Sarah Stierch

I'm a journalist, opinionist, photographer and polymath based in northern California.

I am currently on leave from my journalism work as I explore where I see my future in the world of information and sharing. More soon on what the future holds.

I write about wildfires, food, beverage, travel, history and the local culture of regions in Northern California. I also photograph a lot of these subjects.

Most recently, I contributed to Bay City News and The Mendocino Voice. I am the former Food & Wine Editor of the Sonoma Valley Sun and beverage and travel writer for Sonoma Magazine. I have contributed to North Bay Woman, the Press-Democrat, the North Bay Bohemian, Huffington Post, Wine Enthusiast, the Sonoma Index-Tribune, and NorthBay Biz.

My wildfire work was called "groundbreaking" by KQED Forum's Michael Krasny in 2017. In my wildfire coverage, I have appeared on KQED Forum, WNYC's The Takeway, the Weather Channel, KPFA, KSVY, KSRO and in the Washington Post, St. Helena Star, SF Gate, San Francisco Chronicle and ABC Weekend Nightly News.

My photography has been published by The Washington Post, Utne Reader, Motorburn, Nature World News, the Christian Post, Buzzfeed, KNPR, KQED, Thrillist, Frommers, Lonely Planet, the Financial Observer, Country Queer, ROAR, WAMU, the National Park Service, California State Parks, the NBA, Joie de Vivre Hotels, PETA, Hilton and more.

You can contact me at sarahstierch at gmail.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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WWAYTV3 •

Department of Health and Human Services will cut 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan - WWAYTV3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan, it announced Thursday. Overall, the agency, which is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country, says it will decrease its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 positions. That includes 10,000 in layoffs as well as another 10,000 workers who are taking early retiremen...
EconoTimes •

$12B in U.S. Health Grants Canceled, Sparking Backlash Over Public Health Risks - EconoTimes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has canceled approximately $12 billion in federal health grants, triggering strong criticism from state officials and public health leaders. Originally allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the funds were used to support testing, vaccination, infectious disease monitoring, mental health services, and addiction treatment.
Piedmont Exedra •

Alameda County approves millions to fund immigrant and refugee legal aid, other services

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors earmarked $2.2 million this week for a suite of services designed to protect the region’s immigrant and refugee communities. In a unanimous vote at their regular Tuesday meeting, supervisors approved the request from the board’s ad hoc Alameda County Together for All Committee, the goal of which is to provide advice and guidanc...
Science News •

Cliff swallow breeding thwarted by bird version of bedbugs | Science News

Bedbugs are no fun, even when you’re a bird. The species that bothers humans — Cimex lectularius — only feasts on us. But other animals have to deal with their own versions of the nasty parasite. Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), for instance, are plagued by the American swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius). When swallow bugs infest cliff swallows’ gourd-shaped nests, it’s bad news for swallow nestlings, affecting the young birds’ development and survival. The parasites are also bad...
New England Auto Museum •

Media | New England Auto Museum | An exciting new attraction for Connecticut and New England! | Page 9

The Borg-Warner Trophy and Al Unser in the Johnny Lightning Special, twice winner Indy 500. Photos: Sarah Stierch and courtesy Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Amelia Island, Fla. – Of course, race cars get all the attention: They’re fast, loud, oftentimes flashy, and driven by men of legend. But those men of legend don’t just race for the thri...
Northern California Public Media •

Cheese trail map offers road trip ideas for Bay Area foodies

The 14th edition of the Cheese Trail map of California was released this month, the map's publisher said. The 2025 map features over 44 artisan cheesemakers across the state, including 23 in the Bay Area, most of which offer tours, tastings and retail sales. For over a decade, the Cheese Trail map has guided foodies through the backroads and city streets of the Bay Area in search of handcrafted, locally made cheese. In 2010, Vivien Straus, whose family owns and operates Straus Family Creamery...
Jurist •

Former staff and advocacy groups file suit to restore Voice of America

A group of former journalists and other employees of Voice of America (VOA), a federal government-funded media company, together with other interest and advocacy groups have filed a complaint on Friday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York requesting an injunction to force the federal government to restore the terminated employees and contractors to their former positions prior to March 14 — the date President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14238 (“the order”).The o...
Business Times •

Trump Orders Dismantling of Voice of America, Cuts Funding for U.S.-Backed Broadcasters

The Trump administration moved to dismantle several U.S.-funded media outlets over the weekend, including Voice of America (VOA), in a sweeping executive order that eliminated funding, placed nearly all employees on leave, and directed the shutdown of key broadcasting operations. The decision has sparked backlash from press freedom advocates and former agency officials, who argue the move undermines the U.S.'s longstanding mission to promote democracy abroad.President Trump signed the order Frid...
Local News Matters •

As poultry farms slowly recover from bird flu, concerns rise over economy, public health - Local News Matters

Bird flu is not just for birds. It is about public health, agriculture and an economic crisis. That was the final takeaway of a joint hearing of the California Senate Health and Senate Agriculture Committees this week. Updates from state officials and industry leaders covered federal funding, disease containment, worker protections, trade policies and food security. The pathogenic H5N1 virus that has killed millions of chickens and sent egg prices soaring is a highly mutable strain that transfig...
Local News Matters •

Coalition of Bay Area Election Officials reminds voters in-person voting still an option - Local News Matters

A coalition of Bay Area county election officials wants to remind voters that they still have the option to vote in person. The Coalition of Bay Area Election Officials said Wednesday in a statement that mail-in voting is now the most preferred method for Californians to cast their votes, but voters who opt to vote in-person or who need additional assistance can still visit their local county elections office.   “Depending on their county, voters also have the option to visit any polling place,...
KALW •

Bay Area election officials have Tuesday deadline to mail out replacement ballots

Bay Area election officials have a deadline of Tuesday to mail out last requests for replacement Vote By Mail ballots.They encourage voters to return their ballots in the mail by then, too.The Coalition of Bay Area Election Officials said Friday in a press release: "The last recommended day to mail your ballot is Oct. 29. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 12 will be accepted.”The deadline for depositing a ballot in a drop box or at any voting location or elections...
News - Indiana Public Media •

INDOT gets O.K. to spend $256M on welcome center overhaul, despite lawmaker skepticism

Your road trip may soon get swankier. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on Tuesday won budgetary approval to pour $256 million into “welcome center” rest areas and truck parking at multiple highway locations around the state. That’s even though lawmakers on the State Budget Committee expressed skepticism about the high price tag. “We are trying to turn these into destinations,” Statewide Facilities Director Steve McAvoy told the body. Indiana’s rest stops mostly date back to t
The Teen Magazine •

Chanel's New Creative Director Should Be Anyone but Karl Lagerfeld

Is the image filling itself out? You’re probably either imagining a supervillain or one of the most remembered creative directors in fashion history (if there’s much of a difference between the two). Karl Lagerfeld is a name that reverberates through any room in the fashion industry. The man had a whole Met Gala themed after his work. His wedding dresses are crystallized in history. Lagerfeld, despite the atrocity of his personal life, was a designer that changed fashion. He made Chanel revoluti
Hoodline •

17-Year-Old Charged with Murder of Edwin Simon-Osorio at Halloween House Party in Indianapolis

Indianapolis has seen an arrest nearly eight months after a tragic shooting at a house party claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy. Edwin Simon-Osorio was shot dead following an altercation that spiraled out of control during a Halloween celebration. Now, 17-year-old Alan Peregrino faces murder charges, as reported by IndyStar. The incident, which took place on October 21, 2023, began with a gathering that unexpectedly grew into a large and unmanageable event. As the Indianapolis Metropolitan P
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