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.

Property owners at a Lake Berryessa subdivision have managed to stop a proposal to increase water and sewer rates, a hike that Napa County officials said was essential to maintain water and sewer services.

The price of building a new house could rise by $2,240 if Napa Sanitation District approves a proposed hike in the connection fee paid by developers of new homes.

A Napa County caregiver protests a proposed cut in pay in 2008. A federal judge ruled on Friday the state couldn’t cut pay for home care workers, but county officials said they are not canceling a discussion of a new agreement between workers and the county on Tuesday.

Three men and a juvenile were arrested early Thursday morning in Calistoga on suspicion of vandalism after police found graffiti near the city’s Little League Field, according to Calistoga police.

The district attorney is urging residents who fell for an alleged reassessment scam to demand their money back.

Saturday is a Spare the Air day in the Bay Area, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the agency that monitors air quality.

A Napa woman was arrested Thursday on suspicion of causing moderate head injuries on her partner, Napa police reported Friday. The incident took place in the 100 block of Brown Street.

An 18-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were arrested Friday after police stopped the truck the woman was driving without the vehicle’s lights along Trower and Linda Vista avenues, according to Napa police.

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.

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

Napa Resource Conservation District is holding its first Napa Valley 5K/10K Salmon Run on Sunday, at the picnic ground of the Veterans Home of California at Yountville.

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.