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Key 101 ramp to close over weekend

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:37:00 PST

The Highway 12 onramp to northbound Highway 101 will be closed 5 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday for repaving work, forcing many cars onto city streets.

Doctors mystified by death

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:52:00 PST

Dustin Tucker was a 22-year-old soldier on leave from Iraq with no history of medical issues. Now his family struggles to understand why he died suddenly last week.

Heat wave arrives for the weekend

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:29:00 PST

In Santa Rosa, the mercury unofficially reached 99 degrees Thursday afternoon, shy of the record high of 108 for the same date in 1955. But more hot weather is expected for the second weekend in a row.

Giraffe Birth at Safari West

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:40:00 PST

Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA:

More county schools miss federal standards

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:39:00 PST

Despite overall gains in state test scores, more Sonoma County schools than ever failed to meet federal accountability standards. But Burbank Elementary, which Jeilin Garcia attends, improved drastically and is out of federal sanctions.

Pot plants seized

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:26:00 PST

State, local and federal authorities say they jailed three suspects and seized 120 marijuana plants from a series of gardens outside Potter Valley in Mendocino County on Wednesday.

Old map may settle bike path dispute

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:08:00 PST

1979 document shows easement for route through Santa Rosa subdivision

Forestville home burns

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:11:00 PST

A Forestville house that was about to change hands burned to the ground early Thursday in a fire that already was advanced by the time firefighters were called, officials said.

Vote nears on Saggio Hills luxury project

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:44:00 PST

Healdsburg City Council members are getting tantalizing close to voting on Saggio Hills, the proposed luxury resort and housing development that has been the topic of more than 20 public hearings dragged out over a year.

Spare the Air Day

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:57:00 PST

Developer brings vision to Occidental

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:27:00 PST

The man who developed the Windsor Town Green and remade Graton's main drag is about to transform the old elementary school in Occidental into an arts center, likely one of his last building projects.

Logging to resume in Jackson State forest

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:14:00 PST

Mendocino County settlement called a compromise between timber, environmental interests

Calistoga, Rohnert Park fires appear accidental

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:45:00 PST

Electrical problem, jerked guy-wire blamed in blazes that burned buildings

Thursday's low gas prices

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:11:00 PST

Santa Rosa's average price for regular gasoline was $3.941 a gallon today, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $2.838.
Among the area's typically low-price stations, these prices were reported this morning:
--$3.779 at Arco at Hearn and Corby avenues in Santa Rosa.
--$3.799 at Arco at Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa.

Palin emerging as leader

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:18:00 PST

Palin's cutting rhetoric, nods to economic policy changes and troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and portrait of herself as an outsider without a real stake in Washington politics make an impression.

Wright, Zane debate labor's influence

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:07:00 PST

3rd District supervisor candidates address unions' role in elections at event hosted by business group

Hazard found in Wolf gas ranges

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:42:00 PST

The following recalls have been announced:
About 24,000 Wolf Appliance gas ranges, manufactured in the United States by Wolf Appliance Inc., because delayed gas ignition in the 18-inch oven can cause a flash of flames to come out when the range door is opened.

Trail of killings puzzles investigators

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:42:00 PST

ALGER, Wash. -- Authorities on Wednesday were trying to determine what set off a shooting and stabbing rampage that left six people dead and four wounded, attacks they blame on a drug offender who was released from jail less than a month ago.

Tracer shows promise in detecting breast tumors

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:41:00 PST

A radioactive tracer that "lights up" cancer hiding inside dense breasts showed promise in its first big test against mammograms, revealing more tumors and giving fewer false alarms, doctors reported Wednesday.
The experimental method -- molecular breast imaging, or MBI -- would not replace mammograms for women at average risk of the disease.

Still few clues in what led to the death of local soldier

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:15:00 PST

"He has no family history or personal history of any kind of medical issues. He didn't complain of not feeling well all week. He was happy. He was busy. He was excited for his vacation. He was on top of the world," said his mother of Dustin Tucker.

Downloading the law, one document at a time

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:26:00 PST

Sebastopol Internet pioneer Carl Malamud thinks everyone should be able to download copies of federal, state and local laws. And he is daring the government to try to stop him.

Firefighters on alert today

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:19:00 PST

Firefighters, here battling a blaze on Stony Point Road Tuesday, are on alert today as more hot temperatures and low humidity is expected in the North Bay Area.

Fires burn across county

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:12:00 PST

As the humidity dips, temps rise flames pop up all over Sonoma County including six arson fires, one cabin burns, a Rincon Valley mobile home is damaged, and Stony Point Road ranch buildings are destroyed.

<font color=#990000>Update</font> Fire contained on St. Helena Road

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:18:00 PST

A fast-moving fire burned several acres in the hills east of Santa Rosa on Wednesday evening.
The vegetation fire was reported in the 6000 block of St. Helena Road at 5:16 p.m., with heavy smoke visible, fire officials said. Westbound St. Helena Road was closed briefly as firefighters contained the blaze.

Seven Sonoma County arson fires in two days

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:23:00 PST

An arsonist struck again Tuesday night in rural northwest Sonoma County.
This time a suspicious fire burned a small area along Mark West Station Road near Trenton-Healdsburg Road. It was reported at about 8 p.m., said Windsor Battalion Chief Matt Gustafson.

Wright, Zane square off in debate

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:19:00 PST

Labor's influence on the Sonoma County supervisors election campaigns was the hot issue for 3rd District supervisoral candidates Sharon Wright and Shirlee Zane at a debate Wednesday hosted by the county's leading business group.

Windsor arrest in park vandalism, hit-and-run

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:54:00 PST

Near dawn Wednesday a suspected drunken driver drove onto the lawn of a park in east Windsor and spun his truck, damaging the turf, Windsor police said.
Then the young man continued on Foothill Drive and hit a parked work truck, damaging the truck and totalling his own pickup, Windsor Sgt. Steve Gossett said.

Electrical problem likely cause of cabin fire

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:07:00 PST

Fire destroyed a cabin at Mountain Home Ranch, but the recent clearing of brush likely saved the resort and retreat center.

SR moms react to Palin nomination

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:55:00 PST

Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA:

Wine event ends with record-breaking auction

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:51:00 PST

The Sonoma Wine Country Weekend -- a 3-day epicurean adventure that raises money for community programs -- grossed more than $1.5M, the highest amount yet.