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You will soon be seeing this state of the art, high tech van traveling through the streets of South Lake Tahoe. Equiped with lasers, GPS, digital measuring tools and cameras, the van will be able to record the conditions of the city's infrastructure, thus allowing the gathered data to be evaluated to priorizie all maintenance.

Nationally it is estimated that there are $2 trillion of backlog mainenance to roads and other items in the infrastruce of cities and counties. Locally the number is estimated at $26 million.

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.

One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.

One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
Approximately 70% of college students say they have been sexually coerced.

Vail Resorts announced today that the 2015-16 Tahoe local's pass will open up access to nine resorts.

Described as "B.B. King meets Yo-Yo Ma," Dirty Cello from San Francisco will be performing in South Lake Tahoe at Park 968's CoffeePub on Saturday, March 14.

Dirty Cello, led by Rebecca Roudman, will be bringing their unique sound to the South Shore during their west coast tour. Described as crossover cellists, Dirty Cello presents a high energy mix of soulful blues, swingin’ gypsy jazz and wild Euro-gypsy dance music.

It's a twist on annual South Lake Tahoe "Pray for Snow" parties where visitors might just want to "Pray for No Snow."

Park 968, a boutique hotel near Stateline has launches a 40% discount for on all rooms until it snows six inches in South Lake Tahoe. Not only do guests get to enjoy the discount, they also get two complimentary drinks and massage specials.

“This is a gambling town after all. I wouldn’t hesitate on this deal, the next freak storm could be here any moment.” Said Chris Minnes, General Manager of 968 Park Hotel.

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.

Several different areas around the Lake Tahoe basin have been tapped for continued fire operations.

Over 700 acres will be burned north of Tahoma near Elizabeth Drive, southwest of Meeks Bay, on Gardner Mountain near South Tahoe High School and Gardner Street, Christmas Valley, Luther Pass near Grass Lake, and Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly. On the East Shore, operations may take place near Logan Creek Drive and off Highway 28 north of Spooner Summit.

Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

Wind gusts that reached up to 150 mph last weekend knocked over power poles and toppled trees onto live electrical wires throught the Liberty Energy territory in Northern California.

“Basically, crews have been working non-stop since the first storm arrived on Friday,” according to Mike Smart, Liberty Utilities-CA President. “For the past four days, we’ve reset poles, restrung wire and even made repairs to another utility’s infrastructure because it affected our ability to serve our customers.”

Celtic harpist Anne Roos of South Lake Tahoe was part of the Grammy winning album,
Winds of Samsara. The album won the Grammy in the best New Age category last night in Los Angeles.

Roos played on the track, Eyes of Wonder which was recorded in Reno at Tanglewood Studios. The studio's President and Founder Michael Eardley engineered the track.

The album's creator is 33-year old Ricky Kej who is a North Carolina native of Indian decent. Winds of Samsara is a collaboration with South African flutist Wouter Kellerman.

Roos was in Los Angeles for the annual awards show.

The insurance company Odella released their list of the forty best and forty worst cities to live in for commuting to and from work in the state of California. Those of us that live in South Lake Tahoe know why the community was named the tenth best with an average commute of 17.8 minutes.

Last summer's flash floods in Douglas County caused $927,205 in damage, far below the federal minimum of $3,753,710 needed in order to receive federal assistance.

While Douglas County Emergency Management had requested that due to the close timing of these events (July 20, July 30, Aug. 6 and Aug. 11) the state consider combining all damage under one event, FEMA regulations do not allow for combining damage costs of multiple events.

All too often, we hear from people who have been victimized by some sort of scam. Before the internet existed these “confidence scams” were frequently perpetuated through direct contact and bolstered by a victim who is too trusting. With the internet and other technology, criminals have shifted their efforts so as to accomplish their rip-off over long distances and without direct contact. Unfortunately, local law enforcement has limited capacity to track and ultimately prosecute such crimes.

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.

Nothing like returning to your hometown with a bang in the midst of the biggest thing to happen in South Lake Tahoe in quite some time. Jonathan Snyder, a 1991 graduate of South Tahoe High, returned to his roots Wednesday as the Executive Chef at the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Snyder greeted the media on Wednesday during the media tours of the hotel, restaurants and casino.

Kealoha and Diane Ferlatte will be in South Lake Tahoe this week as part of the Tahoe Arts Project's goal of bringing the arts to town.

Diane Ferlatte, world famous storyteller, and Kealoha, Poet Laurette of Hawaii, come together for an exciting night of slam poetry, storytelling and prose. Don't miss your chance to see these two industry legends together in a unique performance to be enjoyed by all ages.

Coldwell Banker McKinney’s team of over 30 professionals has been providing services for clients since 1978 in South Lake Tahoe. Their award winning office in the heart of the community and they call themselves the most established and experienced real estate company in the City.

As the incoming Chair of the 15-member Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board, this promises to be a hopeful and exciting year. 2015 will be full of opportunities, but also challenges, for the continued protection of Lake Tahoe.

The number one priority among our challenges is funding shortfalls. Federal and state funding that has paid for environmental restoration and protection efforts at Lake Tahoe for years is drying up and new approaches need to be pursued.

Runny and stuffy nose, fever and chills, body and headaches, cough and sore throat, tiredness. Have these symptoms? You might have the flu.

You don't have to go far in South Lake Tahoe before you come across someone who is sick, and the flu season is just beginning. Evidence points to high or widespread flu activity in 43 states including Nevada, and it's just now entering California.

The readers of USA Today have chosen Carson City as the “best travel worthy state capital in the nation,” officials of the 10 Best contest announced this morning.

The win gives Carson City bragging rights, a nice shot in the arm for local tourism, a national and international spotlight and citywide pride that comes with living in the state capital.

Many dream of opening a business, but only a few do so with the grace and style of the two local stylists that recently opened L’Atelier Hair Studio. Michelle Langmayer and Shelly McMillin opened this welcoming rustic boutique salon in Round Hill to offer full services ranging from makeup and color to waxing and specialty treatments. To celebrate their months of hard work, Langmayer and McMillin invite all to the grand opening and ribbon cutting of L’Atelier Hair Studio on Friday, January 9. The event begins at 5:00 pm and includes music, drinks, food and raffle prizes.

The Second Annual Subaru Winterfest will be held at Sierra-at-Tahoe resort this weekend, January 3 and 4. Winterfest includes a Freeride Skills Course and equipment demos as well as the chance to meet an Olympian. South Lake Tahoe resident and Olympic Gold Medalist Maddie Bowman will be signing autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Subaru tent on Saturday. Bowman, 20, brought home the gold she won in the Women’s Ski Halfpipe in Sochi during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Jamie Anderson and Maddie Bowman are asked this question in this USA team interview:

Which skier considers his skills on the snow the best gift he’s ever been given? How about the snowboarder who said her favorite was the gift of life? Find out what Team USA skiers and snowboarders remember as their favorite gift of all time. Happy gift-giving!

Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe, 2014 Olympic halfpipe skiing gold medalist: Onesie Cookie Monster pajamas from my best friend a couple years ago.

Douglas County has selected three final candidates for Clerk/Treasurer in anticipation of a resignation for the term beginning January 5, 2015. The recruitment and selection has been led by the Douglas County Manager Jim Nichols with input from a Citizen Advisory Committee. The three candidates will be invited to a public reception that will occur on the evening of January 20th.

The 3 semi-finalists are:

• Kathleen DeSocio
• Kathy Lewis
• Eileen Thomas

Flu season is underway. Misconceptions about the flu prevent people from taking the proper precautions. For example, being out the in cold does not cause the flu. Here are a few more flu myths I hear and facts to help you stay healthy this winter.

FLU MYTHS

MYTH:If you think you have the flu, go to the doctor to get antibiotics.