Hyatt taking over Vineyard Creek Hotel

Santa Rosa pledged $14 million to help build the hotel. (C.Chung/PD File)

One the world’s biggest hotel chains will become the manager of the Vineyard Creek Hotel. The Monday announcement came during a testy meeting with the city Redevelopment Authority, as the hotel has not paid almost $600,000 in property taxes.
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Job losses hit bottom?

Sonoma County’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent in May as jobs were added in manufacturing, agriculture and tourism, according to state figures released Monday.
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Petaluma startup hiring

Charges in Guerneville double homicide dismissed

Rebuking prosecutors, a judge threw out murder charges Monday against a Monte Rio man accused of the 1998 killing of a Guerneville gay bar owner and his assistant.
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Plea in RP basketball court shooting case

'God' kept in pledge on technicality

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruling Monday dodged the underlying question of whether the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional blending of church and state.
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Two homes burn in Petaluma fire

A grass fire fanned by gusty westerly winds raged across 30 acres of farmland north of Petaluma on Sunday afternoon, burning two homes and half a dozen other buildings. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
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Visit from the Black Widow
She arrived in Sonoma County with a Bible in one hand and a suitcase in the other. Then her fingers started itching for husbands and wallets.

Millie Burt, left, and Hinda Groner don wedding veils as they wave to the crowd Sunday during the Sonoma County Pride Parade. Partners for 25 years, Burt and Groner were recently married in San Francisco. (Press Democrat/Christopher Chung)
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Easy summer living, in Savor Wine Country magazine:

Southwest Community Health Center needs volunteers, backing

What happens when six Sonoma County doctors share a dream? Full Story

Real World: Class of 2000 revisited

First featured in The Press Democrat in 1996, these 14 Sonoma County teens represent a cross section of the Class of 2000, the first high school graduates of the new millennium. Their journey to adulthood has brought rich lessons, even though some dreams faded and others simply changed.
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SRT raises curtain on quirky quintet

From 'Bye Bye Birdie' to 'Our Town' to 'Into the Woods,' SRJC pares down as it unveils a new season.
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On Vientiane visit, think Thai

Vientiane is the capital, largest city, and commercial center of Laos. It's situated on the north bank of the Mekong River, across from Thailand, with which Laos shares a long border. And so you'd expect Lao and Thai food to be somewhat similar.
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