Marc Albert

Reporter at KRCB-TV (Rohnert Park, CA)

Articles

Visitors from the opposite side of the Pacific taking up residence alo

Oct 30, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

New visitors have been appearing up and down the west coast the last two years that may be a harbinger of bigger changes on the way. Trying to determine differences between northern and southern populations of Pacific sardine, Dr. Gary Longo, a research scientist contracted to NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center, stumbled upon an unusual discovery. "My initial thought was , oh I may have made a mistake and swapped plates with different samples because the differentiation was so strong.
Revised Guenoc Valley proposal aims to allay fire concerns

Oct 29, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

A state appeals court recently upheld a 2-year-old trial court decision rejecting environmental documents for a proposed housing development in Lake County, east of Middletown. The Guenoc Valley project is a 1,400-home development proposed to spread across 16,000 acres. The trial court agreed with environmental groups and the state Attorney General's office that emergency evacuation plans for a development of that size, in a fire-prone area, were inadequate. The appeals court concurred.
Regional advocacy group quizzes candidates on transit issues

Oct 24, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

How we get around affects the environment, ourselves and our built environment. To some, like Carter Levin, a co-founder of the Transbay Coalition, a 5-year old advocacy group, it's a paramount issue. Earlier this year the group sent every candidate across the Bay Area seeking a city or state office a survey about transit, intending to provide voters another facet on which to base their choice. The group received 160 responses, the most ever.
Local economy rebounding, but housing prices creating headwinds

Oct 23, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

While not quite roaring back following a COVID-era decline, the North Bay's economy is in fairly good shape. That's according to information presented this morning in a conference held by the North Bay Leadership Council. Offices are more occupied, airport passenger numbers are soaring and recent minimum wage increases, including for fast food workers, do not appear to be holding the region back.
Micro-restaurants, food services may flourish under newly approved rul

Oct 22, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

Sonoma County has cleared the way for ambitious home chefs to launch a business. Thanks to a unanimous vote by the board of supervisors this afternoon, supper clubs could pop up starting in January....or maybe not. There was a bit of a congratulatory celebration by supervisors this afternoon. So called micro-enterprise home kitchens could open a new avenue for small scale entrepreneurs and give some financially-struggling residents a lucrative side gig enabling them to make ends meet.
Seven of eight candidates for Petaluma Council debate issues

Oct 21, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

Seven of eight candidates for three seats on the Petaluma City Council met online Thursday evening to introduce and distinguish themselves in a candidate forum. It was hosted by Los Cien, the local Latino-based leadership organization. There were few fireworks during the two-hour long session. Questions ran the gamut from diversity in city leadership....to mobile home parks....to the height of new downtown buildings. The only universal position---no one likes the M-Group.
Five way race for two council seats in Cloverdale

Oct 8, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

Cloverdale voters are being asked to select two from a field of five candidates seeking a seat on Cloverdale's city council. It's one of few California cities remaining that haven't switched, often under threat of a lawsuit, to district elections. The city council race also appears a bit less contentious, with messaging mainly focused on positivity, and community building.
Local schools facing multiple challenges, including finding elected le

Oct 2, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

In addition to 11 measures that would raise funding---ten by selling bonds, and one via a parcel tax, there are 13 competitive races for seats on some of Sonoma County's 40 school district boards of trustees---all to be decided by voters next month. KRCB's Marc Albert spoke with Amie Carter, Superintendent of the Sonoma County Office of Education about the challenges facing local schools and school districts, including declining student enrollment and fewer candidates vying for leadership.
Hearing set for next month for alleged firefighter-turned-arsonist

Sep 24, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

Following a brief hearing this morning, a Cal Fire firefighter, accused of setting five Sonoma County fires this summer was remanded into custody without bail. The accused appeared pensive prior to the hearing, sitting upright in the gallery, with part of a sleeve tattoo peeking out from jail-issued dark blue scrubs. Nearby, another defendant with a buzzcut rocked back and forth, awaiting the start of proceedings in Judge Troye Shaffer's sterile courtroom.
Cheated farmworkers made whole following federal intervention

Sep 19, 2024 | norcalpublicmedia.org | Marc Albert

A total of 23 workers who toiled at a Sonoma County farm have been reimbursed more than $31,000 collectively. That's following an investigation by the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. According to the federal agency, the farm's owners declined to pay overtime and failed to provide tools, meals or kitchen facilities. They also provided substandard housing, and did not reimburse the cost of transportation to and from job sites. Those are all requirements under a visa program.