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County of Sonoma - News and Press Releases

All County Press Releases


July 15, 2026 | Economic Development Collaborative

Creative Sonoma announces grant program supporting nonprofit arts producers

Creative Sonoma’s Arts Impact Grants for Organizations program will begin accepting applications on Aug. 14 to support cultural arts activities taking place across Sonoma County between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2027. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations including museums, as well as culturally specific organizations that produce arts and culture programs, services and events are eligible to apply. Up to 45 organizations will be awarded grants of $4,000 each for general operating support. Read full story


July 14, 2026 | Office of the District Attorney

Labor Trafficking and Wage Theft Bill Proposed and Sponsored by Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Signed Into Law

Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1583 into law, an anti-labor trafficking and wage theft bill drafted by her office and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys’ Office. The new law was authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) and passed the state legislature unanimously. It will take effect January 1, 2027. Read full story


July 14, 2026 | Registrar of Voters

Candidate nominations now open for November 3 General Election

Candidate nominations opened July 13 and close Aug. 7 (except if extended – see below) for school, municipal, and special district offices up for election in the Nov. 3 General Election, Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Evelyn Mendez announced today. Read full story


July 10, 2026 | Office of the District Attorney

Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole in 1982 Cloverdale Murder Case

Defendant James Oliver Unick, 64-years-old of Willows, CA, was sentenced this afternoon by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole after a Sonoma County jury found him guilty as charged in February of first degree murder and a special circumstance related to the sexual assault that occurred during the commission of the murder. Read full story


July 07, 2026 | Sonoma County Regional Parks

Board of Supervisors places parks sales tax renewal measure on November ballot

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted to place a November ballot measure before voters to renew the existing Measure M parks sales tax, which, if approved, would continue funding for regional and city parks without increasing the current tax rate. Read full story


July 07, 2026 | Department of Health Services

Dr. Mia Shim of Seattle named new county health officer

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today appointed Mia Shim, MD, MPH, as Sonoma County’s new health officer, replacing Dr. Michael Stacey, who has held this role on an interim basis since last November. Dr. Shim’s appointment becomes effective tomorrow. Read full story


July 01, 2026 | Clerk-Recorder-Assessor

Sonoma County assessment roll increases to $131.7 billion

Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Deva Marie Proto has delivered the 2026-27 assessment roll to the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. The net assessment roll has hit an all-time high of $131,753,999,666, which is an increase of 3.73% over last year’s assessment roll amount and reflects the value of all real and business property as of Jan. 1, 2026. Read full story


June 23, 2026 | Department of Health Services

Preliminary 2026 Point-in-Time count maintains last year’s 23% reduction in homelessness

The preliminary 2026 Point-in-Time Count, conducted across Sonoma County the morning of Jan. 30, remains at the same level as last year, with 1,951 people experiencing homelessness — one fewer person than from the 2025 PIT Count. This year’s number preserves last year’s 23% drop in people experiencing homelessness, which was the lowest number since the PIT Count began in 2007 and a reduction of 507 unsheltered individuals in 2024. Read full story


June 22, 2026 | Sonoma County Regional Parks

Prescribed burn operations planned at Foothill Regional Park

Sonoma County Regional Parks, CAL FIRE and the Sonoma County Fire District plan to conduct a prescribed burn at Foothill Regional Park on June 23 to reduce wildfire fuels and improve community safety, with the park closed during operations and smoke visible in the area. Read full story


June 18, 2026 | Registrar of Voters

Deadline for voters to ‘cure’ ballot signature issues for Primary Election is June 24 at 5 p.m.

Signature “cure” forms that were sent to voters whose ballot envelope signatures were either missing or mismatched for the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary Election must be completed and received at the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office no later than Wednesday, June 24, at 5 p.m., according to Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Read full story