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To televise or not televise, that was the question in front of the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday, April 19. While live streaming of the Council meetings is not required by law, it is something the City has done on both the internet and television since May, 2007.

The agenda item was added after discussion arose during the April 5 meeting when Mayor Wendy David asked that they stop televising the public comment portion of the meetings. Her comment caught many by surprise, even by some of her Council members.

Poison Prevention Week just wrapped up, but the message is always important. The week is a campaign over 50 years old. Every year, we are urged to take notice of the chemicals in our lives that are dangerous. While much of the effort is spent on parents of young children, pets are likewise vulnerable to poisoning. In many instances, pets are MORE prone to poisoning, since we may not be wary of foods or plants that we have no problem with but are toxic to animals.

Smokey Bear and U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Fire Prevention staff, Bill Sanders and Jacob Ruano, visited a Head Start class in South Lake Tahoe last week. They were there to teach the pre=kindergarten students about fire safety and fire prevention.

Two South Lake Tahoe businesses lost almost $1,000 each this past week when scammers called them, demanding payment of an electrical bill or their power would be shut off.

In both cases, individuals claiming to represent Liberty Utilities called the businesses and demanded payment. The business owners were directed to purchase a prepaid credit card and then call them back with the card number.

Liberty Utilities representatives will not place calls to customers for payment.

At Lake Tahoe, we know our natural resources are one of our most valuable assets, and that’s why we have worked for decades to conserve and restore them. The natural wonders of the Jewel of the Sierra and the opportunities they afford are why we live here, and why millions of visitors travel here to enjoy the Tahoe Basin each year.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) will “make a real difference for families and communities” struggling with drug addiction, U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio said Saturday. He spoke about the bill, which has bipartisan support, in a weekly Republican address.

“This epidemic does not discriminate,” Senator Portman said. “Zip codes don’t matter. It’s affecting our cities, suburban areas, and rural counties. Young or old, rich, middle class or poor, black, white, Hispanic or Asian. The grip of addiction affects all of us.”

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Wednesday.

The legislation, created alongside senators Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Harry Reid, D-Nevada and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., provides federal, state, and local partners important tools to reduce wildfire threats, improve water clarity, jumpstart innovative infrastructure projects, and combat invasive species.

Hundreds of new California laws take effect on January 1, 2016, many that will have tangible impacts on the lives of Californians as they work, drive, ride a bike and shop.

Here is an overview of some of them:

Transportation:

Over the past three years, a new master plan for the South Lake Tahoe airport has been in the creation process, from the awarding of a $315,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2012 to community outreach to Tuesday's presentation on a final design plan.

Last week, South Tahoe Now carried a story about changes on the South Shore, businesses who were moving, starting or renovating.

Since that time, information has surfaced about one of the subjects, the Tahoe Pines Lodge.

New owner Darren Cobrae said he wanted to remodel the aging motel which has become home to long term renters. His plans for the property included adding two restaurants and retail space.

Now that the last remaining building along the north side of Highway 50 between Friday Avenue and the Chateau at Heavenly Village is gone, crews have been preparing the space for what is going to be known as Zalanta Resort at the Village.

The first phase of this condominium project will begin as soon as building permits are issued by the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Lawmakers from Nevada and California met Monday on the shores of Lake Tahoe to discuss how to protect a national treasure as it faces continued threats to water clarity, invasive species, wildfire and drought.

Ever since President Bill Clinton held the first meeting in South Lake Tahoe in 1997, the annual focus of the Lake Tahoe Summit is to protect what Mark Twain called "the fairest picture the whole world affords."

Before his gold and platinum selling albums, his 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and his induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Johnny Mathis held the high jump record for the University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay Stadium. The famed singer and entertainer returned to campus Saturday, Aug. 22, to reminisce about his record 6’ 5 1/2” jump set in 1956.

The Carson Valley Aviation Roundup has announced the Flying Eagles VFA-122 will be performing demonstration flights in the F18F Super Hornet during their air show, the Aviation Roundup on August 22 and 23, 2015. This is an outstanding addition to an already fantastic lineup of performers.

Experts warn of a Godzilla El Niño this fall.

So, what exactly is a "Godzilla" El Niño?

Actually, it’s just a clever joke by a NASA climatologist: "This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla El Niño," Bill Patzert of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, California, said Thursday.

What's It Look Like?

"Godzilla" El Niño is not a technical or scientific term, but it's a good way to describe the upcoming El Niño event, because it could likely be one of the strongest since record-keeping began in 1950.

Chautauqua performers Chuck Baldauskas and Doc Durden will present “Buffalo Bill & Wild Bill: Pals Together Again” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 2, at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Location

STOP RIGHT THERE. Don’t move a muscle, buster. Stay out of this book or I WILL CHOMP YOU!

Meet Bear. He's exhausted. All he wants is to go to sleep. Meet Duck, Bear's persistent next-door neighbor. All he wants is to hang out . . . with Bear

If you're a dinosaur, all of your friends are dead. If you're a pirate, all of your friends have scurvy. If you're a tree, all of your friends are end tables.

These are just a few lines out of books written by South Tahoe High School graduate Jory John who's ninth book, "I Will Chomp You," is being released on Tuesday.

The 5th Annual Aviation Roundup will be held on August 22 and 23 at the Minden-Tahoe Airport. The show will feature the US Air Force Thunderbirds, Team Rocket, Bill Stein, Kyle Franklin, Matt Younkin, Manfred Radius, and Dan Buchanan.

The performers will perform on both days, with the gates opening at 10:00 a.m. and Opening Ceremonies at 12:00 pm.

There will be no bleachers or seating available so lawn/beach chairs are encouraged.

History shows time and time again our greatest accomplishments at Lake Tahoe are achieved when people work together. In the past, Tahoe was known as a place where unproductive interactions between stakeholders led to a stunning decay in our environment and our economic vitality, creating a region that seemed frozen in time.

We face major environmental challenges at Tahoe, including the uncertainties of climate change. And as Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Three new message signs were unveiled in South Lake Tahoe this week, just in time for the holiday weekend. Since the fourth of July is a big tourist draw, it is the perfect time to test out all the message signs can provide to those on the road.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy the lake a little bit longer, hike or bike a little bit longer, or linger over a big meal instead of sitting in traffic over Echo Summit on Highway 50?

The controversial bill that would give California one of the country's strictest vaccination laws headed on Monday to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, with supporters urging him to sign it and opponents promising to stand vigil around the clock to convince him to veto it.

On Monday, a majority of the California state Senate again passed Senate Bill 277, incendiary legislation that would require almost all schoolchildren to be fully vaccinated in order to attend public or private school, regardless of their parents' personal or religious beliefs.

The only exception would be for medical reasons.

Professional Bullwhip Instructor Doc Durden will share his talent in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, June 27, at 10:00 am. The term "bullwhip" is unique to the cowboys and buckaroos of the old West In the latter half of the 20th century, attempts to preserve traditional crafts, along with a resurgence of interest in Western performance arts led to an increased interest in whip cracking as a hobby, performance art and competitive sport.Durden will demonstrate the use of a 6’, 8’ and two 10’ whips in both ability and marksmanship.

Location

California took the first step June 5 to regulate its nearly 20-year-old medical marijuana industry, one that lawmakers said currently resembles something out of the “wild, wild West.”

AB266 merges what were two competing bills and attempts to set up state regulations that will pass muster with the federal Department of Justice. It was one of dozens of pieces of legislation advancing through the Legislature Thursday as lawmakers faced a Friday deadline to move bills out of their house of origin.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of a series of scams that have been targeted at residents. Even though the recent reports have been in Douglas County, all people should be aware as the criminals know no county, or state lines.