North Bay Report

The boom in craft-beer brewing locally is spurring a much smaller revival of hop growing here.

Hops were once a major agricultural product in Sonoma County. Now they’re starting to come back, but mostly as a specialty crop for the craft beer market.

There will be a one-day workshop on hop growing this Saturday at SRJC’s Shone Farm in Forestville. Find details about it on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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Gold is a pivotal part of California’s history. And it’s part of our present as well.

An ounce of gold is worth a little more than $1300 these days, enough to keep even casual prospectors interested and active, especially here in northern California. Today we hear from a Santa Rosa group dedicated to keeping the search alive.

Learn more about the Santa Rosa Gold Diggers on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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A Marin County Rosie the Riveter is looking to get national recognition for her and MILLIONS of other women who worked during the war effort of World War Two.

During World War Two, women became vital wartime workers, filling jobs traditionally held by men. Collectively they became known as “Rosie the Riveter.” And now for the first time, there will be a national holiday recognizing the work of these women… But only for this year. KRCB’s Tiffany Camhi reports a Marin County ‘Rosie’ is behind the effort to get the holiday on the calendar every year.

Find out more about the Rosie the Riveter movement on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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Charles Schultz’ Peanuts helped shape the sensibility that produced the “Series of Unfortunate Events” books for young readers.

The man behind the arch-gothic Lemony Snicket books for young readers says the Peanuts comic strip was an important influence on his writing.

San Francisco author Daniel Handler will talk about his appreciation for Peanuts in a visit to the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa tomorrow. Fine event details, and hear more from him tomorrow to on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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The state’s new tool for evaluating school district’s progress is getting good marks from local educators.

Yesterday, the California Department of Education made public its new system for evaluating how local school districts are performing. Local educators say it is more complex but also more helpful.

Hear more about the new school accountability dashboard, and find a link to it, on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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The fairgrounds become a lively and diverse outdoor classroom for elementary kids during Ag Days.

Ag Days returned to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds yesterday and today. The annual event, hosted by the local Farm Bureau, gives thousands of elementary school students some first-hand exposure to this region’s agricultural heritage and its products.

Find out more on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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Obamacare remains hugely popular in the North Bay, a town hall in San Rafael Demonstrated, while the GOP’s alternative4 is decidedly not.

A fired up crowd eager to defend the Affordable Care Act filled the Marin Civic Center, to hear a panel led by Congressman Jared Huffman detail the problems they foresee in the new, Republican-sponsored alternative.

The presentations at the Town Hal meeting included two detailed accounts of complex medical crises that were successful weathered with support from the ACA. Hear those first-person stories on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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Many homeless people keep their pets with them. But only one local program assists with the care.

Pet owners are deeply attached to their dogs, cats, birds and other animals, and that doesn’t change if they become homeless. But their ability to care for their pets may. That’s where an unusual and specially focused non-profit steps in to help.

Find out more about Homeless With Pets on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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With Measure A strongly approved, Sonoma County’s cannabis businesses are preparing to take the next steps toward legality.

With new tax rates approved by Sonoma County voters on Tuesday, the local cannabis industry is gearing up to enter—and pay for—their new era of legitimacy.

You can learn more on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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The new head of Sonoma County’s Health Services Department comes with some bold ideas for better coordination of services.

After a year getting acquainted with the inner workings of Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services, Barbie Robinson is starting her new job as the department’s head with plans for some ambitious collaboration at the top of her agenda.

You can hear more from new Sonoma County Health Department chief Barbie Robinson on the North Bay Report webpage at KRCB dot org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

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