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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The planned full closure of US50 over Echo Summit for the Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project will take place September 18 to October 2, 2020. The week prior to that will be one-way controlled traffic as crews prepare for replacement of the existing bridge.

Originally set for completion in 2019, the seven precast bridge girders needed were not completed in time. That pushed the completion date to Spring 2020. There were one-way controlled traffic controls then but a full closure wouldn't have been until the end of June.

STATELINE, Nev. - While the crowds weren't there in 2020 for the 31st annual American Century Championship in July due to COVID-19 safety concerns, its impacts will be felt for years to come by the community. The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) will distribute a record $250,000 to local non-profits after the players in the popular celebrity tournament gave up the $600,000 in prize money. It is all being donated to Covid-19 relief organizations, equal justice initiatives and South Tahoe-based non-profits.

Please join Make Tahoe Records at Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio for The Art and Music of Yvonne McGrath in the premiere of “Sound and Vision”, a series of introductions to the work of visual artists and the reciprocal connections of music and their art. In the spirit of reciprocity, a portion of the proceeds from sales of Yvonne McGrath’s work and vinyl from the Make Tahoe Records pop-up exhibit will be donated to the Tahoe Art League as part of the “Saturday Show of Support” series.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the second consecutive day a person in South Lake Tahoe was the victim of a hit-and-run. Following Tuesday's collision between a SUV and a woman on a Lime scooter where the driver left the scene, a pedestrian was hit on Wednesday night, and again the driver left the scene.

Join the Tahoe Chamber this Friday, August 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a Virtual Town Hall Q & A on public health protocols for businesses. This important meeting will answer businesses' questions on how they need to react to unique situations surrounding employees testing positive for COVID-19 or being exposed, closing and cleaning guidance, new health inspection procedures, and more.

Attendees are invited to come with questions for El Dorado County and Douglas County health officials.

Register in advance: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-zx3qA3CT2escMUY-QxqkQ.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As a ten-year-old from Christmas Valley fights for his life at UC Davis, his father has started a fight of his, one that is asking people to take COVID-19 seriously and to stay away from Lake Tahoe in the midst of the pandemic.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Health's Attic Thrift Store in South Lake Tahoe hasn't reopened yet, but they are having several events to help those in the community facing challenges.

The Tahoe East Shore Trail will be temporarily closed to public access between the Tunnel Creek Café and Sand Harbor on Tuesday, August 4 (all day), and Wednesday, August 5 through Friday, August 7 (after 8:00 p.m.) for the initial phase of a community mural art project.

The Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Public Art and Nevada State Parks collaborated to commission the mural to augment the natural beauty of the Tahoe East Shore Trail and transform a utilitarian tunnel into a community-involved, relevant art experience.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During their May 11 meeting, the South Lake Tahoe City Council approved $200,000 to be used in the South Lake Tahoe community through business grants, COVID-related expenses, and a restaurant voucher program to help regain momentum and recover costs during the pandemic.

The grant money has been disbursed through the El Dorado Community Foundation, the restaurant vouchers are currently being redeemed at local restaurants and local businesses are being reimbursed for expenses incurred through COVID-related purchases.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. _ There is a special meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) on Thursday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss and take action on a reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The local Black Lives Matter (BLM) group will be holding another peaceful protest at Lakeview Commons on Wednesday, July 29 starting at 5:00 p.m.

Organizer Kevin Brunner has invited both the City of South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin and new Police Chief David Stevenson to participate in the event. According to the City's Communications Manager Chris Fiore both plan to be there.

Brunner said the family-friendly, peaceful event will also include updates on a BLM art project. He asks that everyone attending to please wear a mask.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has selected a long-time local and South Tahoe High graduate to head its police department.

The selection of David Stevenson as police chief was announced Monday.

The UCCE Master Gardeners, serving Amador, El Dorado, Calaveras & Tuolumne Counties, are holding a series of virtual demonstartions and instruction

Cool Weather Crops Presented by UCCE Master Gardeners of Amador County, Saturday, August 15th at 9:00 a.m.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) has announced their high school sports schedule for members in their area, including South Tahoe and Truckee High Schools.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of school reopening schedules, traditional fall sports have moved to Spring 2021. Adjustments to the schedules were voted on by the NIAA Legislative Commission which is comprised of the superintendents of each school in the league.

The new schedule (all have six competitive weeks) for NIAA sanctioned sports:

Winter Season Sports

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Another event has been forced to cancel amidst safety concerns and restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

With the City of South Lake Tahoe canceling their events through September, and added restrictions added by the state of California, the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe has announced they are canceling its annual Tahoe Brewfest for 2020. The event is normally held in June and was moved to September due to the rise in COVID-19, and now the new date is June 5, 2021.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act today, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide much needed funding for the crippling $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at national parks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as many other cities around the country have done, the City of South Lake Tahoe is partnering with local residents to act as volunteer ambassadors to reach out to the community and visitors about the importance of safety during the pandemic.

“We have said the entire time to do everything you can to stay safe, so Tahoe can stay open,” said City Manager Joe Irvin, “This ambassador program is about making sure people wear a mask, wash their hands, and do their part to make sure visitors and residents alike stay healthy during this crisis.”

The El Dorado County Opioid Coalition (EDCOC) has launched its new opioid prevention public education campaign, "Your Pain is Real. So Are the Risks.”

The EDCOC works to prevent opioid addiction and overdose in El Dorado County through its treatment, safe prescribing, and naloxone distribution programs and has now started working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Reno for Tuesday, July 21 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. followed by a Fire Weather Watch for Wednesday, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

The U.S. Federal Reserve has limited the distribution of coin currency due to the Covid-19 Virus.

"Business and bank closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly disrupted the supply chain and normal circulation patterns for U.S. coins. While there is an adequate overall amount of coins in the economy, the slowed pace of circulation has reduced available inventories in some areas of the country," says the Federal Reserve (read more here).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is working on area highways. The following is their current project list at Lake Tahoe and in the Sierra.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular farm-to-fork festival, Sample the Sierra, is moving to a digital format this year due to the current pandemic.

The 11st annual event will still include a variety of food-related entertainment typically found at Sample the Sierra, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, musical performances, giveaways, and shopping. Instead of only having these things during the day of the traditional in-person event, this year's will be spread out throughout August and September (a more detailed schedule is coming later).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials have announced 18 new cases of COVID-19 in the county, with nine in the Lake Tahoe region, four in El Dorado Hills, three in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue and two in Placerville.

Of the new cases, two are under the age of 18, 15 are in the 18-49-year-old group, and one is aged 50-64, ten are male, and eight female. To date, 381 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus..

There have been eight new recoveries, leaving 171 estimated recoveries.

Testing sites were able to conduct 300 new tests.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - School Resource Officers, or SROs, have been a recent topic of conversations in the community with some residents questioning the need for an armed officer on South Lake Tahoe campuses.

The word "resource" gives one an insight into their position - a resource for the students, and not only at school. A resource for the parents. A resource for the school district. A resource for the school.

And the job doesn't end there.