Emma Murphy

Gallaher family, longtime SMART foes, pay for book that slams North Bay commuter train ahead of key tax election in June

With a new book, the Sonoma County development family is again taking aim at the North Bay’s commuter rail system — with voters set to decide in June on whether or not to extend a financial l…

Supervisor Chris Coursey says Sonoma County should end all communication with ICE Supervisor Chris Coursey says he no longer supports the sheriff’s policy of sharing some jail release information, in limited cases, with federal immigration officials. Local advocates welcom…

Supervisor Chris Coursey says Sonoma County should end all communication with ICE. It’s a political shift putting him at odds his fellow board members. www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/01/21/s...

How bad are Sonoma County roads? Some residents mailed us a piece of their street. As far as reader mail goes, this ranks pretty high #localnews

Health Services Director Nolan Sullivan in a Santa jacket has entered the chat

It’s the last Board of Supervisors meeting for 2025 and the supes are celebrating with ugly Christmas sweaters #sonomacounty

Santa Rosa Council member Natalie Rogers drops out of state Senate race Rogers, a former Santa Rosa mayor, said she wasn’t drawing enough financial support to sustain her campaign. For now, Assemblymember Damon Connolly appears to have a clear path among Democrat…

Santa Rosa Council member Natalie Rogers drops out of state Senate race, leaving Assemblymember Damon Connolly, a San Rafael Democrat, with an unopposed path, for now, in the June primary. #capolitics #SonomaCounty #SantaRosa www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/12/s...

Sonoma County supervisors approve new commercial cannabis rules The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to adopt revisions to its commercial cannabis ordinance, marking the first significant change to the regulations since 2018.

ICYMI: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed new commercial cannabis regulations yesterday, marking the most significant changes to local rules since 2018. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/09/s...

The board voted 4-1 to approve the changes, including a last minute tweak to setback requirements. Story on the way. #cannabis

A signal of just how big an issue setbacks have become, the county’s planning and permitting director posted signs outside the Board of Supervisors chambers demonstrating the setback distance for the proposed cannabis cultivation sites. #sonomacounty

The board is nearing a vote. Setbacks and exclusion zones are becoming the biggest issue - residents critical of the regulations want exclusion zones, but that provision doesn’t have board majority support. It’s getting tense.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors set to vote on controversial cannabis regulations Despite Sonoma County’s a yearslong effort to revise its cannabis program based on an environmental review, the new rules are still mired in controversy and have even drawn threats of lawsuits ahea…

This morning: The #SonomaCounty Board of Supervisors will vote on a set of revised commercial #cannabis regulations, marking the most significant changes to local cannabis regulation since 2018. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/12/09/s...

A Sonoma County Park Ranger Finally Found Her Place in the World. The Man She Loved Took Her From It Kat Pringle was murdered one year ago by her then-boyfriend. A wake of grief and questions remain.

One year ago #SonomaCounty Park Ranger Kat Pringle was murdered in her beloved mountaintop home, leaving her loved ones - like many who lose someone to #domesticviolence - grappling with overwhelming grief and more questions than answers. Reported for @sonomamag.com www.sonomamag.com/sonoma-count...

State politics watchdog investigating conflict of interest complaint against Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt tied to $56 million real estate deal David Rabbitt, Sonoma County’s longest-serving incumbent supervisor, who championed a $56 million county real estate deal until it was derailed by a union complaint, called the allegations ag…

California's campaign finance watchdog agency is investigating a conflict of interest complaint filed against Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, related to the county's recently abandoned bid to buy a luxury office building for $56.1 million. My latest. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/24/s...

Sure everyone has a chance but generally speaking candidates don't enter races on equal footing. Wilson doesn't have the network, name recognition or campaign experience his opponents have. He could be successful but it'll require harder work to overcome those obstacles, which he even acknowledged

‘People have had enough’: Santa Rosa lawyer mounts long-shot congressional bid Kyle Wilson, a 33-year-old Santa Rosa labor lawyer, is launching a long-shot congressional bid driven by his belief that the American Dream has eroded for young people.

‘People have had enough’: Santa Rosa lawyer mounts long-shot congressional bid. @austinmurphy3.bsky.social has the story on the latest candidate to enter the race for the redrawn 1st District #californiapolitics
www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/14/p...

‘I want to earn every vote’: Mike McGuire announces run for Congress in redrawn North Coast district The longtime state senator is stepping into a race remade by Prop. 50, aiming to represent a district that now stretches from Santa Rosa to the Nevada border.

Breaking: state Sen. Mike McGuire announced this morning that he is running for #California’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. He spoke with @austinmurphy3.bsky.social and I yesterday about his plans in an exclusive interview. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/13/i...

After ‘blue wave’ election, Prop. 50 reshapes North Bay and California politics Rep. Jared Huffman was heartened by the blue wave that swept through Tuesday’s off-year elections — capped by voters’ approval of Proposition 50, a measure that reshapes California’s congressional …

After ‘blue wave’ election, here's what elected leaders had to say about how Prop. 50 reshapes the North Bay and California politics. My latest reported with @austinmurphy3.bsky.social for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/04/f...

Early returns show strong support for Prop. 50 among voters in Sonoma, Napa counties, fueling landslide win Initial results from Tuesday’s special election showed voters in Sonoma and Napa counties gave strong support to the statewide redistricting ballot measure championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and…

Early returns show strong support for Prop. 50 among voters in Sonoma, Napa counties, fueling landslide win
#California #ElectionDay
www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/04/f...

That certainly seems to be the popular opinion, at least in the local political world

Mike McGuire won’t say, but signs point to him running for Congress if Prop. 50 passes Recent campaign spending, a set of social media ads and his conspicuous silence on the question make up a small, but compelling collection of signs Mike McGuire is poised to run for the seat repres…

Will Mike McGuire run for Congress if Pop. 50 passes? @austinmurphy3.bsky.social and I took a closer look for @pressdemo.bsky.social #california #election www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/01/m...

Sonoma County departments, nonprofits bracing for federal cuts, painful decisions ahead County officials expect safety net programs serving many of the most vulnerable residents to be hit hardest, with big pullbacks in federal support for cash aid, health insurance and food assistance…

Sonoma County departments and local nonprofits are bracing for #federalcuts that will likely force county leaders to choose what programs to prioritize. My latest for @pressdemo.bsky.social www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/10/16/s...

Sonoma County supervisors approve ‘clean up’ of lodging tax policy, sidestep spending discussion The proposed changes and ensuing board discussion Tuesday, kept a wide berth from tackling how the county allocates Transient Occupancy Tax funds, which has been the subject of heated debate for ye…

Sonoma County supervisors on Tuesday approved a language "clean up" of the county's lodging tax policy, but steered clear of addressing exactly how the funds are allocated — the subject of heated debate for years.
www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/16/s...

Homelessness is down in Sonoma County, but officials worry funding cuts could jeopardize efforts Federal and state cuts to safety net spending could jeopardize any strides the county has made in reducing homelessness, health officials told the Board of Supervisors during a Tuesday meeting.

With federal funding discussions unfolding over the next months, #SonomaCounty health officials worry cuts to critical programs, like housing vouchers, could jeopardize any strides the county has made in reducing #homelessness.
www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/09/h...

Sonoma County supervisors to vote on ambulance rate hike tied to inflation The topic has been a matter of significant public interest since revelations earlier this year of the district’s bid for a hefty rate increase after it took over the contract previously held …

#SonomaCounty supervisors will vote tomorrow on a 2.4% ambulance rate increase, but the county's contracted ambulance provider says it's still planning to request a second rate hike.
www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/09/08/s...

Former Santa Rosa police chief, mayor enters race for Sonoma County supervisor seat ‘I've got the capacity, I've got the energy and the desire to do this,’ Tom Schwedhelm said. ‘I really want to continue to make a difference in Sonoma County.’

The race for #SonomaCounty's 4th District is becoming competitive: Former Santa Rosa mayor and police chief, Tom Schwedhelm, has confirmed his plans to run for the seat. #localelections www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Santa Rosa ‘key’ piece of California redistricting maps, Newsom’s plan to outsmart GOP “Santa Rosa really is the key for Northern California, because it's such a big population base,” Assemblymember Chris Rogers said.

Just in: Santa Rosa is expected to be a ‘key’ piece of Gov. Newsom’s plan to redraw California's Congressional maps www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Supervisors approve $2.8 billion budget, bracing for ‘greatest moment of fiscal uncertainty since Great Recession’ “This week is not the end of our fiscal work,” Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt said Tuesday.

The Board of Supervisors swiftly approved a $2.8 billion budget yesterday. Likely state and federal cuts, plus stagnant property tax revenue from property taxes - the main source of county discretionary dollars - left supervisors with little to debate.
www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...

Hopkins, who grew up in San Diego which she called “fundamentally a military town,” expressed her dismay at the deployment of federal troops. It “has further enflamed the tensions in the city of LA to the detriment of everyone’s safety,” she said.

The deployment of the national guard and military to LA in response to ICE protests is also hanging over the discussion this morning. “California is a target, the president of our United States wants to have a fight with California, wants to punish California,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey.

Board Chair Lynda Hopkins, who usually pushes back against the county's more fiscally conservative voices, this year described the need for "fiscal restraint. The county has already seen some federal funding "clawed back" and local cities are looking to the county to fill gaps in their own budgets.