News Index
IOLERO Newsletter October 29, 2024
We're excited to announce that the Director of IOLERO, John Alden has been elected to the NACOLE Board of Directors! On October 16, 2024, the NACOLE membership chose John for a three-year term. He will work alongside a committed team to support not only NACOLE members but also the broader civilian oversight community. Read full story
Weekly roundup for October 25, 2024
Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following: 1) Boost wildfire safety with free risk assessment; 2) Early voting underway ahead of Nov. 5 General Election; 3) Black Cod Week supports local fishing industry through Oct. 27: 4) Sonoma County Regional Parks launches equity survey; 5) This week’s podcast: Managing water in a changing climate; and 6) Other Sonoma County news of note. Read full story
Early in-person voting begins this weekend for November 5 General Election
Early in-person voting for the November 5 General Election will begin this weekend in Sonoma County, Registrar of Voters Deva Marie Proto reminded voters today. Seven Vote Centers will be open for 11 consecutive days from Saturday, October 26 to Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. Hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Election Day itself when the hours will be extended from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Read full story
Sonoma County Homeless Coalition Board 2025 Elections
The Sonoma County Homeless Coalition Board is the decision-making body of the Sonoma County Continuum of Care. Read full story
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sonoma County law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at law enforcement agencies in the cities of Cotati, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Town of Windsor. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid and liquid forms of prescription drugs from Sonoma County residents. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices will also be collected only after the batteries are removed from the devices. Read full story
Sonoma County awarded $1.84 million for the Northside Russian River Shaded Fuel Break Project
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today authorized $1.8 million for three critical fuel breaks that will help protect residents in the Rio Nido, Guernewood and Hacienda areas from wildfires. Read full story
County of Sonoma’s unfunded pension liability down 37 percent since 2020, according to annual report on health of retirement system
The County of Sonoma has reduced its unfunded pension liability by 37 percent since 2020, the result of strong investment returns and decisions by the Board of Supervisors to pay down the County’s unfunded liability, according to the sixth annual State of the Retirement System report presented to supervisors today. Read full story
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is being observed throughout California during the week of October 20-26, 2024. Lead Week is a national annual campaign during the last full week of October to bring awareness to and prevent childhood lead exposure. Read full story
Sonoma County approves Microenterprise Home Kitchen program
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted to establish a local program to permit small-scale residential retail food facilities, known as Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, or MEHKOs, which are authorized by state law. Read full story
Former state public health director named Sonoma County interim health officer
Dr. Karen Smith, an experienced public health official who previously served four years as director of the California Department of Public Health and state health officer, has been appointed as Sonoma County’s interim health officer. Read full story