News

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The driver of a 73-foot big rig took a route not approved as a truck route on Monday morning, finding himself, and the truck, stuck on SR89 and stranding motorists. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded at 11:12 a.m. to the area just north of Cascade Creek, and south of Emerald Bay. Traffic was held up for hours when the truck took a turn too tight, blocking the flow of vehicles.

The truck-trailer combination will remain on the highway until it can be moved safely, but traffic is flowing. The air lines on the truck are inoperable.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An upper ridge is parked over California this week, keeping daytime high temperatures above average. Late Friday, an upper air trough will move into the Pacific Northwest which will push the ridge to the east a bit. Daytime temperatures may start to cool slightly through the following weekend.

At this time there is no rain or thunderstorms in the forecast.

The South Lake Tahoe forecast for the week from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Monday - Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Caltrans is advising motorists of a broadband installation project and gas-line replacement work continuing along State Route 28 (SR-28) along the north shore of Lake Tahoe next week.

The broadband project is a part of a larger statewide effort by the California Department of Technology to bring high-speed broadband into rural communities. The contractor for this project is Teichert Construction.

One-way traffic control is scheduled along SR-28 between the Tahoe State Park entrance and the State Route 89 intersection:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The November 5 election is just over 90 days away, and candidates have started to file the necessary paperwork for several local elected positions open this year.

The deadline to file is August 9, 2024. If an incumbent does not file for reelection, the filing period will be extended to August 14 for that position only.

As of Friday, August 2, the following people have completed the needed paperwork to run for office:

County Board of Education Trustee Area 5 - appointed incumbent Kathy Jensen is running.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Inflatable paddleboards are easy to carry and can help alleviate parking congestion, but did you know they can also spread aquatic invasive species (AIS)? Many paddlers are unaware that the water that collects in the folds and carrying bags can transport AIS that threatens Lake Tahoe’s ecology and water clarity.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) has changed its rate schedule that cover many aspects of the services it provides to the community. The rise in rates includes, but is not limited to, construction inspections, vacation home rental inspections, special event inspections, plan reviews, incident response, and stand-by fees.

Fees enable TDFPD to recuperate expenses incurred by vehicles, personnel, and materials involved with fire prevention, fire suppression, and emergency medical services used by locals, businesses, and visitors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke from the Park Fire has been affecting the air quality for much of Northern California and Western Nevada, and more of the same can be expected through Thursday. The Park Fire is 18 percent contained as of June 31 and has burned 391,200 acres covering four counties, Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama.

According to AirNow, Lake Tahoe has been in the "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" ranges, with the North Shore having the poorer air quality. Truckee is currently in the unhealthy" range.

Thursday should be more of the same.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A head-on collision on Pioneer Trail Friday sent all four people involved to the hospital. On July 26, 2024, at approximately 1 p.m., A 2022 Prius was being driven northbound near Tionontati Street when, for unknown reasons, the Prius crossed into the southbound lane, hitting a 2022 GMC Sierra head-on.

The 28th annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held on Wednesday, August 14 at Round Hill Pines Beach Resort in Zephyr Cove, Nev. The theme of this year’s event is “Connecting Tahoe: Investing in Transit, Trails, and Technology for the Future.”

This year's host is Nevada Senator Cortez Masto.

Check-in and a booth fair featuring Lake Tahoe environmental organizations will begin at 9 a.m. The Summit program starts at 10 a.m. The booth fair will continue with food for purchase from Beach Bums Bar & Grill after the Summit concludes.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - There is both good news and bad news in the annual clarity report, released Tuesday by the University of California, Davis – Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC).

The clarity of Lake Tahoe’s famed blue waters in 2023 continued its years-long trend of improving during the winter and deteriorating during the summer.

Winter lake conditions were the clearest observed since 1983 and the 10th best on record, with visibility of 91.8 feet under the surface, compared with 72.2 feet in 2022.

TUESDAY UPDATE: The six samples collected 36 hours after Sunday morning's spill showed bacteria counts, including e.coli, back to baseline at all sampling sites. The warning signs have been removed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Results from the six water samples collected at Fallen Leaf Lake after Sunday morning's sewage spill show elevated levels of total coliform, including e.coli, at the point of entry and 150 feet north of the sewer spill. The bacteria levels detected are below the requirements for beach closures.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Twenty-one-year-old Owen Joseph McDonough visiting from Villa Hills, Kentucky has been positively identified as the drowning victim rescued from rough waters at Lake Tahoe's Whale Beach on Sunday evening.

McDonough's family has been notified.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a cooler weekend, temperatures will start a gradual warming trend this week, with them back above average by mid-week. Smoke from the Park Fire will continue to impact portions of northeast California and western Nevada through the week, mostly north of Lake Tahoe.

The potential for thunderstorms returns late this week and into the weekend. Beyond that, things are looking warm for South Lake Tahoe (see map above).

The weekly forecast for South Lake Tahoe from the National Weather Service in Reno:

MONDAY UPDATE: Results from the six water samples collected at Fallen Leaf Lake after Sunday morning's sewage spill show elevated levels of total coliform, including e.coli, at the point of entry and 150 feet north of the sewer spill. The bacteria levels detected are below the requirements for beach closures.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Caltrans is advising motorists of a broadband installation project and gas-line replacement work continuing along State Route 28 (SR-28) along the north shore of Lake Tahoe next week.

The broadband project is a part of a larger statewide effort by the California Department of Technology to bring high-speed broadband into rural communities. The contractor for this project is Teichert Construction.

Survey work is scheduled along the eastbound shoulder of SR-28 at the following locations and times:

Between Jackpine Street and Laurel Drive:

CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is working on two unrelated cases concerning missing elderly men. One hasn't been seen since July 8, and the other has not been seen since 2017.

Barry Stephenson – Carson City Sheriff’s Office Case 2024-4153

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Placer County Environmental Health, the California Tahoe Conservancy, and NTPUD are reporting bacteria levels present in water quality tests taken over recent days at Patton Landing Beach, and East of the spill site have returned to a normal range and are within California beach water quality standards.

Patton Landing Beach reopened at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 25.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) forest thinning projects are underway in the Lake Tahoe Basin. These projects are expected to continue for the next several weeks with some projects continuing through the fall, conditions and weather permitting. For project details, including the lead agency, start date, and expected duration, view the Forest Thinning Projects Map at Tahoe Living With Fire which highlights current and upcoming projects.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – On July 17, 2024, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District, Sierra Front Field Office, issued a Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record for the Painted Rock Mine project Environmental Assessment.

The Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record for Painted Rock Mine Project Environmental Assessment can be viewed here.

STATELINE, Nev. - As the Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe announced a major renovation of its 539-room hotel and 25,000-square-foot casino on the Lake Tahoe South Shore, a Los Angeles-based liquidation company is calling foul.

Luxury 4 Less owner Tracy Hunt said she was hired to liquidate the furniture in the rooms that were being renovated, along with 125 slot machines. Hunt said that, after working with Golden Nugget management for over three weeks, she was sent an approval letter to pick up the furniture plus a Nevada Gaming Board approval letter to remove the slot machines.

PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. - Four fires started Monday afternoon after a thunderstorm passed through eastern Plumas County around 2 p.m. The four fires were all dry lightning strikes and were outside of the rain core of the storm.

The Mill, Mill 2, and Mill 3 fires are currently burning near the community of Whitehawk Ranch. The Smith Fire is currently burning north of California State Highway 70 between Smith Peak and Maybe. Together they are being called the Gold Complex.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A man who had been reported missing on Sunday afternoon in Topaz Lake was found deceased on Monday morning. On July 22, 2024, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine units and dive team, along with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, located and recovered 51-year-old Rodney Mitchell of Reno, Nev.

Although drowning is believed to be the cause of death, the decedent was taken to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s office for a definitive cause of death.

MONDAY UPDATE: - A man who had been reported missing on Sunday afternoon in Topaz Lake was found deceased on Monday morning. On July 22, 2024, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine units and dive team, along with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, located and recovered 51-year-old Rodney Mitchell of Reno, Nev.

Although drowning is believed to be the cause of death, the decedent was taken to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s office for a definitive cause of death.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started as a dream in 1984 became reality in 1991 when the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) Demonstration Garden held its grand opening after a year of construction. Designed with the collaboration of several agencies, groups, and individuals, the garden was created on seven acres to showcase attractive native and adapted plants while using conservation techniques to address water quality concerns. Several gazebos and sitting areas were added with tree and plant descriptions along a pathway that meandered through the displays.