• 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.

I received an e-mail message months ago that claimed drinking cold water with or after a meal was actually bad for you, and that it was better to drink warm or hot water for better digestion.

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.

A large eucalyptus tree fell across Highway 29 late Wednesday morning, blocking southbound traffic and the Napa Valley Wine Train tracks between Trubody and Ragatz Lanes near Yountville.

Large plumes of smoke in the hills east of Napa prompted a number of calls of concern to fire crews and the Register offices earlier this afternoon.

Boosting confidence in the revitalization of downtown Napa, a popular neighborhood restaurant will join the burgeoning ranks of downtown dining rooms before summer’s end.

Napa’s new transit center will be built at the southwest corner of Fourth and Burnell streets, opposite Napa Valley Exposition.

Pacific Union College is resuming work on its Angwin eco-village project, but the Seattle-based developer that has guided the project since 2005 will assume a smaller role in the 380-unit project.

Anthony Lee Holley was booked in Napa County jail on Tuesday for suspected domestic abuse and a parole violation.

A two-acre grass fire threatened two homes on Old Soda Spring Road Wednesday, but firefighters extinguished the blaze before there was damage to either structure.

SACRAMENTO — Foiled by a dispute over education funding, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders remain at odds over how to close California’s $26.3 billion budget shortfall.

In case you don't flip through our Opinion section, we thought we'd point out a guest commentary today by George Altamura, owner of the long-shuttered Uptown Theater.

The son of Merced County's district attorney has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for a car crash that killed a 22-year-old from Calistoga.

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the nation’s largest gay rights groups is urging activists in California not to go back to the ballot next year to repeal the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

Bastille Day in Napa — Lisa Eichler Crump of Napa dances with her son Charlie Crump, 18 months, at the Oxbow Public Market as they listen to music by Francine Passa, right on violin, and Tom Cordoni on accordian with the Napastille Trio.