federal

RENO - Federal safety regulators will meet in Washington D.C. on Dec. 11 to determine the probable cause of a deadly Amtrak crash that killed a semi-truck driver and five passengers on a train he s...

Prescribed fire operations in the Spring Creek area near the south end of Lake Tahoe will begin Thursday, Nov. 1. The Forest Service says crews expect to burn three acres Thursday and three acres on Friday, conditions permitting.
Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area.

The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed. To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

ASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy grew at a slightly faster 2 percent annual rate from July through September, buoyed by more spending by consumers and the federal government.Even with the increase...

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will conduct prescribed fire operations near Taylor Creek on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore and on Alice Lane in the Meeks Bay area of the West Shore on Friday, October 26, 2012. Each area is approximately one-quarter acre. On Sunday, October 28, 2012, prescribed fire operations will take place in the Timberland area of the West Shore, weather permitting.

NEW YORK (AP) - The fungus found in tainted steroid shots matches the one blamed in the national meningitis outbreak that has killed 20 people, federal health officials said Thursday.The match conf...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal meteorologists are forecasting a milder and drier winter for much of the western United States, but say they are stumped about what will happen in the East.The National Oc...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court will hear arguments in a case seeking to stop California's first-in-the-nation mandate requiring petroleum refiners and ethanol producers to make cleane...

A federal judge has sentenced a South Lake Tahoe resident to more than three years in prison for embezzling clients' money.U.S. District Court Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Lori Zoval, 47,...

RENO, Nev. (AP) - State and federal officials in Nevada have lifted fire restrictions that have been in place since the middle of June on most state and U.S. lands in western Nevada.The restriction...

Boaters heading to Lake Tahoe in the next six weeks may experience a short delay when entering Emerald Bay due to an Asian clam control project that will be taking place there.
The Asian clam control project is being implemented by a team of partners from the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program, with plans to treat an area of up to 5 acres at the mouth of Emerald Bay. Treatment will be accomplished by covering the infested lake bottom with thin rubber barriers, augmented with organic material, that reduce the available oxygen and smother the clams. It will be the largest project of its type in the history of Lake Tahoe.

A federal appeals court sided with the League to Save Lake Tahoe Thursday in the environmental group's challenge to a proposed development near Stateline.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Cir...

The Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC) is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. until noon on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV, 89451. LTFAC will address issues related to federal activities at Lake Tahoe.

Items on the agenda include an update on Biomass in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Aquatic Invasive Species in Lake Mead, and public comment. Members of the public interested in finding out more about the LTFAC are welcome to attend this meeting.

A team of partners from the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program is scheduled to begin implementation of the largest Asian clam control project in the history of Lake Tahoe on October 15, with plans to treat an area of up to 5 acres at the mouth of Emerald Bay.

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mandate stipulates that starting Monday, Oct. 1, health departments can no longer provide federally-provided vaccines for people with private health...

Last week, South Tahoe High seniors Emily Barnett and Tyler Myers traveled to Russia to present their field research project, “The Effects of Fire and Forest Thinning on the Biodiversity of Understory Plants in the Lake Tahoe Basin,” at the Ninth Annual International Junior Foresters’ Competition.

Following a stellar boating season at Lake Tahoe, this Thursday, Sept. 20 will be the last day of operations for the Northstar and Homewood boat inspection stations. Boat inspections and decontaminations will still be available at the Alpine, Spooner and Meyers stations until Sept. 30, 2012.

The Tahoe Transportation District and the U.S. Forest Service are asking the public to park in alternate locations to access the Lam Watah Trail while work is underway on improvements that are part of the Nevada Stateline-to-Stateline Bike Path project - Phase 1B. Lam Watah Trailhead parking normally is located on the north side of U.S. Highway 50 just past the casinos in Stateline, Nev., on Kahle Drive.

IRONTON, La. - When Hurricane Isaac whirled into the Gulf Coast this week, the federal levee system protecting New Orleans did its job. But the patchwork of floodwalls shielding subdivisions outsid...

CARSON CITY — A state panel was told today that for yet another two-year state budget, there will be virtually no money available from property tax revenues for capital construction projects.
The state Public Works Board heard the disappointing news today as it began a two-day review of projects being sought by state agencies ranging from the Department of Corrections to Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

El Dorado County is accepting applications for its new Federal Coordination Advisory Committee. Various provisions of federal law mandate that federal agencies coordinate certain activities with local agencies before making decisions which may impact local government, according to a news release sent by Mike Applegarth, principal analyst for the county's chief administrative office.
It is important that county government track and analyze federal decisions in order to timely invoke the right of coordination and participate in the decision-making process.

UPDATE 3:27PM: KOLO Reno Channel 8 reports the brother of the registered owner of the Piper that crashed in South Lake Tahoe Saturday night says all five people aboard died. Javier de la Mora says his brother, Francisco de la Mora, of Fresno was in the airplane when it crashed. Francisco's wife and daughter and two other people were on board as well. Go here for the full story.

UPDATE 2:56PM: The City of South Lake Tahoe issued the following news release and photos this afternoon:

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, August 25th at 9:48 pm from Lake Tahoe Airport. The crash ignited a fire in the meadow just past the airport off of Winnemucca Avenue. The fire burned approximately one acre and took an hour and a half to extinguish.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department reports that the plane had been heard by witnesses to have apparent engine problems, and was seen to dip downward into the ground while attempting a turn.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, there were multiple victims and no survivors of the crash. The names of victims are not being released until notification of families is confirmed.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those that perished in this tragic accident. Thanks to the quick and cooperative efforts by multiple agencies; the fire caused by this crash was put out quickly,” said Mayor Claire Fortier.
Earlier in the day, the 23rd Annual Lake in the Sky Air Show was held at Lake Tahoe Airport. This plane was not affiliated with the air show in any way.
The location of the plane crash is within El Dorado County limits and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency of this investigation. FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials arrived on site today to perform an investigation and to identify the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 1:46PM: There are multiple victims to Saturday night's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe, confirmed El Dorado Sheriff's Office Lt. Pete Van Arnum. Investigators were processing the wreckage to confirm how many victims and their identities. Investigators do not believe the victims to be locals from the South Lake Tahoe area, he said. No information concerning the identity of the victims, or the plane will be released until positive confirmation has been made, he said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting with the investigation.
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10:36AM: Lake Tahoe News is reporting that it has exclusively learned from federal authorities that up to five people died in the plane crash on Saturday. Go here for the story. Meanwhile KOLO TV Channel 8 in Reno reports that an FAA official confirmed the plane was a Piper PA32.

UPDATE 6:55AM: A small airplane crashed in the Barton Meadows area in South Lake Tahoe sparking a wildland fire on Saturday night. Presumably there are no survivors. The crash was reported at 9:48 p.m. after the plane took off from Lake Tahoe Airport, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Pete Van Arnum early Sunday morning. Witnesses reported the plane was experiencing engine trouble and was seen moving downward before it crashed into flames, he said.

The city of South Lake Tahoe, known for world class skiing and outdoor recreation, can now add energy efficiency to its acclaim. Thanks to the federal stimulus funds, energy efficient lights were installed throughout the city.

About 150 lights at the Motor Pool Building and 88 street lights on Ski Run Boulevard were switched from incandescent bulbs to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LEDs are more energy efficient and are longer lasting than traditional lights, saving the city money and maintenance costs.

A series of drills simulating emergencies such as extreme weather, power outages, aircraft mishaps, lost climbers and transportation issues will be performed this weekend as part of operation Green Light organized by the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the the Department of Homeland Security.
Operation Green Light will further develop and strengthen regional partnerships and enhance emergency preparedness, response, and prevention capabilities, according to Nevada Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Gail Powell.

CARSON CITY – A board overseeing the creation of the state’s health insurance exchange opted today not to seek general fund support to subsidize the fees charged to participants in the program.
The Finance and Sustainability Advisory Subcommittee of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange Board had proposed subsidizing the monthly fee paid by enrollees with a general fund appropriation from the state Insurance Premium Tax.