PG&E Faces Criminal Charges Over 2019 Wine Country Fire
The Sonoma County DA accuses the utility giant of negligence in an October 2019 wildfire that left six firefighters injured and destroyed hundreds of structures.
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Sonoma County
‘Yearly Reality’ of Wildfires Threatening Viability of Napa Valley Winemakers
The alarming frequency of wildfire has Napa Valley winemakers fretting that small family-owned operators — and big producers alike — could see their dreams vanish.
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California Wildfire Ravaging Picturesque Wine Country Towns
The Glass Fire continues to burn out of control in the heart of California’s wine country, razing wineries, destroying houses and prompting mass evacuations.
Read moreHomeless Santa Rosans Win New Protections in Temporary Deal
Homeless campers in the Northern California city of Santa Rosa won new protections against forced removals and property seizures under a short-term deal approved Friday.
Read moreDispatches From the Road: North Sonoma Coast, California
In his latest dispatch, Courthouse News’ western bureau chief goes for a hike at a fishing camp in Northern California.
Read morePrison Torture Settlement
Sonoma County, California, will pay $1.7 million to settle inmate torture torture claims.
Read moreReport: Sonoma County Was Ill Prepared to Handle Wildfire
County officials in California’s Wine Country lambasted their emergency management department on Tuesday, one day after a state agency characterized the response to last October’s deadly wildfires as unprepared.
Read moreCalifornia Asks Feds for $7.4B for Wildfire Recovery
Seeking to expedite and bolster wildfire recovery efforts, Gov. Jerry Brown and California’s congressional delegation asked President Donald Trump on Friday to approve $7.4 billion in disaster relief for the Golden State.
Read morePG&E Faces First Lawsuit Over Wine Country Wildfires
The first of what is expected to be many lawsuits arising out of the devastating wildfires that ripped through Northern California last week has been filed against utility giant PG&E, claiming its power lines started the blaze.
Read moreWine Country Wildfires Leave Region’s Wineries Reeling
The effects of the wildfires burning in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties on California’s $58 billion wine industry may not be felt for years, and the number of estates damaged or totally destroyed in the region has topped 22.
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Firestorm Death Toll Rises, as Do Questions About Alerts
The series of wildfires burning across Northern California over the last week have so far killed 41 people, and dozens remain missing. While calming winds and an enormous influx of firefighters and other resources have helped contain the blazes, the lull providing a first look at whether officials did enough to warn residents about the rapidly spreading blaze, particularly in Sonoma County.
Read moreWine Country Fires Now Deadliest in California History
The fires in California’s Wine Country have become the deadliest in state history, as the death toll rose to 31 on Friday morning with hundreds still missing.
Read moreWine Country Town Evacuated as Wildfire Death Toll Climbs
“I had trouble sleeping last night, that’s for sure,” said Rosalie McArthur on Thursday morning at a hotel in Napa. McArthur lives in nearby Calistoga, a city of 5,000 that is now a smoky ghost town after its evacuation due to the Tubbs Fire.
Read moreDeath Toll Rises as California Wildfires Continue to Grow
The death toll from nearly two dozen wildfires burning throughout Northern California continues to rise and several fires burning in the Wine Country grew unabated overnight, even as the region braces for another bout of gusty winds on Wednesday.
Read moreAt Least 15 Dead as Wildfires Tear Through Northern California
California’s iconic Wine Country has been ravaged by wildfires since late Sunday, two of nearly 20 fires raging across the Golden State that have so far left at least 15 people dead, thousands of homes destroyed and scores of firefighters battling to contain the damage.
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Officer Must Stand Trial for Killing Boy Who Had a Toy Gun
The Ninth Circuit forcefully signaled Wednesday that a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy must stand trial for killing a 13-year-old boy carrying a toy rifle while walking to a friend’s house.
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