Allstate insurance now says if the Department of Insurance approves a series of rule changes, the company would end its pause on issuing new homeowner policies in California... and would immediately start writing coverage again in the state. That statement came during a public hearing on one of those changes, which would allow insurance companies to estimate future risks when asking the department to increase prices.

Clare Hartman, the former planning chief for the city of Santa Rosa, has filed suit against the city for wrongful termination after she was abruptly let go back in September. Hartman had requested a temporary leave due to a medical condition, and was denied... then terminated a week later. According to the Press Democrat, the city has not provided details of the reason behind her termination, nor has the type of medical issue that led to the request been revealed.

Santa Rosa got a visit from two congressmen announcing support for a bill that would provide a program to state governments that offers grants of $10,000 to homeowners to harden their homes against the threat of wildfires. U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman were in Coffee Park yesterday surrounded by local officials to support the bill, which would also allow for agricultural tax benefits and a 30% tax credit for businesses and individuals to mitigate risk. All this with the hopes of insurance companies coming back to the state of California.

Windsor Attorney Michael Voorhees was convicted in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday after reaching a plea deal on charges of stealing more than $500,000 from a client's family trust. He pleaded no contest to six counts of grand theft. His attorney says the money will be paid back, at his June 4th sentencing, he could also face a year in prison and three years probation.

Tomorrow the City of Santa Rosa will hold it's Third Annual Women in Pubic Safety Day. The Santa Rosa Fire Department will host the event at it's training tower campus on College Ave from 10am to 2pm. The event is designed to inspire women and girls to pursue careers in public safety as they interact with women working in law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. Over 20 local agencies will be there. No RSVP is needed and there is no cost to attend.

Body camera footage from Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle seems to show them discouraging a woman from pressing charges related to an alleged sexual assault that took place at the Sonoma Mission Inn back in September of 2022. The woman claims the assault took place by a male masseuse. Following the assault she reported it to hotel staff, and later to deputies who suggested that the DA might not prosecute the case.

The Sonoma-Marin Fair has announced the appointment of a new CEO.. Mandy Clendenen. She has spend the last year as the operations manager for the fair, prior to that she worked for the Mendocino County Fair, Sonoma County Fair, and Napa County Fair. This year's theme is “Cow-A-Bunga”... the fair runs from June 20-23 in Petaluma. Carnival rides and entertainment are FREE with fair admission.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez asked the Board of Supervisors yesterday to help close a nearly $400,000 funding loss from the federal government or risk losing three victims advocates and an attorney in her department. A cut in funding from the Violence Against Women Act created the shortfall. According to the Press Democrat, the board will announce a decision in June.

We have more information this morning on the gunfire between two drivers yesterday in downtown Santa Rosa. It all started with a road rage incident leading to the driver of a Volkswagen SUV and a second vehicle to exchange gunfire on Pressley Street. A police evidence technician was in the area and witnessed part of the conflict, calling in additional resources. Police chased the Volkswagen to Mendocino Ave and 5th street, where the driver abandoned the car and his gun and ran on foot. He was caught inside of a parking garage on Third Street, downtown was blocked off with a strong police presence for many hours.... as of this morning there is no update on the second driver.

Petaluma officials are possibly moving towards revoking the permit for Jamison's Roaring Donkey bar following the beating of a customer on Saturday night and multiple problems in the past. According to an article in the Press Democrat, 24% of all calls for service by police to Petaluma drinking establishments from 2018 to 2023 were to the Roaring Donkey. A decision may come in May.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has announced the identification of a skull found on motorcycle mountain in Monte Rio back in 2001. The DNA Doe Project determined it was Jeffrey Thomas Rupen. Rupen was born in North Carolina in 1958. We know he attended Columbia University in New York. In early 1980 Jeffrey was living in New York City at which time he became estranged from his family. At some point he traveled to California where It is rumored, he became a house painter.

The Elsie Allen High School Marching band is finally getting new uniforms... after using the old ones for some 30 years! You may not have known that the uniforms were reused year after year... but now, after so much time they were covered in stains, sweat and outdated. The band has ordered new ones, and needs to find a way to raise $23,000 to cover the cost in the nest 30-60 days. They are holding a fundraising concert on Friday May 3rd a 7:00pm or you can donate on line through the GOFAN website.

Burbank Housing, one of the largest affordable housing developers in the county, has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging it discriminated against people with disabilities. Burbank will pay $41,500 and require employees be retrained in fair housing laws after claims that they responded unreasonably and slowly to requests for access or accommodation for people with disabilities, including assistance dogs.

Petaluma Police are asking for your help in finding a man who walked away from a skilled nursing facility on Monday. 67-year old Steven Allen was last seen wearing an T-shirt and blue jeans. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall and approximately 130 pounds. He uses both a cane and walker. One of his arms is injured and in a sling. If you see him or have any information, please contact Petaluma Police.

The Luther Burbank Rose Parade and Festival has announced the Grand Marshall for this year... Snoopy! The parade and festival will take place on May 18th in downtown Santa Rosa following a 5 year hiatus.

On Thursday, April 25th, The Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport will be conducting its Triennial Emergency Response Exercise. The exercise is an elaborate, unrehearsed safety training that takes place every three years at commercial service airports around the United States. Communication, incident command, and coordination between multiple agencies are all put to the test; opportunities for improvement are identified and remedied. There will be activity all week at the airport, along with Thursday's training.

The clock is ticking down to the closure of the First Republic Bank in Santa Rosa on Third Street. JPMorgan Chase announced recently the list of 15 branches in the Bay Area that are slated to close, and the Santa Rosa location was on the list. Customer's accounts will be transferred to JP Morgan Chase over the Memorial Day weekend, but that branch will not reopen. There are at least 5 Chase banks in Santa Rosa.

The Rev. Cecil Williams, who led the influential Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, has died. He was 94 years old. Williams built Glide into a world-renowned church, known for its social services and activism, especially in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood. Leaders including Warren Buffett, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama had all at some point met with Williams.

Fashion retailer Express Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection and will close 100 of it stores. The Ohio-based brand and longtime mall retailer, is also the parent company of Bonobos and UpWest. Express does have a store in the Santa Rosa Plaza and an Express Factory Outlet in Petaluma, neither of those stores are expected to close at this time.

The city of Santa Rosa, the firm GHD and Bay Cities Paving and Grading have finally come to a settlement over the long-delayed completion of the paving and overhaul of Stony Point Road in 2018. According to the Press Democrat, the city will pay $2.75 million and GHD will kick in $3.75 million to Bay Cities for design flaws, breach of contract and a significant delay in completing the project that was slated to take 1 year but wound up lasting over 3.