The FBI has issued a public warning about an evolving fraud scheme targeting Chinese-speaking individuals living in the United States.

In this scam, criminals impersonate U.S. health insurance providers and Chinese law enforcement to pressure victims into sending money.

Typically, victims receive a call (often from a spoofed phone number) claiming to be from a health insurance company about a large medical claim. The caller may show fraudulent invoices through video calls. If the recipient denies the claim, the call is transferred to someone posing as Chinese law enforcement who may threaten extradition or legal consequences and demand payment for “bail.”

In some cases, victims are pressured to download video communication software and remain connected for ongoing surveillance.

How to Protect Yourself
• Verify insurance claims directly through your insurance company’s official website or phone number.
• Never share personal information or login credentials with unsolicited callers.
• Do not wire money or send payments to unknown individuals.
• Do not allow strangers remote access to your computer or device.

If You Experience This Scam
Report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and include any relevant phone numbers, emails, or details about the interaction.

Professor ChingLing Wo (Sonoma State University) will present a public talk exploring the history of Chinese laborers along the Petaluma River and their role in shaping the region’s economy and landscape.

 Saturday, February 21
 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Petaluma River Park, 159 H Street, Petaluma

Titled Living with the Creek: Finding Chinese Labor in Petaluma, the talk serves as an overview of the series Feet in the Mud: Chinese Lives at the Petaluma River, 1856–1910. The program draws from historical documents, newspapers, and maps to examine labor, race, and environmental history in Petaluma.

Seating is limited and advance registration required:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQIKAM31iPbIIHNm0ZrhKQgo8gzBMGpCwRZ1AyYlxtfiy0oQ/viewform

The series also includes three follow-up workshops on Mondays from 4:00–5:30 PM (April 13, 20, 27). Local teachers are especially encouraged to attend.

All are welcome. Please share widely.

Celebrate Lunar New Year with a family-friendly festival in Healdsburg featuring performances, vendors, kids activities, and special cultural programming.

 Saturday, February 21, 2026
 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
6706 Hwy 128, Healdsburg

Festivities include a special visit from neighborhood horses, photos with the horses, local AAPIC vendor booths, arts and crafts for kids, and a 1:00 PM performance by Redwood Empire Chinese Association dancers, martial artists, and drummers.

Dim sum will be available (preorder online or purchase day-of), along with special wine offerings from local AAPIC winemaker Dot Wines. A costume contest and red envelope giveaway for the first 50 kids add to the celebration.

All are welcome — come dressed to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.

For more information: 707-756-5022

The Petaluma Historic Chinatown Park Committee, in partnership with Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, invites the community to a Lunar New Year Incense Offering Ceremony honoring Petaluma’s early Chinese residents.

This free public ceremony will take place at Historic Chinatown Park and offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect, remember, and welcome the new year in a spirit of respect and cultural continuity.

Saturday, February 14, 2026
3:00 PM
Historic Chinatown Park 
7 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA

All are welcome to attend and participate in this moment of remembrance and community gathering.

The Redwood Empire Chinese Association invites the community to a free Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 5:30–8:00 PM at Finley Auditorium in Santa Rosa.

Enjoy an evening of cultural performances, dragon and lion dances, traditional instruments, martial arts, calligraphy, snacks, and family-friendly activities. Guests can take photos, experience traditional arts, and connect with friends old and new as we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.

All are welcome — come celebrate culture, community, and the new year together.

AAPIC condemns the January killings of two Minneapolis residents - Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti - who were fatally shot by ICE officers in Minnesota. We stand against the use of racial profiling, violence, and lethal force by Federal agents. We join calls for independent, transparent investigations of these cases.

AAPIC acknowledges the other lives lost to ICE that have not been as heavily publicized in the news, including Keith Porter Jr. and the more than 30 individuals who have died in ICE custody. All of these deaths are tragic and deserve to be recognized.

Minnesota is home to a diverse Asian immigrant population, including Hmong, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese people. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) are home to the largest urban Hmong population in the United States; Asian Minnesotans make up the largest immigrant population of any racial group in the state. This violence and discrimination against immigrants is not new to Asians in America, nor to communities of color. We don’t have to look back far in this country's history to see examples of weaponized racism by the highest office.

Our communities and families are living in fear and being targeted and terrorized by our own government.

To protect the safety and civil rights of all residents, AAPIC urges the County of Sonoma to establish a policy for every department to end all cooperation with ICE. Such a policy is critical to ensure safety, trust, and well-being of immigrant communities throughout Sonoma County.

Unchecked violence by ICE is increasing fear and anxiety among our vulnerable immigrant communities, American citizens of color, and those who demonstrate for our civil liberties. We stand with our broader community’s demands for policy change and justice; we must stay grounded in collective action and solidarity to create a safer, more just future for all.

Stop AAPI Hate published this statement on January 24, 2026:

https://stopaapihate.org/2026/01/24/statement-stop-aapi-hate-condemns-u-s-border-patrols-killing-of-minneapolis-protester-alex-pretti/

Community resource alert: United Way Wine Country is offering free tax preparation services for eligible households earning $79,000 or less. Certified preparers are available February through April, including free ITIN application and renewal support. 

For Sonoma County residents, United Way is also providing free Lyft transportation to eligible individuals who need help getting to appointments and essential services.

To schedule an appointment or learn more: Call 211 Sonoma (available Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5:30 PM)

These services are designed to reduce barriers and support financial stability for families in our community. Please share with anyone who may benefit.

united way free tax prep.pdf

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has opened its 2026 National Scholarship and Awards Program, offering approximately 30 scholarships for incoming freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, law students, and creative/performing arts students. Financial-need scholarships are also available.

Deadlines

• Freshman applicants: March 2, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

• All other categories: April 3, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

Applicants must be individual youth or student members of JACL, enrolled in school in Fall 2025, and may receive a maximum of two national awards.

Applications and guidelines are available on the JACL website under the Youth tab.
Questions may be directed to scholarships@jacl.org.

The Charity Cultural Services Center is offering a 10-week beginner wine class taught in Chinese by a professional winemaker. Participants will learn wine basics, tasting skills, and foundational knowledge in a welcoming environment.

10 classes beginning late January 2026
3:00 – 5:00 PM
747 Commercial St., San Francisco

This class is designed especially for beginners interested in exploring wine education in Chinese.

Sign up via QR code on the flyer or contact 415-989-8224

Sonoma County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) Program allows residents to prepare and sell meals directly from their home kitchens on a limited scale.

Under California state law, MEHKOs may serve up to 60 meals per week and must follow food safety, sanitation, and inspection requirements to protect public health.

The program is designed to support small-scale food entrepreneurs while expanding access to diverse, locally prepared meals within our community.

Residents interested in starting a home-based food business can learn more about application requirements, permits, and resources through the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Information is available in both English and Spanish.

Learn more:
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/environmental-health-and-safety/microenterprise-home-kitchen-operations-mehko