Emma Murphy
@murphreports.bsky.social
Government and politics reporter for @pressdemo.bsky.social covering the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
This morning the #SonomaCounty Board of Supervisors is kicking off budget workshops. The county is facing deep federal cuts, declining local revenue and uncertain state support. www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/04/18/s...
Deep federal cuts, state deficit loom over upcoming Sonoma County budget talks
The biggest financial blow is coming from the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which could cause as many as 30,000 county residents to lose health coverage and food security benefits.
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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…
Gallaher family, longtime SMART foes, pay for book that slams North Bay commuter train ahead of key tax election in June
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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...
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…
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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
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, 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...
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…
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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...
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.
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The board voted 4-1 to approve the changes, including a last minute tweak to setback requirements. Story on the way. #cannabis
Emma Murphy@murphreports.bsky.social · 10mo agoThis 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...
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...
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…
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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...
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.
sonomamag.com
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...
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…
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‘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...
‘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.
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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...
‘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.
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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...
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 …
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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...
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…
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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...
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…
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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 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…
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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...
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…
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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...
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.
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#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...
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 …
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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...
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.’
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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...
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.
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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...
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.
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I'll be covering the hearings for @pressdemo.bsky.social until the Board of Supervisors approve a final budget. Key factors include: the likelihood of federal funding cuts under the Trump administration, spending reductions driven by the state’s $12 billion deficit and stagnant property tax revenue.
Emma Murphy@murphreports.bsky.social · last yr.Day 1 of #SonomaCounty's budget hearings kicks off this morning. Supervisors will be deliberating over the recommended which totals $2.7 billion and what to do with limited discretionary funding amid the fiscal uncertainty at the state and federal levels. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
Day 1 of #SonomaCounty's budget hearings kicks off this morning. Supervisors will be deliberating over the recommended which totals $2.7 billion and what to do with limited discretionary funding amid the fiscal uncertainty at the state and federal levels. www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
Sonoma County budget officials urge ‘caution’ ahead of hearings on spending plan
“This year with everything that’s going on, we really are nervous,” said Peter Bruland, the county’s budget chief. “We don’t feel like this is a year where we can afford to be expanding our services.”
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A branch of the ACLU is suing #SonomaCounty over its use of drone surveillance for code enforcement www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
‘Shattered sense of privacy and security’: ACLU lawsuit sheds light on Sonoma County’s expansion of drone use
What started as a way to search for illegal cannabis operations in remote rural areas is now raising serious privacy and other civil liberty concerns, according to the suit.
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The Sonoma County Fire District has proposed a 24.25% ambulance rate hike just 18 months into its exclusive $30 million contract with #SonomaCounty www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
Sonoma County’s main ambulance provider seeking nearly 25% rate hike just 18 months into contract
The Sonoma County Fire District is seeking a pair of rate hikes for ambulance service totaling 24.25%, citing unexpected costs and contract disputes.
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In Sonoma and Napa counties, more than 50 AmeriCorps members were affected when the federal government terminated millions in AmeriCorps grants — their work suspended, their living stipends gone and the community programs they supported left scrambling.
Emma Murphy@murphreports.bsky.social · last yr.Give this a read: Sonoma and Napa AmeriCorps programs gutted by federal cuts, forcing urgent local response. Reporting by Tarini Mehta and Adriana Gutierrez for @pressdemo.bsky.social #budgetcuts www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
Give this a read: Sonoma and Napa AmeriCorps programs gutted by federal cuts, forcing urgent local response. Reporting by Tarini Mehta and Adriana Gutierrez for @pressdemo.bsky.social #budgetcuts www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news...
‘It’s shocking’: Sonoma and Napa AmeriCorps programs gutted by federal cuts, forcing urgent local response
From mentoring students to supporting food banks, AmeriCorps members were pulled from critical roles across Sonoma and Napa after abrupt federal cuts left local programs in crisis.
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