On June 1, the Napa Police Department, Napa City Fire Department, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Calistoga Police Department and the California Highway Patrol launched a free  community information service called Nixle. Using Nixle, these agencies can notify residents in real time when there are public safety emergencies, traffic advisories, crime trends, safety tips and public safety agency special events. Like Twitter, messages are sent to cell phones, e-mails or other Web-enabled devices that allow instant access to information. Nixle allows subscribers to follow agencies in multiple locations, so not only can you follow your home area but also follow any area where you may have family or friends. As Nixle grows, more areas are added monthly. This service is completely free to Napa County residents, except for any charges you may incur for receiving text messages.

• Napa County Assessor John Tuteur and staff are working to review all properties that may have declined in value as of Jan. 1, 2009. A property’s assessed value determines the amount of annual property tax the owner pays. All single family homes in the municipalities and homes in the unincorporated area on less than five acres are being reviewed without the owner needing to contact the assessor. Owners of other residential, commercial or industrial properties are urged to contact the assessor if they believe the value of the property had declined by Jan. 1, 2009, to a level below its factored base-year value as shown on the 2008-2009 property tax bill. Owners can contact Tuteur at 253-4459 or jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us. Results of the decline in value review will be sent to property owners in July 2009.

The Napa Valley Register and NapaValleyRegister.com publishes monthly statistics on arrests and convictions for driving under the influence — and so-called “wet reckless” convictions — in Napa County.

Napa County officials agreed this week with the Napa County Grand Jury’s recommendation that the county change the way it has traditionally dealt with inmates.

The proposed development at Napa Pipe will put 1,600 new cars on the road during morning rush-hour traffic, according to a preliminary traffic study released Wednesday by Napa County officials.

Napa County Sheriff’s deputies found that 92 percent of 229 sex offenders registered in the county were in compliance during a countywide sweep Wednesday, The sweep, assisted by officers from four other agencies,  verified the addresses of registered sex offenders.

St. Helena police arrested a 21-year-old Napa man after his car struck the stone wall in front of the Culinary Institute of America Wednesday night.

LOS ANGELES — Police investigating Michael Jackson’s death looked into his medical treatment Friday, seeking to interview one of the pop king’s doctors and seizing a car that they said may contain drugs or other evidence.

Fifteen Justin-Siena High School students among 22 high school students traveling abroad were quarantined in Ecuador this week after one of the group tested positive for swine flu. The person who tested positive for the H1N1 virus is a male Novato High School student.

The judge overseeing the Copia bankruptcy case slammed a player in the complicated proceeding Friday, even as the case inched closer to resolution.

A 53-year-old Solano County man with a confirmed case of H1N1 has died, according to Solano County health authorities. His death is the first in the county involving a person with the virus.

The Silverado Amateur Radio Society demonstrates amateur radio at Napa Valley Memorial Park, 2383 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa, on Saturday at noon to Sunday at 11 a.m.

Wheeling around the big top — Memo Perez of American Crown Circus’ Circo Osorio performs with his unicycles as the traveling circus makes its yearly stop at the Napa Expo for three days of shows.