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California Gov. Jerry Brown today delivered the 2013 State of the State Address. Here's the prepared text:

Well-intentioned children and aquarium hobbyists seeking to “free” their pet fish down a toilet bowl or into a local waterway may inadvertently be contributing to the threat of invasive species downstream, according to a new report from the University of California, Davis.

All that remained of the SnowGlobe Music Festival venue Thursday were a few scattered boards and sections of chain link fence, but just because the revelers have departed doesn't mean the event'...

TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will present its annual Holiday production which includes selections from the Messiah and favorite carols that the audience is invited to sing along. Vocal soloists include Maria Arrigotti, Katharine DeBoer, Joy Strotz, and Anna Helwing, sopranos; Stephanie Dixon, mezzo soprano; and Stuart Duke and Gary Schwartz, baritones.
The South Lake Tahoe performance will be Dec. 16, 3 p.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the sale of holiday tree permits the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 23. Permits cost $10 each (cash or check only, no credit cards) with a limit of two permits per family. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar in designated cutting areas and must abide by specific permit conditions for proper and responsible collection. Harvesting smaller diameter trees offers residents and visitors a traditional holiday experience while helping to thin the forest.

A popular, new program offered by the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA) is making home ownership even more affordable. Through the Home at Last™ Access program, qualified home buyers receive a generous 4 percent down payment grant, which does not have to be paid back. Now, the program is offering even lower mortgage interest rates on a conventional, 30-year fixed rate loan. Through participating lenders, the interest rates on FHA, VA or USDA-RD home mortgages have dropped from 3.75 percent to the current rate of 3.5 percent, which is an historic low.

Ted King, Captain Engine 41 and firefighter Skylr Penna-Couttenye are shown mopping up the Luther Fire, south of Big Meadow trailhead off Highway 89 Tuesday. In addition to Forest Service crews, Lake Valley Fire Protection District assisted in suppressing the fire, which was contained at a half acre. The cause is under investigation.
Photo credit: Steve Burns, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

CARSON CITY – It took all of about ten minutes for Sen. Dean Heller and Rep Shelley Berkley to mix it up in their first debate in the U.S. Senate race Thursday, criticizing each other on campaign issues ranging from ethics to Medicare to big oil subsidies.
The hour-long debate on KNPB-TV in Reno was the first chance for many voters to see the two candidates spar on the issues, most of which have already been the focus of campaign attacks in the race to date.

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus commemorates the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy with a concert series that features famed violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn performing Brahms Violin Concerto on the legendary Red Stradivarius Violin and features the TOCCATA Chorus in Brahms mighty German Requiem.
Sept. 12 at 7pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $5 students (19–23), and free for youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance by credit card online or at the door by cash or check.

If the TTD took the $70 Million that they say it will cost to build the loop road and fix up the area they would still have enough over to give us a free bus system like most of the other resort towns. They are not alleviating any traffic flows or amount of cars only diverting them faster to Nevada. How is diverting the traffic helping the traffic situation, we will still have the same amount of cars on the road. I have said this before about other things done to us by our Government agency’s doing what’s best for them and us(mostly them).

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is pleased to welcome Tim Carlson as the new Presidential Appointee to TRPA’s 15-member Governing Board.
Carlson brings with him more than 40 years of government and business development experience to the non-voting seat on the Governing Board. His out-of-the-box business style has resulted in the development of many public/private partnerships and business-to-business joint ventures.

Services for legendary radio commentator Travus T. Hipp will be held this Saturday, May 26, in Silver City. Hipp died early Friday morning, May 18, at his Silver City home. He was 75, as old as the Golden Gate Bridge in his beloved San Francisco.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26, in Silver City. Gathering, gnoshing and remembering will begin at the Silver City Community Center, 385 High Street, at 10:00 a.m. Food and refreshments will be provided. Those who wish may bring more.

Fitch Ratings affirmed South Tahoe Public Utility District on Monday as part of its ongoing survey of public agencies, noting the ratings outlook remains within the organization remains "stable."
The firm, which positions itself as a global rating agency dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data, gave the water and sewer district a AA+ rating, noting $10.8 million sewer revenue certificates of participation. The ratings agency also asserts that STPUD continues to have strong reserves in place that protects the district against a reduction in its property tax revenues.

A Carmichael, Calif., man has been arrested in the 31-year-old murder case of Richard Swanson, South Lake Tahoe police report.
On March 28, 2012 Andrew Sanford, 50, of Carmichael, was arrested and booked in the Sacramento County Jail for the murder of Richard Swanson. The robbery/homicide occurred on Aug. 14, 1980 in South Lake Tahoe at what was then the Shell Gas Station located at the “Y” on the corner of Lake Tahoe Blvd and Emerald Bay Road, according to a press statement.

Washoe County Sheriff's detectives worked a collaborative investigation with the Placer County Sheriff's Office and the Truckee Police Department to serve a search warrant which led to the subsequent arrest of a man who authorities believe may have been involved in a string of burglaries around Lake Tahoe since 2007.

Vail Resorts, Inc. ski and snowboard season passes for the 2012-2013 winter season go on sale today and feature the best prices in the industry.

Teams of super heroes, penguins, pirates and other characters jumped into Lake Tahoe last winter, and on March 17, they’ll do it again. You’re invited to join them as Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada co-host Polar Plunge® 2012 at Zephyr Cove, South Lake Tahoe. The event is open to all and will include entertainment, a costume contest, and prizes, as well as Special Olympics athletes, coaches, and volunteers who will share their experiences with the organization’s inspiring programs.

The Tahoe Heritage Foundation recently received a donation of $7,050 from the Tahoe Mountain Milers. The running club raised the money during the 2011 Kokanee Salmon Run. These funds will be used to support next year's Kokanee Salmon Festival and the college internship summer program at Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

By the Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Nevada Treasurer Kate Marshall announced today that her office has completed a series of bond sales that will net the state a total face value of $149.4 million, with $32 million going for capital improvement projects and the remaining $117 million to be used for the refunding of existing state obligations.

By Jake Sunderland
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Consumers who have suffered an “extraordinary life event” may now ask their insurance company to provide an exception to the use of their credit information for underwriting and rating purposes, which may otherwise result in an increase in their premium rate.

“This is an important chance for some Nevadans who have suffered an unfortunate event to find relief during these trying economic times,” said Commissioner Scott J. Kipper of the Nevada Division of Insurance.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the sale of holiday tree permits on Nov. 7.Permits cost $10 each (cash or check only, no credit cards)...

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe presents “An Evening of Food & Wine Tasting” Event on Friday, November 11 from 6:00-9:30pm at Harrah's Tahoe Convention Center.
“An Evening of Food & Wine Tasting” raises money to fund many projects and programs sponsored by SISLT. Over 18 local area restaurants and 30 vintners will be showcased. Guests will again have an opportunity to vote for their favorite winery and restaurant.