Remote Surveillance Trailer in Napa, CA

A Napa woman says she would be among the few women over 40, and few Puerto Ricans, to reach the world's tallest mountain.

NAPA VALLEY, CA — A Napa woman who would be among the few women over 40 to reach the world’s tallest mountain will set out this May after a decade climbing the planet’s highest peaks.

Nicole Santiago has spent the past decade climbing the planet’s tallest peaks, saving every spare dollar, and training through snow, ice, and rock to chase a dream most people only imagine: standing atop Mount Everest.

The sacrifice and determination are not unusual for someone ready to make the push to one of the most arduous and rewarding treks in the world.

But if Santiago succeeds, she will join a small group of women over 40 — and become one of the only Puerto Rican-American women — to reach the summit.

Now 41, her journey began at 17 while working with the Youth Conservation Corps in Yosemite National Park, where the mountains became more than a backdrop — they became a place of healing, clarity, and spiritual awakening, according to her account.

At 18, a friend gave her a book called Together on Top of the World, planting the seed for the Seven Summits, the tallest peaks on each continent. Years later, that dream reignited atop Kilimanjaro.

Since then, Santiago has summited mountains across Oceania, Europe, and North America, completed avalanche safety and crevasse rescue training, and maintained a rigorous training regimen to prepare for Everest. Alongside her climbs, she said she is writing a poetry collection inspired by the Seven Summits.

Santiago also founded She Moves Boldly, a growing movement encouraging women to tackle hard challenges and rise with courage when the path feels impossible. Everest, she says, is not just about reaching the top — it’s about reshaping who belongs there.

“For the past ten years, I’ve spent every bit of my free time, energy, and savings chasing one big dream — to climb the highest mountains on Earth,” Santiago said on her GoFundMe page. “This is the biggest climb of my life, and I need your help to make it happen. Every dollar truly matters — it helps me take one more step toward the top of the world.”

Her two-month expedition in the Himalayas begins later this month, with almost half of a $57,000 goal to support her Sherpa team, food, and gear.

For Santiago, each step upward is not just a physical climb — it’s a step toward inspiring women everywhere to conquer the mountains within themselves.

Baseball season is back, and fans around Napa Valley have plenty of ways to catch the action — whether that means watching the game at a local sports bar, heading toward the Bay Area for a big-league matchup or supporting youth baseball close to home.

Ready to get started? Here are a few ways to enjoy the season around Napa Valley.

From downtown taverns to casual neighborhood bars, there are several places around Napa where fans gather when the game is on.

Napa Palisades Saloon Located in downtown Napa, Napa Palisades Saloon is a casual sports bar with craft beer on tap and numerous TVs where fans can watch live games.

Norman Rose Tavern Norman Rose Tavern offers a lively restaurant and bar setting with televisions around the bar area, making it a comfortable place to catch a game while enjoying food and drinks.

Downtown Joe's Brewery & Restaurant Downtown Joe’s in downtown Napa combines a brewery, restaurant and sports-watching atmosphere with multiple screens that make it a popular game-day destination.

Fans around Napa Valley do not have to travel far to experience Major League Baseball.

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants play at Oracle Park in San Francisco, and many fans from Napa Valley make the trip to the city for games during the season.

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics have long been another Bay Area team followed by fans throughout Napa Valley.

Local leagues and community programs help keep the sport active for young players across Napa Valley.

Napa Little League Napa Little League offers baseball programs for young athletes across several divisions and serves hundreds of local players each season.

American Canyon Little League Located just south of Napa, American Canyon Little League provides additional youth baseball opportunities for families throughout the Napa Valley region.

From youth leagues and local fields to nearby ballparks and watch parties, baseball remains an active part of community life around Napa Valley each season.

However you follow the game — at a bar, a ballpark or a neighborhood field — baseball season offers plenty of ways for fans around Napa Valley to join in.

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NAPA VALLEY, CA — A Napa County jury’s verdict has now sent a Pope Valley man to prison for what prosecutors described as years of abuse against a young family member, ending a case that involved multiple trials, hundreds of illegal images, and a sentence that could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.

The Napa County District Attorney’s Office said 63-year-old David Earl Garland was sentenced to 30 years to life, plus an additional 16 years in state prison.

Napa District Attorney Allison Haley said sentence followed Garland’s conviction on multiple sex crimes involving a minor.

Jurors found Garland guilty Oct. 24, 2024, after prosecutors presented evidence that he sexually abused a young female family member at his home in Pope Valley between 2019 and 2020. Prosecutors said similar allegations also surfaced from a 2017 incident in Colorado involving the same victim.

According to prosecutors, the girl disclosed the ongoing abuse in late 2020 to her stepmother, who alerted other relatives and eventually authorities.

A jury convicted Garland of six felony counts of committing lewd acts on a child under 14, two felony counts of sexual penetration of a child 10 or younger, possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Jurors also found that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that Garland held a position of trust.

Investigators with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Garland’s home during the investigation and seized multiple electronic devices along with illegal firearms and ammunition.

A forensic analysis later uncovered hundreds of images and videos depicting graphic child sexual abuse material on those devices, prosecutors said.

Garland had previously been convicted in June 2023 of possessing child pornography and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. However, jurors deadlocked at that time on the molestation charges, forcing prosecutors to retry those counts in October 2024.

Deputy District Attorney Shashawnya Worley prosecuted the case. After the sentencing by Judge Scott R. L. Young, Worley said the defendant repeatedly abused a position of trust to victimize a child and said the outcome reflects the seriousness of the harm.

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Federal prosecutors allege wine and spirits suppliers funneled bribes and falsified records to push alcohol sales.

NAPA VALLEY, CA — A Napa winery salesman and five ex-employees of a California alcohol distributor allegedly ran a years-long bribery scheme, disguising luxury perks as business expenses to promote a major U.S. distributor, according to an indictment filed this week.

A federal grand jury indicted former executives of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits for their suspected role in a years-long bribery and obstruction scheme to get prime shelf space for the beverage giant at grocery stores across California.

The former employees of the company, which has a major Northern California facility in Novato (listed in court documents as Distributor-1) were identified as Michael Dehdashtian, 48, of Lake Forest; Ryan Dow, 40, of Upland; Stephen Magliocco, 47, of Trabuco Canyon; Loratina Muscara, 64, of Livermore; and Adrian Ruiz, 54, of Corona.

The indictment, filed in a Northern California District Court, also includes Michael Sean Salene, 60, a wine executive who most recently worked for Roots Run Deep Winery in Napa, according to reports.

Federal Charges

Between 2016 and 2024, former employees of a company identified as Distributor-1 are suspected of conspiring to offer grocery store chain employees golf trips, exercise equipment, prepaid gift cards worth up to $1,000 each, as well as luxury and designer watches and purses in exchange for top shelf space.

Federal prosecutors say they also disguised the payments as legitimate business expenses, using approved vendors and fake invoices to conceal the giveaways.

Salene, is suspected of bribing the head alcohol buyer of a national grocery chain that operates about 300 stores in California, according to an indictment filed this week. Salene is also suspected of lying to investigators and falsifying invoices to cover up the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District. Salene was charged with Travel Act bribery and making false statements.

The indictments stem from investigations by the IRS-Criminal Investigation unit and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Grocery chains typically have limited shelf space for alcohol, especially in high-traffic categories like Napa wines or premium spirits.

The brands that secure those slots can see hefty sales boosts. So competition to get distributors, which are de facto gatekeepers, to promote their brands is fierce. Napa producers, in turn, depend heavily on grocery and retail placement to get bottles seen beyond tasting rooms.

Incentives that can sway a retailer’s purchasing decisions are illegal. These can include cash payments, luxury gifts, prepaid gift cards, and travel perks. Hidden reimbursements disguised as marketing expenses are also illegal. It is also illegal to use invoices to pay for such perks, according to federal authorities.

Because of the scope, the case has pulled in multiple levels of the industry, stretching across California, including Walnut Creek, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton, Napa’s wine industry, multiple Southern California cities, and even Idaho.

The grocery chain involved was also not named, but the San Francisco Chronicle identified it as Albertsons in Northern California and its Vons subsidiary in Southern California, according to CBS News. Albertsons has corporate offices in Pleasanton and headquarters in Boise, Idaho. Vons has seven stores in L.A. and more nationally.

An Albertsons representative said a statement to CBS News Bay Area that the chain is aware of the allegations and cooperating with authorities, adding that, "The behavior in question was wholly inconsistent with our policies, and we do not, and will not, tolerate it. We expect all associates to adhere and fully comply with all laws and regulations and all company policies."

Florida-based Southern Glazer told CBS News Bay Area that they have cooperated with relevant authorities and will continue to do so.The group charged in Tuesday's indictment is scheduled to appear in federal court in Oakland on March 25.

Each faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, obstruction of investigations, falsification of records, and making false statements. Convictions could mean up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count, depending on the charge.

In October 2023, Albertsons' former top wine buyer, Patrick Briones, pleaded guilty in federal court to commercial bribery and conspiracy.

In addition to the March 3 indictment, wine suppliers Bryan Barnes, John Herzog, and Matthew Adler, pleaded guilty in 2025 to similar charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.