2019

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is now an open license for a South Lake Tahoe cannabis microbusiness after one of those approved in 2019 will not finish up the process of opening. On January 14, 2021, the City Planning Commission denied a request from James Street LLC to change the name of the approved operator and extend their deadline to open by six months.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, have reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers.

The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility has been released in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is one of a handful of California community colleges that has significantly closed equity gaps and increased success rates for Latinx students, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California.

Through the pandemic, legislative sessions in Sacramento were canceled just as they were across the country, not giving the time needed to add new legislation. As a result, in 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom signed the lowest number of laws since 1967, just 372. In comparison, in 2019 there were 870 new laws, 1016 in 2018 and 859 in 2017.

Many of the new laws are centered around COVID-19, addressing systemic racism, employee rights and policing. For a full list, select 2020 here.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Back in the 1940s, before South Tahoe Public Utility
District existed, sewage flowed directly into beautiful Lake Tahoe. Citizens rallied to sign a petition to form the District and this year marks our 70th anniversary. From a single septic field to an award-winning 7.7 million gallon per day wastewater treatment facility, with 100% recycled water and biosolids, a lot
has changed over the years.

STATELINE, Nev. - Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $771,162,743 for the month of November 2020, the sixth month of casinos reopening in the state after being closed due to the coronavirus. This amounts to a 17.75 percent decrease compared to November 2019, when licensees reported a gaming win of $937,533,406, according to the monthly report released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board today.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Christmas is going to be merrier for families on the south shore after an outpouring of support for those less fortunate this holiday season. There have been toy and food drives, and one of those recently held was by The Shops at Heavenly Village and Dreu Murin Productions.

Christmas started early for this guy once the pandemic hit. I put my Christmas lights up over the 4th of July and for a short while started watching Christmas movies too to try and get that feel-good feeling happening. Okay, I also did it because I wanted to watch movies where no one was wearing a mask and hugging one another without fear of being exposed. I’ve always enjoyed movies for their pure escapism and who doesn’t want to escape what we’ve been through already ya know? I also like being wrapped around a movie completely.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A new "In God We Trust" display has been added to the wall of the Douglas County Board Chamber. In 2019, the County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the display of the national motto in the chambers and after fundraising efforts the sign was created by the winning bidder, YESCO, LLC.

The new "In God We Trust" was installed during the commissioner's December 10, 2020 meeting.

With the holidays already upon us, one thing is certain this year – the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on millions of Californians, causing us to rethink so much of our daily lives, including reprioritizing family time and our mental health. The holiday season may add more challenges to parents who are balancing career, teacher and caregiver duties, as well as dealing with unanticipated illness, burnout and unemployment. Each of these challenges, for some of us, can make the season feel like the added pressures are insurmountable.

With California off to a dry start for the water year, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced Tuesday an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation of 10 percent of requested supplies for the 2021 water year.

Initial allocations are based on conservative assumptions regarding hydrology and factors such as reservoir storage. Allocations are reviewed monthly and may change based on snowpack and runoff information. They are typically finalized by May.


STATELINE, Nev. - Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $822,676,544 for the month of October 2020, the fifth month of casinos reopening in the state after being closed due to the coronavirus. This amounts to a 19.50 percent decrease compared to October 2019, when licensees reported a gaming win of $1,021,966,875, according to the monthly report released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board today.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors will consider changes to the El Dorado County Vacation Home Rental Ordinance at its November 17 meeting. The 2:00 p.m. time certain public hearing will contain consideration of a cap of 1,050 total permits issued in the unincorporated portion of the Tahoe Basin.

A waiting list would be created for those wanting a VHR permit after the 1,050 number is met. The waiting list request shall become void upon change in ownership.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The middle of a pandemic is never an ideal time to open a new business, but the new Beautiful Mess vintage shop and thrift store has been a popular shopping stop for locals and visitors since opening September 3.

"If I can get through this, I can get through anything," said Beautiful Mess proprietor Jessica Marks of the pandemic.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Caltrans is advising motorists of a lane closure on U.S. Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe later this week for a pilot project to paint a section of the bike lane green.

The closure is scheduled for the eastbound #2 lane from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday between Dunlap Drive and 3rd Street to apply the paint treatment.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two new thought-provoking art exhibits at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) can be enjoyed in a safe and virtual manner.

In LTCC's Haldan Gallery is Loren Madsen's "Worry Beads," a large sculpture of wood-carved beads strung together like a chain, with each bead representing one year between 1945 to 2017. Each individual bead's size tells a story about how many terrorist-caused deaths occurred in that year globally. It makes for a sublime piece of woodworking skill and a powerful political statement.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

Domestic violence, as known as intimate partner violence, is an issue that touches every community. There were 265 reports of domestic violence in South Lake Tahoe, including domestic disturbance, domestic battery, and domestic assault from January 1, 2019, until October 9, 2020. There are many forms of abuse, besides physical assault, that constitute domestic violence.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month dedicated to coming together in solidarity with victims and survivors by speaking out on relationship violence to provide education and empowerment.

Domestic violence, and other intimate partner violence, is a pattern of abusive behavior to keep power and control over a partner’s personal life. Abusive partners can use intimidation, threats, force, manipulation or coercion to establish and maintain this control over their partner. 

California’s Water Year 2020 has come to a close and while parts of Southern California experienced above average precipitation, Northern California was mostly dry.

The water year ended below average and further demonstrated the impact of climate change on the state’s water supply, according to a report released by the Department of Water Resources (DWR).

STATELINE, Nev. - Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $743,038,562 for the month of August 2020, the third month of casinos reopening in the state after being closed due to the coronavirus. This amounts to a 22.08 percent decrease compared to August 2019, when licensees reported a gaming win of $953,623,896, according to the monthly report released today by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There's been movement at the Al Tahoe Historic Pioneer Cemetery, and thankfully it isn't from some of the occupants, most who have had that as their final resting spot since the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Beginning October 1, watercraft inspections for the detection and prevention of aquatic invasive species (AIS) will change locations and shift to a first-come, first-served basis, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) announced today.

With this shift back to on-demand inspections, the agencies are closing out the inspection appointment system initiated this year to lower the risk of COVID-19 spread.

October 1 through 12: