisor James Gore. #sonomacounty www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

This afternoon a majority on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted to advance the proposed $32 million purchase of two office buildings near the regional airport. The vote didn't finalize the purchase but moves it along in the process. Story on the way.

Supervisor David Rabbitt announced he will recuse himself from the discussion this afternoon "out of an abundance of caution." The county is waiting to hear from the Fair Political Practices Commission about a related conflict-of-interest complaint.

Tomorrow, the #SonomaCounty Board of Supervisors will discuss one piece of a proposed real estate deal recently mired in campaign finance controversy. My latest for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

IMPORTANT: We are being sold! Your local journalists at Sonoma Media Investments are calling on owner Darius Anderson/SMI to guarantee that Hearst will honor our current contract & recognize our union. Read more here: mediaworkers.org/press-democr... #PressDemocratGuild #WorkersRights

What's the latest with #SonomaCounty's proposed $114 million real estate deal? SEIU 1021 has filed a #campaignfinance complaint with California's ethics agency, but county officials say the issues are "cured." The board is due to review the deal in March. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

My little desk collection came together randomly but it’s seeming more and more on point these days 🤔

Santa Rosa City Council member Natalie Rogers has officially entered the North Coast Senate race. Paulina Pineda has the story for @pressdemo.bsky.social #Caleg www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

New: the AP says it was blocked from an Oval Office event after being informed that it would be barred if it didn’t follow President Trump’s guidance on renaming the Gulf of Mexico

Catch @pressdemo.bsky.social's Marisa Endicott on @kqedforum.bsky.social this morning talking about the deep cuts to faculty, departments and intercollegiate athletics at #SSU. She's been covering this closely since the university leaders announced the cuts last month.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors objects to #Sonoma State University proposed budget cuts in letter. My latest for the @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

In a two-hour interview yesterday, #SonomaCounty Supervisor David Rabbitt addressed the investigation into his campaign finance reporting. He said the issues have been resolved, called them "minor in nature" and took “full responsibility” for a missed deadline. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

#SonomaCounty Supervisor David Rabbitt is being investigated by the state ethics agency for a campaign reporting violation. This is separate from the "pay-to-play" allegations raised earlier this week connected to a pending $114 million county real estate deal. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

It was a big day at the county yesterday. The board's plans to discuss a $114 million real estate were shaken by a ‘Pay-to-play’ claim. My latest for @pressdemo.bsky.social #campaignfinance #sonomacounty www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...