McMansions get most of the media attention, but apartments and attached single-family homes represented nearly half of new residential construction in Napa last year.

SACRAMENTO -- California's mental hospitals will rely less on restraining, isolating and medicating patients and more on counseling, the head of the state Department of Mental Health promised Tuesday.

Napa is kicking in extra money to expand the planned parking garage at Third and Coombs streets and finance seismic work at the historic Borreo building at Third and Soscol Avenue.

Napa has yet to see an apartment converted into a condominium following last summer's strengthening of the condo conversion ordinance, but Councilman Harry Martin wants to change the rules to protect lower-income renters.

In a move to counter a potential bioterrorism attack in Napa County, diseases that might spread rapidly can now be reported to the Napa County Health Department 24 hours a day, Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith said this week.

A judge is set to rule today whether a St. Helena couple should pay penalties for running an unapproved bed and breakfast out of their guesthouse.

GALVESTON, Texas -- As many as 1 million people were ordered to clear out along the Gulf Coast, and hospital and nursing home patients were evacuated Wednesday as Hurricane Rita turned into a Category-5, 165-mph monster that could slam Texas by the weekend and inflict more misery on New Orleans.

The thief got away, but American Canyon police officers were able to find the stolen loot, minus about $200 in cash.

Though Hurricane Rita is forecast to touch down half a country away, Napa County is busy preparing for the storm.