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🌱 Patch AM: Why Trump Is Suing 2 Small California Cities For Something They Are Not Doing

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Saturday January 10th Patch AM
Saturday January 10th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Petaluma! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Trump administration targets Petaluma over gas rules it says it is not enforcing
  • How are Petaluma’s four Flock cameras really being used?
  • How Petaluma-based scientists are rethinking wildfire’s impact on California birds

Also on today's calendar: FLAMENCO! LIVE! Saturday, January 10th 2026 at The Big Easy Petaluma and 4 more events.

Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Periods of sun, with a high of 61 and low of 35 degrees.
  • Sunday: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps: high: 63, low: 37.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 63 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Why Trump Is Suing 2 Small California Cities For Something They Are Not Doing (patch.com) — Petaluma is being sued by the Trump administration over its still-on-the-books natural gas restrictions, even though city officials say they have never enforced the rules. Local leaders argue the lawsuit is unnecessary because Petaluma already complies with federal energy law and continues to approve projects with gas infrastructure, while many developers are voluntarily choosing all-electric systems. The case highlights a broader clash between local climate policies and federal energy regulations affecting several California cities.
   

• Public safety must-have or threat to civil liberties? Debate over Flock license plate reader cameras has taken hold in North Bay (pressdemocrat.com) — Petaluma residents should know their police department now uses four Flock license plate reader cameras, retaining data for 30 days as part of a growing North Bay surveillance network. The story weighs how agencies like Petaluma’s tout crime-fighting benefits while civil liberties advocates warn about privacy, data sharing, and potential misuse of this rapidly expanding technology across California.
   

• MONGABAY: When flames feed life: Birds and wildfire in California (mavensnotebook.com) — Petaluma shows up here as home base for the Institute for Bird Populations, whose research is reshaping how scientists think about wildfire’s impact on California birds. Long-term studies in Yosemite and other parks suggest many species actually thrive for decades after moderate fires, even as megafires and smoke pose growing threats. The piece also highlights new work on how smoke affects birds’ health and behavior.
   

📸 Around Petaluma

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Given how many homeless / unhoused people we have in Petaluma, I've been increasingly concerned about how cold it is.
    So I went through my closets and put together some warm clothes, socks, etc and have three bags of size 10-12 womens clothing to give to someone. I… (Nextdoor Petaluma Northeast)
  • InstaSwim LLC posted a job opening for Private Swim Instructor in Petaluma. Apply here.
  • Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified posted a job opening for 25-26 Community Liaison at Thomas Page Academy in Rohnert Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Petaluma here.

🗞 Nearby News

Penngrove

Cotati

  • What were the 6 most expensive homes sold in Cotati, reported last week? (pressdemocrat.com)
  • ICE shooting prompts ‘ICE Out For Good' protests in Santa Rosa, nationwide this weekend (pressdemocrat.com)
  • Businesses on the move in Sonoma County: Jan. 8 report (pressdemocrat.com)

Rohnert Park

Ok Petaluma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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