Considerable cloudiness. High around 55F. Winds light and variable..
Mostly cloudy skies. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable.
Karlsen had angry outburst when asked by insurance rep if he caused fire
Giuseppe Ricapito
When a State Farm fire claim representative broached the subject of whether Karl Karlsen could have done anything, even inadvertently, to cause the Murphys house fire which killed his wife Christina, he banged his hands on the kitchen table, yelled and ran down his hallway.
Yosemite officials confirm norovirus cases
Union Democrat staff
Two cases of norovirus have been linked to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness among people who were recently in Yosemite National Park, according to the National Park Service.
Sonora man arrested on child porn charges
A 36-year-old Sonora man has been arrested on charges relating to possession of child pornography.
The first significant storm of 2020 brought snow down to Tuolumne, Soulsbyville and other foothill communities east of Sonora, and freezing to near-freezing conditions over night and Friday morning left ice and frozen slush on roads around 2,000 feet elevation and above.
Alex MacLean
Newly obtained court documents revealed that the Sonora Police Department didn't learn about the death of 23-month-old Koltyn Sparks-Blackwood until 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2019, more than five hours after the toddler took his final breath at UC Davis Medical Center.
This report is from the Thursday morning session. To read about the full day of testimony see the Union Democrat on Friday.
A 26-year-old man on felony probation for assault was arrested again Wednesday afternoon in Sonora, this time on suspicion of tampering with vehicles and public intoxication.
Two new fast-food restaurants in Sonora appear to be nearing completion.
On Tuesday, City of Sonora public works employees placed large blocks of marble, donated by Blue Mountain Minerals, for tables or seating in the mini-park on Linoburg, and early Wednesday morning they were installing metal benches around them.
Calaveras County District Attorney Barbara Yook held a photo of the charred and asphyxiated body of Christina Karlsen outstretched for the 12 jurors and four alternates to see on the second day of testimony in the Karl Karlsen murder trial.
On New Year's Day in 1991, the 6-year-old daughter of Christina Karlsen was napping in the bed she had just received for Christmas when she heard her mother screaming, "Karl, get the kids."
Tracy Gulcynski placed a birthday balloon by the grave of her late grandson Koltyn Sparks-Blackwood on Monday in the Baby Garden section at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson, where dozens of other young children whose lives were cut short are laid to rest.
Two men were found dead due to unknown circumstances inside a houseboat moored at Lake McClure in Mariposa County on Saturday.
Student accused of bringing gun to Cassina High
An 18-year-old student was arrested on suspicion of two felonies Monday morning for allegedly bringing a loaded, stolen semiautomatic pistol to Dario Cassina High School on Barretta Street.
Tuolumne County government seeks feedback
Tuolumne County is asking for feedback on its priorities through an online survey.
Police are looking for a man who held a Walmart employee at gun point early Friday morning.
Jurors seated in Karlsen case
A jury of seven women and five men was seated in Calaveras County Superior Court Friday morning in the trial of Karl Karlsen, who is accused of killing his wife in a house fire 29 years ago and collecting a $200,000 life insurance policy in her name.
Rules on letters about candidates
Our usual rules will apply to letters regarding the March 3 presidential primary.
Jury selection continues in Karlsen trial
When the first 12 prospective jurors in the Karl Karlsen murder trial were seated for questioning on Thursday morning, seven of them raised their hands to report that they had heard details of the case.
Man arrested in sex crimes employed as Piedmont firefighter
A man arrested in Sonora on suspicion of underage sex crimes is a firefighter in Piedmont, a city near Oakland.Piedmont city officials released a statement Thursday saying they are aware of the investigation being conducted by the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office."The city takes this issue …
Angels Camp sees an uptick in economic development
Angels Camp city planners are preparing for what they anticipate will be a busy year, beginning with the completion of some long-awaited projects later this month.
A Sonora man identified as a firefighter was arrested on Tuesday at the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office investigations office on Cedar Road in Sonora on suspicion of underage sex crimes.
Jury selection begins in Karlsen trial
Just under half of the 140 prospective jurors who reported Wednesday morning to the Calaveras County Superior Court for the first day of the Karl Karlsen trial were dismissed, mostly due to financial hardship.
Vacant storefront at Sonora Plaza gets new tenant
Wilco, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Oregon, is planning to open a new farm-supply store in the vacant space left by Orchard Supply Hardware in the Sonora Plaza Shopping Center on Mono Way.
Man arrested in Mono Way burglary
Sonora Police arrested a 40-year-old Sonora man in connection with a break-in at a business on Mono Way.
Calaveras County Animal Services' no-kill effort
Calaveras County Animal Shelter officials told county officials they are proud of the movement they've made toward becoming a no-kill shelter. Here are a few of the animals available for adoption.
Brennan will lead board for 2020
Tuolumne County Supervisor Sherri Brennan was elected chair of the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Karlsen jury selection to begin Wednesday
The trial of a former Calaveras County resident accused of killing his wife in a house fire 29 years ago will begin Wednesday.
Feds seek endangered status for Sierra Nevada red foxes
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed Endangered Species Act protections for Sierra Nevada red foxes, which have been tracked in the Sonora Pass area and Yosemite National Park in recent years.
Calaveras County animal services responds to Grand Jury
Calaveras County Animal Services functions more efficiently in the Environmental Management Agency, rather than the Sheriff's Office, according to responses to the Civil Grand Jury's most recent report.
TUD project will close portion of street in downtown Sonora on Tuesday
West Bradford Street between Poplar and Seco streets in downtown Sonora will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday for preparation work to install a new water main pipeline.
Tuolumne County announces locations of vote centers, ballot drop-off boxes
The Tuolumne County Elections Office has announced the locations and hours of operation for vote centers and ballot drop-off boxes for the March 3 presidential primary election.
Tuolumne County gets $5m more for community centers in Tuolumne, Groveland
California housing officials have agreed to provide an additional $5 million of unused federal funding to construct community resilience centers in Tuolumne and Groveland.
Crime Stoppers seeks information on child death
Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers in Modesto tried to help jumpstart the investigation into the death of Koltyn Sparks over the weekend with a Facebook post.
FAA investigates crash of small helicopter in Mokelumne Hill
A light utility helicopter crashed in the vicinity of Mokelumne Hill on Saturday, a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.
Karlsen due in court this morning
A man accused of killing his wife in a house fire 28 years ago is scheduled to be in court Tuesday morning in preparation for his trial to start Wednesday.
On This Day... Jan. 6, 1959
Diane Anderson scheduled for jail release on Jan. 25
Diane Anderson, a Sonora nurse sentenced to 10 months in county jail for her role in an October 2016 triple-fatal collision on J-59, is scheduled for release on Jan. 25.
Little Sweden parking and snow play
Here's what it looks like at Little Sweden these days, where the property owner is trying to cut down on sledding and thereby reduce left-behind garbage. It's been a huge problem through the years.
Snow levels off to a good start
The first snow survey of 2020 was conducted Thursday west of Lake Tahoe and it was oh-so-close to average — 97 percent.
Man holds Calaveras deputies in three-hour standoff from roof
A San Joaquin County man threw ceramic roof tiles at Calaveras County Sheriff's deputies from the top of a one-story San Andreas home during a three-and-a-half hour standoff on Wednesday night.
Neighbors save Twain Harte family from fire
Lyn Riddle
A longtime Twain Harte family fled into the night just as the new year dawned after neighbors up for a New Year's Eve party ran over to say the house was on fire.
In Thursday's Union Democrat
Guy McCarthy spent his New Year's Day driving up to Pinecrest Lake to watch people plunge into the icy depths — well, maybe not too deep — in the second annual event.
Central Sierra Precipitation
Alex MacLean looks back on a tumultuous 10 years of weather in the Central Sierra in Wednesday's Union Democrat. Here are some photos to help remember how crazy the weather has.
On This Day... Dec. 31, 1981
2019 in photos from around the Mother Lode
Maggie Beck The Union Democrat