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Animal Ark toxicology results positive for barbiturate

Animal Ark wildlife experts continue to probe the death of a wolf and tiger after receiving toxicology results, which showed traces of two drugs used to euthanize animals and control seizures, on Wednesday morning.

Officials received lab results from the California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, which came back positive for pentobarbital and phenytoin.

Both are considered barbiturates, a type of depressant drug that causes relaxation and sleepiness, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Caesars denies another request from second-level bond holder

Caesars Entertainment Corp. is getting used to saying no.

For the second time in two weeks, the casino operator rejected a demand from an unsecured second level bondholder for payment of the obligations.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, Caesars said BOKF N.A. asked for payment on $750 million in debt plus interest. Caesars said it turned down the payment demand.

Nevada prayer-protecting bill draws opposition from all sides

A bill meant to solidify students' First Amendment right to religious expression stirred up a hornet's nest in the Nevada Legislature on Monday over its unintended consequences, even attracting the disapproval of a Christian priest.

"I believe this bill pushes the Christian position, which I do, but not in school," said the priest, testifying before the Assembly Committee on Education, holding its first hearing for Assembly Bill 120.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

2/15
1:12 a.m. - Reindeer Way - ANNOYING PHONE CALLS. 57-YEAR OLD FEMALE ARRESTED FOR ANNOYING PHONE CALLS TO 911 AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION.

Battle Over Tahoe Bears Gets Ugly

A Lake Tahoe woman is suing a longtime bear protection group after she says she got death threats for reporting an aggressive black bear to Nevada authorities, who then killed the animal.

Adrienne Evans, a professional mountain bike racer and high school science teacher, accuses the BEAR League of igniting an ugly social media campaign that turned into a vengeful attempt to run her and her husband out of town. She said she loves bears and wasn't trying to get the animal killed.

History in the Neighborhood: Dangberg Ranch

South Tahoe Now is starting a new series of stories about historical places to visit, all within a couple of hours drive from South Lake Tahoe.

The Sierra Nevada and Carson Valley are rich in history. I knew this growing up, but never really appreciated it until I was well into adulthood. Having lived in South Lake Tahoe for over 35 years , I continue to learn about the area’s history and historical points of interest, and appreciate the previous residents more every day.

Heavy snow headed to central Nevada

Heavy snow is on its way to central Nevada, prompting a winter storm watch for part of the Silver State.

The winter storm watch in effect from Saturday evening through Monday morning, the National Weather Service reports.

Some details:

•4 to 8 inches of snow in the valleys

•8 to 16 inches of snow in the mountains.

•2 feet of snow locally on the mountains of southeast White Pine County, including Great Basin National Park.

Post by US National Weather Service Elko NV:

"Snow will begin early Sunday morning across White Pine County," the weather service said.

Miss Covered California deadline? No worries, it's now extended until April

The window for many Californians to sign up for health coverage widened Friday when the state exchange said it would extend this month’s deadline to enroll in a plan until the end of April.

Covered California said it was making the change to accommodate taxpayers who are just now realizing that they’ll be charged penalties on their tax returns if they don’t have health insurance. This is the first year such penalties kick in under the federal health care law.

LTCC Writers’ Series Brings Short Story Writer, Novelist to Campus

Event Date: 
March 5, 2015 - 7:00pm

The Lake Tahoe Community College Writers’ Series proudly presents an evening with novelist Gayle Brandeis and short story writer Dimitri Keriotis on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Aspen Room, inside the library building. The two writers will read selections from their works, answer audience questions, and sign copies of their books, which will be available for sale. This event is free and open to the public.

South Lake Tahoe home a complete loss after fire

4:40 p.m. update: A South Lake Tahoe home is a complete loss after a Thursday night fire which displace six residents and hospitalized two.

A South Lake Tahoe firefighter suffered from smoke inhalation and was transported to Barton where they were treated and released. The resident, a male, was at first sent to Barton but later transferred Code 3 to the U.C. Davis Burn Center with burns to his head and hands.

No dogs allowed — in the bar

Chances are, the beast sitting on the bar stool next to you won’t be a real dog.

A measure heard Monday by the Senate Government Affairs Committee seeks to allow operators of stand-alone bars, saloons and taverns to allow dogs inside their establishments without interference from local government overseers.

But county health officials testified against Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden.

Settelmeyer introduced the bill at the request of Karen Woodmansee, editor of the Virginia City News in Storey County. She also works at a local casino.

Lance Armstrong must pay $10 million in perjury battle

To protect his mythic status as an American sports hero, Lance Armstrong lied under oath in 2005, saying he never used performance-enhancing drugs. An arbitration panel in Texas ruled it's time for him to pay for it, handing down a $10 million penalty believed to be the largest such sanction against an individual in American judicial history.

In a 2-1 decision, the panel ordered the disgraced cyclist to pay the money to SCA Promotions, a Dallas sports insurance company that paid Armstrong's bonuses for winning the Tour de France and then helped cause his epic fall from grace in 2012.

City Council agenda for Tuesday

Event Date: 
February 17, 2015 - 9:00am

Tuesday's City Council meeting will cover a range of subjects, from commission appointments to a look at the Vacation Home Rental Policy.

At the January 20 City Council meeting, appointments were made to all boards but three spots remained opened. One should be filled at this week's meeting as there was one applicant for the Airport Land Use Commission opening. Scott Michal applied and will be appointed if Council believes he meets the qualifications.

In Nevada, a Controversy in the Wind

For the past few years, the geologists Brenda Buck and Rodney Metcalf have combed the wild terrain of southern Nevada, analyzing its stony dunes and rocky outcroppings — and to their dismay, tallying mounting evidence of a landscape filled with asbestos.

Asbestos occurs naturally in many parts of the country, mostly in the West but also along some mountain ranges in the East. But in Nevada, the scientists found, natural erosion and commercial development were sending the fibers into the wind.

Animal Ark Continues to Probe Tiger, Wolf Deaths

A Nevada wildlife sanctuary is awaiting test results from a California laboratory to determine what killed a tiger and wolf and seriously sickened a cheetah.

The Animal Ark near Reno says a 21-year-old tiger died on Feb. 6, a day before a 3-year-old wolf died and a 9-year-old cheetah was found comatose.

Officials at the nonprofit sanctuary say a barbiturate from an undetermined source is suspected as the cause of the deaths and illness after the cheetah tested positive for the drug. Food also hasn't been ruled out as the cause.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

2/8
8:55 a.m. - Marijuana Cultivation - Ojibwa Street - CONTACT MADE AT RESIDENCE REGARDING MARIJUANA CULTIVATION AND CHILD WELFARE. NO ARRESTS.

Colorado’s legal weed market: $700 million in sales last year, $1 billion by 2016

Legal marijuana was a $700 million dollar industry in Colorado last year, according to a Washington Post analysis of recently-released tax data from the state's Department of Revenue. In 2014, Colorado retailers sold $386 million of medical marijuana and $313 million for purely recreational purposes. The two segments of the market generated $63 million in tax revenue, with an additional $13 million collected in licenses and fees.

State’s population growth expected to outstrip water conservation in coming years

California water agencies are on track to satisfy a state mandate to reduce water consumption 20 percent by 2020. But according to their own projections, that savings won’t be enough to keep up with population growth just a decade later.

A 2009 state law requires urban water agencies to reduce per-capita water consumption 20 percent by 2020, compared with use at the start of the century. Most agencies are on track to reach that goal, and have made even more progress thanks to emergency cuts over the past year triggered by the ongoing drought.

Flash mob to bring awareness to domestic violence being held Saturday

Men, women and children have been practicing for the big flash mob on Saturday in South Lake Tahoe which is being held to bring awareness to domestic violence.

The "One Billion Rising Revolution" is occurring around the world on February 14, a large mass action to end violence against women. Originally held o Valentine's Day in 2012, the movement is bringing awareness to the staggering statistics that one in three women will be raped or beaten during her lifetime. with the world population at seven billion, this adds up toe more than one billion women and girls affected.

Raley's stores will no longer sell tobacco products

Raley's announced Friday it will no longer sell tobacco products at its stores in an effort to raise awareness about health and wellness.

The grocery store chain has decided to remove tobacco products from its stores and already stopped ordering tobacco products earlier this month, according to Raley's spokesperson Chelsea Minor.

"This is not a decision that we've taken lightly," Minor said, in a released statement. "At Raley's, we are committed to infusing life with health and happiness, and removing tobacco products is another example of that commitment."

Las Vegas Little League team national champs after Chicago team disqualified

A Little League team that captured the attention of the nation and the hearts of its hometown was stripped of its national title Wednesday after an investigation revealed that team officials had falsified boundaries so they could add ineligible players to the roster.

Only last summer, the all-black Jackie Robinson West team was the toast of Chicago and was honored with trips to San Francisco and to the White House.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

2/1
1:12 a.m. - Verbal Domestic Dispute - Keller Road - 33-YEAR OLD MAN AND 26-YEAR OLD WOMAN.

11:11 a.m. - Suspicious Circumstances - Pioneer Trail - PRIVATE VEHICLE BEARING FIREFIGHTER DECALS AND RED EMERGENCY LIGHTS WAS BEING DRIVEN BY A 59-YEAR OLD WOMAN.

Auditions for hit musical Pippin being held at LTCC

Event Date: 
February 17, 2015 - 7:00pm

Actors, singers and dancers of all ages are needed for the Lake Tahoe Community College production of the award winning musical Pippin. Gymnasts, jugglers, acrobats, aerialists are also being sought.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday, February 17 at the college's Duke Theater. Actors are required to sing selections from Pippin for the audition. Audition material and information can be found at http://www.singingvoice.net/williams/pippin, as well as on the Theatre Department webpage and Facebook page (LTCCTheatreArts).

Sierra blaze that burned 40 homes coming under control after rain

Aided by rainfall, firefighters were taking control of a forest fire that destroyed about 40 homes in the Eastern Sierra near Mammoth Mountain.

Crews had the blaze about 65% contained by Sunday, nearly two days after a blaze whipped by winds tore into the towns of Swall Meadows and Paradise, with about 250 inhabitants. The towns are about 25 miles southeast of the Mammoth Mountain ski resort, near U.S. Highway 395.

The main problem now is more than four dozen downed power lines and damaged trees, making conditions too hazardous to lift mandatory evacuation orders in the area.

North Lake Tahoe's Travis Ganong leads resurgent Americans

Two years ago, Travis Ganong contacted Daron Rahlves and asked for help.

Ganong, then 24, had long been considered a rising star in speed events (he won the downhill and super-G national titles in 2010), but he hadn't figured out how to translate his potential to World Cup results. After debuting on the circuit in 2009, it took him three years and 39 races to crack the top 10.

Yerington farmers get half the water they were expecting

The drought has already had a dramatic impact on farmers in the Smith and Mason Valleys, but this year it is going to be even harder to make a living. The state agency that controls ground water in the area decided Tuesday to cut each farmers allocation in half.

On wet year most farmers rely on water from the Walker River, but with little to no snow in the mountains this year there will likely be no water in the river. Ground water is the back-up water supply, but this year even that is being reduced.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Log

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

1/25
3:55 p.m. - Driving without a license - Emerald Bay - A 28-YEAR OLD MALE ADULT WAS CITED/RELEASED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID CA LICENSE.

Betting was super, but not quite up to '14 NFL title game

Nevada's sports books took in the second-biggest Super Bowl betting take ever, with $116 million wagered for Sunday's thriller won by the New England Patriots, 28-24, over the Seattle Seahawks.

From that, the sports books won $3.25 million, or 2.8 percent of the total, according to the report Monday by the State Gaming Control Board.

A year ago, bettors put down a record $119.4 million in Nevada sports books with the books the victors, winning $19.67 million after Seattle's 43-8 romp over the favored Denver Broncos.

SUPER BOWL BETTING

Total wagers at 191 sports books statewide:

South Lake Tahoe fire captain arrested on porn charges is resident of Chico

A Chico man who works as a captain for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department has been arrested on suspicion of child pornography.

Mark McLeod Wygant, 44, appeared in federal court Friday and is scheduled for preliminary examination Feb. 13, unless he is indicted earlier, which would change the appearance to arraignment, said Lauren Horwood, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bond was not offered and he remains in custody at Sacramento County Jail.

Historic Lake Tahoe ranch listed for $98 million

Update: This property has sold.

If you've been hankering for a getaway at Lake Tahoe and have $98 million to spare, you're in luck.

Check out Shakespeare Ranch, which takes up 133 acres along 423 feet of shoreline. It's named for Shakespeare Rock, which overlooks the property and is said to resemble the playwright.

Lake Tahoe not alone in dryness; San Francisco has first rainless January ever

The month ended with a sun-drenched bang Saturday, an apropos ending for what was the driest January on record in San Francisco.

Not one drop of measurable rain fell on city streets in January, the first time that’s happened in recorded weather history, which dates back to the Gold Rush.

Other Bay Area cities, including San Jose, saw at most two one-hundredths of an inch during the same time, which was probably just real heavy fog with a drizzle rather than real rain, said Jan Null, former lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service and a meteorology consultant.

Benefits of Reading and Singing to Your Child

Can you recall a favorite nursery rhyme from childhood? How about a favorite book? Some of my early favorites were the “Incy Wincy Spider” song and “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?” picture book.

Early language development is intricately linked to a child’s exposure to reading, talking, and singing starting from infancy. Though infants may not talk back, research shows a child’s language exposure at an early age predicts his or her success in school.

Sierra Nevada Red Fox Spotted for First Time in Nearly 100 Years at Yosemite

For the first time since World War I was ongoing, a rare Sierra Nevada red fox was spotted in Yosemite National Park. The video above shows the fox making tracks through the snow-covered mountains early this past December.

The National Park Service said in a press release that two documented sightings have occurred in park since early December, one on Dec. 13, and another on Jan 4. These marks the first confirmed sightings of the rare fox in the park in nearly 100 years.

Placer County backs away from hotel conflict with South Lake Tahoe

Placer County officials have backed away from a land-use battle with the city of South Lake Tahoe. But they're moving ahead with the larger effort aimed at allowing development of a hotel on the north side of the lake for the first time since 1959.

Magnitude-5.7 Quake Strikes Humboldt County Coast

A magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck 25 miles southwest of Ferndale, Humboldt County on Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake was reported 40 miles southwest of Eureka. According to USGS, the quake took place at 1:08 p.m.

Lt. Wayne Hanson of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office says no damage or injuries were immediately reported, the Associated Press reported. No tsunamis are expected from the earthquake, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

Pot Smoke And Mirrors: Vaporizer Pens Hide Marijuana Use

It's a sunny afternoon at Kelly's Collective, a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, and Nikki Esquibel is getting stoned. But you wouldn't know it.

The 19-year-old, who has a medical prescription for marijuana, is "smoking" pot with a handheld vaporizer, or a vape pen. It's sleek, black, and virtually indistinguishable from a high-end e-cigarette.

That's the point, says Esquibel. "I use it mostly around my neighborhood. It's easy to hide." The vapor coming from the device doesn't even have much of an odor.

Three arrested in South Lake Tahoe after $30,000 robbery

1/26/15 8 p.m. update:

Douglas Country Sheriff's Deputies (DCSO) and officers from the South Lake Tahoe and Roseville Police Departments contacted several Stateline, NV residents as part of a follow up investigation after a robbery in Roseville on Saturday.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Log

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

1/18
3:52 p.m. - Domestic Violence - Wasabe Way - DATING CO-HABITANTS ENGAGED IN VERBAL DISPUTE.

1/19
2:23 p.m. - Dogs off leash - Lily Ave - TWO 23-YEAR OLD MEN WERE CITED FOR HAVING DOGS OFF LEASH WHILE ON CONSERVANCY.

Shark Lake, a movie about Lake Tahoe, is filming along the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Shark Lake is a feature film staring Dolph Lundgren about the shark infested waters of Lake Tahoe.

Musical marvel, stuck in El Dorado County warehouse, needs a home

In 1865, an immigrant from Goteberg, Sweden, with a grand vision for music opened a modest cabinet-making shop at 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco.

John Bergstrom wouldn’t be long known for cabinets. He became renowned as a designer and manufacturer of exquisite pipe organs. They were towering creations – virtual cathedrals of sound – that reached toward the heavens with gold-leafed hardwood and intricately stenciled and painted musical pipes.

Tahoe the Bear headed to Humboldt County

Another success story at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) on Thursday as Tahoe the Bear prepared to make his journey back home to Humboldt County.

Fifteen community colleges in California to offer four-year degrees

Fifteen California community colleges should be able to offer four-year degrees starting as soon as next year, state officials announced Tuesday.

Officials with California's community college system gave initial approval to the campuses after 36 schools and districts said they would apply for a chance to offer baccalaureate degrees. Nearly 20 other states allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees.

Why skiers get injured

Skiing is a phenomenally exciting and fun sport. However, the injury rate is relatively high, with more than 20,000 knee injuries sustained each year by skiers in the U.S. alone, most of which involved the ACL. The question is why and what can you do about it?

My advice on how to avoid common injuries is based on my 55 years of skiing, more than two decades of being an orthopaedic surgeon for the U.S. Ski Team, the Pro Ski tour, the Jeep Tour, 48 Straight Ski tour and other winter sports events. However it is not gospel. There are many views and disagreements on skiing safety.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Log

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

1/11
4:02 p.m. - Search & Rescue - Angora Ridge - SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE FOR A MEDICAL AID AND RECOVERY OF HIKERS ON ANGORA RIDGE RD. THREE FEMALES, AGES 22, 23 AND 23 WERE BROUGHT TO SAFETY.

Scientists: Tiny Tahoe creatures dying at alarming rate

A first-of-its-kind circuit by scuba divers around Lake Tahoe is complete. Now, experts are seeking to understand worrying changes on the bottom of the landmark alpine lake.

Members of the scuba team that 13 years ago reached the wreck of a famous steamer sunk in Tahoe's frigid depths completed the first circumnavigation of the lake by divers in October. Scientists are examining the data collected to understand why some of the lake's tiniest bottom dwellers and the plants they depend on appear to be disappearing at an alarming rate.

Caesars rolls the dice in bankruptcy court

Casino company Caesars Entertainment (CZR), the owner of Harrah's and Harvey's in Lake Tahoe, announced early Thursday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in Chicago for its main operating unit in an attempt to beat back an effort by some creditors who filed their own bankruptcy plan in Delaware on Monday. They claim the company has cheated them.

Alfred Villalobos, Stateline resident and key figure in CalPERS scandal, commits suicide

Alfred J.R. Villalobos, a former state pension fund board member who faced trial next month on federal corruption and bribery charges, has committed suicide, officials said Wednesday.

The Reno Police Department confirmed that Villalobos' death was a suicide, but the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office declined to provide further details because of an ongoing investigation.

JetBlue to link Reno, New York City with daily flights

Reno to New York City, nonstop. It's coming in May.

After an intro of dancers stepping to Sinatra's "New York, New York," JetBlue Airways and local officials Tuesday announced daily flights linking Reno to John F. Kennedy International Airport beginning May 28 via the low-cost airline that is a perennial winner in customer satisfaction surveys.

It will be the first-ever daily nonstop service linking Reno with the nation's most populous region and the financial world's epicenter.

Lake Tahoe Community College Art Exhibit and Public Reception

Event Date: 
January 15, 2015 - 5:00pm

The community is warmly invited to three free art exhibit opening receptions at Lake Tahoe Community College. On Thursday, January 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., enjoy gorgeous printmaking by artist Emmy Lingscheit in her show Departure, housed in the Haldan Art Gallery in the library building. In the Foyer Gallery in the Fine Arts building, explore recent paintings by artist Kelley Hackleman in her show, Slightly Disheveled. In the Student Gallery in LTCC’s Main Building, artworks created by regional high school students will be featured.

In resort towns, working class squeezed out as rich move in

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- At first, Loly Garcia didn't have to travel far to her jobs in the chic hotels of this fabled tourist town. She shared a tiny studio apartment with her father, brother and a cousin after arriving from El Salvador more than 20 years ago.

But after she married and wanted a home of her own, she had to drive 23 miles west, past tracts of empty land and vacant mansions whose owners visit only a couple of weeks a year, to the mobile home park where she now lives.

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