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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act today, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide much needed funding for the crippling $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at national parks.

STATELINE, Nev. - Eldorado Resorts has completed its acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corp., creating the largest casino and entertainment company in the United States.

Eldorado Resorts paid $8.58B in cash and $8.8B in Caesars debt was assumed in the new entity. The new name for the company is Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

If the 4th of July weekend is any indication, Tahoe is under pressure. As coronavirus cases grow nearly everywhere, people naturally look to the mountains, fresh air, and clear water of Tahoe as a respite. Now residents and visitors alike are struggling to adjust to the confusion around re-opening, and visitation that is normally our lifeblood is suddenly a health risk.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - There is a multi-agency investigation into the cause of the Numbers Fire burning ten miles southeast of Gardnerville. Anyone who happened to be traveling on Highway 395 between Ridgeview and Holbrook Junction on July 6 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. is being asked to help.

If you can assist in the investigation, please email 2020firetips@gmail.com. All information will be kept confidential.

Three wildfires on Echo Summit kept firefighters busy Sunday morning.

Named the Echo, Upper, and Lake Fires by the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), all were kept from spreading due to a quick response by local, state and federal resources along with air support. They were all in the Echo Lakes area.

The cause of these fires is under investigation according to LTBMU. Scanner reports during the day stated all three could possibly be intentionally set but that has yet to be confirmed. No other information is available at this time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

7:00 a.m. Thursday Update: #TallacFire is contained. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit firefighters made good progress last night with assistance from Cal Fire. Accurate mapping has fire at 2.2 acres. Hwy 89 travelers urged to use caution as firefighters continue to mop-up

9:50 p.m. Update: Firefighters are making good progress on the #TallacFire. Hose-lay is completed on left and right flanks. For the safety of firefighters, Highway 89 travelers asked to use caution in the area between Camp Richardson and Emerald Bay as multiple resources are parked on the highway.

The Resilience Fund-Tahoe has funded its first local loan to Freshies Tahoe. The funds helped save their outdoor patio deck, which was in desperate need of repair and will be critical to ensuring their future success serving customers outdoors.

“After many months of unsuccessfully trying multiple federal avenues for support of Freshies during the business disruption caused by the pandemic, we are thrilled to have qualified for this very generous Resilience Fund loan! We are ready to get our deck open! Thank you so much,” said owners Erik and Melodie Ulman.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lime will be bringing scooters back to South Lake Tahoe after a unanimous vote by the City Council to temporarily reduce fees associated with the popular mobile devices during their meeting Tuesday. With a reduced season the new charge of $75 per device was not making sense according to the company.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe man arrested in April on child pornography charges was indicted today by a federal grand jury.

Timothy Daniel Mackey, 39, was arrested at his home after a search warrant served on April 15, 2020. Since that time he has been in jail. If convicted, Mackey faces 5-20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Law enforcement has come a long way in South Lake Tahoe since the first police department started on July 1, 1967. At that time there were 30 sworn male officers who were chosen from a list of more than 400 applicants who wanted to be part of the first police department for the new city. They were tested in Seal Beach, Roseville, and South Lake Tahoe then interviewed in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

If ever there was a time to draw on the healing powers of Lake Tahoe, it’s now. The COVID crisis, complete with loss of life and wide-ranging financial impacts, is being compounded by human struggle and a wellspring of social justice demonstrations that are gripping the nation. One of our core values at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is collaboration -- building collaborative relationships to protect Lake Tahoe. I can tell you that Tahoe's successes have not ever come from reinforcing divisions. The imagined “us vs them" simply creates false divides.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Scientists and researchers have been watching the clarity of Lake Tahoe for decades, rejoicing when one can see almost 100 feet down into the iconic body of water, sadness when clarity drops to record levels.

The clarity of the lake is an important indicator of the changing conditions of Lake Tahoe.

In 2019, Lake Tahoe's clarity decreased nearly eight feet from the previous year's dramatic 10-foot improvement. The average clarity in 2019 was 62.7 feet, the second-lowest on record. In 2017, the recorded clarity was 60 feet. In 1968, it was 102 feet.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The last scheduled Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) project for Caltrans around Lake Tahoe is almost finished. All traffic-interfering work is now complete on the stretch of US50 from the Y to the Trout Creek Bridge.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Valley Fire Protection District didn't have to search far for its new chief to replace the retiring Tim Alameda. Brad Zlendick, who has been in the interim chief role since March 18, is now officially the LVFPD fire chief.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you've been driving through town lately you've most likely noticed the road work on Al Tahoe Boulevard.

After a restriping/lane change pilot project in 2017 that reconfigured two of the four vehicle travel lanes and added buffered bike lanes on Al Tahoe Blvd., the rest of the project has now begun. The project has been years in the making through the planning, funding, public input, and permitting stages.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) said the order to close Lake Tahoe recreation sites will expire Friday at midnight and won't be extended.

Regional developed recreation site and South Shore Recreation Corridor will be open starting May 16 according to Lisa Herron of LTBMU.

The closures were to keep in line with local, state and federal regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Lake Tahoe transit providers Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and Tahoe‐Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) will be getting a boost from the federal government after they received word that $8.6 million form the CARES Act is headed their way. Transit services are especially critical to essential workers during this COVID crisis, the agencies said today.

These funds will help sustain free transit services for the public.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The May 12 agenda for the South Lake Tahoe City Council is a full one. The 9:00 a.m. virtual meeting will address the second reading of a wireless communication facility ordinance on private property, the first reading of the facilities on public property, a vote on $1,000 fines, reopening plans for City facilities and a hold on public events on City property until large gatherings are permitted.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - The USFS Forest Service closed all of their recreation sites in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to keep in alignment with federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing, and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers.

The following is a letter sent to El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe. It is published here in its entirety at the request of the author.

The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce would like to offer encouragement and support of a revival of the local economy, while continuing to keep the health and safety of our residents in mind. Cases of COVID-19 have remained low in our region when compared to other more populated areas around the State and Nation. We applaud the quick action taken by the County and City that has helped us keep the case count low.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A temporary closure order for USFS beaches and recreation sites around Lake Tahoe has been extended through at least May 15, 2020. The original order was set to expire May 1. To keep in alignment with current federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing, and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers, it was extended.

Trailheads and trails outside of the orange areas of the attached maps, or the ones on the closure website, are not affected by this order but parking lots are closed.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With Placer County’s local health order expiring May 2, county officials and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association are reminding would-be-visitors that while they are preparing now for when North Tahoe reopens, that date still depends on the state’s timeline for loosening physical distancing requirements.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will be conducting a 1:00 p.m. special meeting on April 29, 2020, to discuss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts to local businesses in Douglas County. The county is actively seeking public comment from residents in regard to economic impacts on local business in Douglas County.