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Santa Rosa man sentenced to prison for providing fentanyl to Petaluma woman causing her death
Defendant Chase Kirby, 28 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve the maximum term of four years in local prison. This sentence came after Mr. Kirby pled “no contest” earlier this month to a felony charge of committing involuntary manslaughter after providing fentanyl to a female acquaintance on September 6, 2021, resulting in her overdose and death. Read full story
Carjacker Sentenced to Maximum Term of Imprisonment for Random Attack on Elderly Victim
Defendant Rico Richard Leaton-Gomez, 28 years old of Windsor, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve 26 years in state prison after having been convicted by a Sonoma County jury in June of this year to charges of carjacking and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. In addition, the defendant was also found to have committed sentencing enhancements for personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim and for having a prior “strike” conviction. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office recommended the 26-year sentence which is the maximum allowed by law. Read full story
Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, Master Gardeners to present educational display at Sonoma County Fair
Visitors to the Sonoma County Fair this year will see a new, educational collaboration between the Sonoma County Master Gardeners and the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership. The two organizations are teaming up to create an educational demonstration garden in the patio outside the Hall of Flowers at the Sonoma County Fair. Read full story
Sonoma County approves Open Access Broadband Network to ensure accessibility, affordability for unserved residents
The Board of Supervisors today approved an agreement between the County of Sonoma and Golden State Connect Authority to move forward with broadband internet infrastructure expansion with an emphasis on providing service to unserved and underserved areas of unincorporated Sonoma County. Read full story
Sonoma County approves Open Access Broadband Network to ensure accessibility, affordability for unserved residents
The Board of Supervisors today approved an agreement between the County of Sonoma and Golden State Connect Authority to move forward with broadband internet infrastructure expansion with an emphasis on providing service to unserved and underserved areas of unincorporated Sonoma County. 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 named interim health officer by the director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. A physician specializing in infectious disease and public health with a master’s degree in public health, Dr. Smith has led health departments at the state and local level. Read full story
Sonoma County ranked fifth in national Digital Counties Survey
A county that is often celebrated for its coastline, redwoods and wines is now growing in recognition in another area - its digital landscape. Sonoma County was ranked among the best in the nation for its digital and online presence in a recent nationwide survey. Read full story
Sonoma County Human Services Department actively working to shorten wait times for people seeking aid
Officials for the Sonoma County Human Services Department are asking for the public’s patience when applying for CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits. Numerous challenges are causing delays in processing benefits, including increased staffing vacancies, the transition to a new state-mandated software system, and efforts to address a recent surge in electronic benefits theft. Read full story
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Awarded Grant to Investigate and Prosecute Workers’ Compensation Fraud
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office was recently awarded a grant from the California Department of Insurance to be used for the investigation and prosecution of Workers’ Compensation Insurance fraud. The grant is for $339,173.00 for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. Funding for the grant comes from California employers who are legally required to be insured or self-insured. Workers’ Compensation Fraud is investigated and prosecuted by the Environmental and Consumer Law Division of the District Attorney’s Office. Read full story
Sonoma County District Attorney Settles Civil Lawsuit Against Dietary Supplement Company Balance of Nature
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that her office as part of the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force settled a consumer protection action against Evig, LLC doing business as Balance of Nature. The case was filed in Napa Superior Court by the District Attorney’s offices of Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, and Solano Counties, which together comprise the task force. Read full story