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Local Sonoma Valley News:

50-cent Toll Increase on Tap at Seven Bay Area Bridges

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has announced that with the new year just weeks away, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by 50 cents on Jan. 1, 2026. This will be the... Continue

Editorial: An Open Letter to the Sonoma Valley School Board 

Don't Blow It Again Dear Trustees, Sonoma Valley Unified School Board has an abysmal record in hiring superintendents. The last three served only two years each, and two of those three required heavy payouts, then you gifted a bonus to the most recent superintendent after... Continue

Larry Barnett: What’s to Become of Us?

The student of history quickly learns that new technologies do more than support the operation of culture, they transform and replace it. From the wheel to the plow, from the printing press to the iMac computer, society and everyday lives take on the characteristics of... Continue

E-scooter-Car collision Highlights Safety Issues

Helmet Law Ignored and Unenforced By David Bolling A Sonoma Valley juvenile, riding what police described as an electric “stand-on scooter,” sped through the intersection of Robinson Road and Fano Lane just after 12:30 p.m. on November 25, and collided with the left rear corner... Continue

Here’s Who’s Running for California Governor in 2026…So Far

The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of California. The nonpartisan top-two primary election will take place on June 2, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and ineligible for election to a third term. As of November 2025, over two dozen candidates have... Continue

Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Reports on Gaps in Evacuation Plans

Sonoma County's emergency evacuation plans face significant challenges, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure, communication, and compliance with state mandates. To read the entire report, CLICK HERE. Here is a summary of the conclusions of Sonoma County's Civil Grand Jury: Emergency Evacuation Challenges in Sonoma... Continue

Nominations Now Open for the 2026 City of Sonoma Honorary Alcalde

The City of Sonoma has announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Honorary Alcalde, a longstanding tradition recognizing a Sonoma Valley resident (or couple) whose commitment, service, and leadership have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the community. Since 1975, each... Continue

The SMART Tax Renewal Initiative Petition Has Been Submitted

Supporters of the SMART Train submitted 71,851 signatures for a petition to place a funding renewal measure on the June 2026 ballot, exceeding the required 48,809 signatures for success. This citizen-led initiative aims to allow the measure to pass with a simple majority vote, as... Continue