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Seven outstanding restoration, sustainability, and construction projects were recognized as recipients of Best in the Basin awards by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) during an online meeting of the agency’s Governing Board. The projects and programs each exhibit outstanding planning and execution and lead the way in environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Region, according to the agency.

UPDATE: The South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue decorated truck will run again in 2020. Once repairs are completed a schedule will be released.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The longstanding tradition of the decorated South Lake Tahoe Fire Truck making the rounds through neighborhoods will be taking a year off due to COVID-19.

The tough decision was made due to safety and protecting participant's health.

The ban on Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) in South Lake Tahoe is looming and the City is now working on putting holes in it. The first attempt is being presented Tuesday, Nov 3 at the City Council meeting. The City plans to allow 200 “Hosted” short term rentals in our neighborhoods. It will require a tenant or owner to host guests in their ‘homes’ to be available to respond to complaints within 60 minutes of issues being reported. On the surface this seems a reasonable alternative until we consider the realities and how this might actually be used.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - During their Thursday, October 15 meeting, the Douglas County commissioners will hear a presentation about the work done by an appointed task force about vacation home rentals (VHRs) in Tahoe Township. The agenda item is listed as having possible action by the commissioners.

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Cristi Creegan

Profession: Business Owner

How many years in SLT: 23 years

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Bruce Grego

Profession: Attorney

How many years in SLT: 53 years

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Keith Roberts.

Profession: Executive Chef

How many years in SLT: 5 years

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless will receive significant funding in the first round of awards for Project Homekey. The funds awarded will support the local community to purchase and rehabilitate housing, including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other properties, and convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people facing homelessness and those currently in insufficient short-term housing. We strongly support the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and their Project Homekey plans.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be two new members of the South Lake Tahoe City Council after the November 3 election. In the coming weeks the pubic will have chances to hear from the candidates both via zoom, in print and possibly in person. Below are eight of the ten candidates responses to questions asked by the local #IRunWithMaud group.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Refuse Transfer Station at 2140 Ruth Avenue is currently closed due to a hazmat (hazardous materials) situation. South Lake Tahoe Police and Fire Rescue are currently at the scene and Hazmat crew is on their way from Placerville.

If anyone is waiting for a dump truck to come to their home there is a delay. Trucks were able to get to many homes but if they are full they are unable to empty their load at the station and return to neighborhoods.

Jeanette Tillman of South Tahoe Refuse said a couple of employees were transferred to the hospital.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - As most in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers area already know, getting out of town over US50 and Echo Summit on Sundays and holidays can be slow moving during summer, but during the winter it can be a miserable time both for visitors and locals.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Every ten years a Census is taken of all people living in the Unitied States. While the state of California currently has a 64.5 percent response rate, South Lake Tahoe once again is lagging far behind.

As of August 6, 28.1 percent of those living in South Lake Tahoe had turned in answers to the Census Bureau. El Dorado County as a whole, 58.6 percent. Nationally, the Census return rate is 63.2 percent.

Why is it so hard to get South Lake Tahoe residents to participate?

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If they were flowers on the ground or money in trees, most would welcome them. But they aren't. And love them or hate them, they’re back!

Miller moths, or the army cutworm, have become a nuisance in many parts of Lake Tahoe over the last few weeks, but not all areas have been affected. Those who have them around their homes are seeing dozens each night, swarming around their lights both inside and outside.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Spring is in full swing in the Tahoe Basin and Tahoe black bears are searching for food. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears results in unwanted bear behaviors, increased human-bear conflicts, and public safety issues as well as fines and possible jail time for violators. Each year, local law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat or are damaging property. In some cases, the bear must be euthanized.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It still isn't too late to prevent pesky yellow jacket interruptions of July and August picnics and outside dinners in Lake Tahoe. Now is the time to prepare by placing traps for the queens as they start to emerge from their winter hibernation.

The queens are the only bee colony member to hibernate in the winter. She emerges in spring and begins to look for a suitable place to build a nest and begin her new colony. By the end of summer one colony can have 4,000 to 5,000 yellow jackets.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The largest wetland restoration project in the history of the Lake Tahoe Basin is now underway in the Upper Truckee River Marsh. The major project to restore the marsh in South Lake Tahoe has been years in the making to fix the environmental damage done by the creation of the Tahoe Keys.

(Since publishing, LTBMU has corrected the date their order expires.)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - All national forest recreation areas and sites in the South Shore Recreation Corridors are now closed. In an announcement Wednesday, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) said the closures are to keep in alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure health and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams today issued a directive extending the amount of time County residents are to remain at home except to engage in “essential activities.” The extension now goes to Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Residents are asked to stay in their homes as much as possible to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Only essential business and essential travel is permissible by the order.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many have asked, what if our community starts getting COVID-19 cases, are we prepared? Many different groups, agencies, and the government have been working diligently and collaboratively on emergency plans to prepare.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In response to COVID-19, Douglas County officials continue to work closely with Carson City Health and Human Services and a regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that has been set up in Carson City to ensure compliance with the Governor’s directive while working in partnership to keep Douglas County residents safe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In just two weeks the City of South Lake Tahoe will be saying goodbye to its sixth police chief since becoming incorporated in 1965.

Chief Brian Uhler will be wrapping up a 40-year career in law enforcement when he retires from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on March 12, 2020. He has been the second-longest serving chief, coming within a couple of months of the City's second police chief, John Crow.