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Arizona Man Sentenced to 50 Years to Life For Petaluma Murder
Defendant Paul Coilton, fifty-nine years old of Salome, Arizona, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve a term of 50 years-to-life in state prison after having pled guilty in February to a charge of first-degree murder and admitting an enhancement for using a firearm during the commission of the murder. Read full story
Santa Rosa Man Granted Probation Over District Attorney’s Objection Following Convictions for Sexually Assaulting And Disfiguring A Stranger
Defendant Trevor Colombano, 38 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Dana Simonds to a term of probation after he pled “no contest” to charges including mayhem (with a further allegation that he used a deadly weapon,) assault with a deadly weapon (with a further allegation that he inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim,) as well as sexual battery. The District Attorney’s Office, the Court’s Probation Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the victim, all recommended or requested Colombano be sentenced to state prison. Read full story
Creative Sonoma announces $180,000 in grants to 45 arts and cultural nonprofits
Creative Sonoma is pleased to announce the recipients of its Arts Impact Grants for Organizations program, designed to sustain Sonoma County’s creative and cultural nonprofits and demonstrate the power of the arts to contribute to the social cohesion of our communities. A record 45 arts and cultural nonprofits will be awarded a total of $180,000 to provide programs and services across the county. For 2025, these general operating support and arts project grants are funded by the County of Sonoma and the National Endowment for the Arts. Read full story
Judge extends order allowing Sonoma County to issue non-emergency well permits
Permit Sonoma can continue issuing non-emergency well permits until at least March 27. A Sonoma County Superior Court judge recently signed an order to extend a pause on an earlier directive that had temporarily stopped the County from issuing well permits. Read full story
Public invited to review and comment on CalFire wildfire hazard severity maps
The public is invited to review and comment on newly published Fire Hazard Severity maps, which CalFire has updated to show areas of Sonoma County with the greatest wildfire risks. The maps show areas of Sonoma County that have moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity, defined as having physical conditions that create expected fire behavior over a 50-year period. Sonoma County Fire Districts can recommend changes to the maps during a 120-day adoption period. Local fire districts must adopt these maps per Government Codes 51179 and 51177(e). Read full story
Vamos a Nadar water safety classes begin March 9
Sonoma County Regional Parks' Vamos a Nadar program, starting March 9th, provides free bilingual water safety and introductory swimming lessons to families with children aged 5 and up, aiming to reduce drowning deaths and promote safe water recreation. Read full story
US Foods CHEF’STORE Resolves Allegations of Price Overcharges and False Advertising
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that Smart Foodservice Stores LLC, doing business as US Foods CHEF’STORE, entered into a stipulated judgment and will pay $251,293.27 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged the wholesale grocer engaged in false advertising and unfair competition by charging consumers prices that were not the lowest advertised price or price listed on the shelf. US Foods CHEF’STORE operates 17 stores in California including Sonoma County. Judgment was entered on February 25, 2025, by Judge Jane Gaskell. Read full story
County Executive names Nolan Sullivan as new director of Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services
Nolan Sullivan, a seasoned public health administrator with nearly 20 years of experience managing county health and human services programs, has been selected by County Executive Maria Christina Rivera to be director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services following a nationwide recruitment search. Read full story
Board of Supervisors narrows post-storm eviction ban to just Lower Russian River
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved a temporary ban on evictions in the Lower Russian River area neighborhoods where residents were most impacted by flooding during a storm earlier this month. The Board simultaneously removed a countywide prohibition on evictions that has been in place since the supervisors ratified a proclamation of local emergency two weeks ago. The countywide prohibition on evictions will expire on March 27. Read full story
Sonoma County Historical Records Commission to recognize three at Collections and Archives ceremony
The Sonoma County Historical Records Commission today announced three recipients of its fourth annual Collections and Archives Recognition Awards. These awards recognize the accomplishments and contributions of individuals, groups, agencies, collections, or archives located within Sonoma County and focus on existing collections as well as recognizing special efforts to preserve and use archival material in promoting history and cultural preservation. Read full story
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