A former Napa couple accused of murdering their mentally disabled 4-year-old nephew have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Napa native Luke McConnell is not among the Marines facing criminal charges in the November 2005 deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha, according to his attorney.

Negotiations between attorneys for two Napa Valley College nursing students and the college show the students are closing in on a win in their battle over the use of a nursing test.

Renovations of the Calistoga and Mondavi farmworker housing facilities this year ran $1.6 million over budget, and representatives of winery and grapegrower groups are seeking an audit of the Napa Valley Housing Authority, which oversaw the projects.

Napa’s garbage rates will go up Jan. 1 after nary a public protest.

Dozens of Register readers have called, e-mailed and stopped by in response to a Dec. 4 front page story depicting the family of Manuel Ruiz, a former Charles Krug winery worker among dozens of fieldworkers whose contracts were terminated earlier this year.

A citizen’s ongoing noise complaint against Butter Cream Bakery in Napa is being revisited by the City Council at the request of new council member Juliana Inman.