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Who or what is Tahoe South? When the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority first started marketing the name, many locals perceived it as an attempt to rename the community, but instead, it is the branding of a concept as well as a location.

A new video about the brand launched at the Tahoe Chamber Blue Ribbon Awards Thursday night.

Tahoe South is an active, quirky, fun, young at heart lifestyle, and the “Tahoe South” logo and campaign includes elements that evoke the connection between the consumer and South Shore to inspire overnight visits.

Worried that California might legalize recreational marijuana, the state’s third-largest city by population has voted to ban pot sales ahead of Tuesday’s election.

San Jose isn’t alone in scrambling to block the possible effects of Proposition 64, which would legalize pot but also allow local bans on sales.

Dozens of cities and counties from tiny Blue Lake in the heart of Northern California’s pot-growing mecca to National City near the Mexico border have either imposed or are contemplating tough restrictions on recreational marijuana sales and cultivation.

Measure P will be a key initiative on the City of South Lake Tahoe’s Nov. 8 ballot as a tourist-only tax to help rebuild the area’s aging Recreation Center.

Without raising taxes on local residents and businesses, Measure P will bring an estimated extra $2 million a year to support the community. The Lodging Association has voted unanimously to support further recreation in South Lake Tahoe. If passed by a two-thirds vote, Measure P will increase transient occupancy tax by 2 percent to 12 percent.

We've all seen the recent NFL player's protest over the treatment of blacks by not standing during the playing of the National Anthem at games. While I don’t agree with their method, it made me think about the way people respect the flag in general.

When growing up I always heard "Don't let the flag touch the ground," "The flag is only outside during daylight hours and not during rain or bad weather," and, as a Girl Scout, I learned how to fold the flag in the correct manner and learned the flag had to be burned if it was mistreated.

It had been months of planning and training for former South Lake Tahoe resident Ric Llewellyn as he prepared to swim across the Lake Tahoe in an effort to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

On Wednesday, August 24, all of the preparation was put to test for the endurance athlete as he entered the 68 degree water at Emerald Bay for the 8.5 mile swim across the lake.

On July 12, 2016 at 2:56 p.m., with his family by his side, John Setnor passed peacefully into the Lord's Kingdom. He was born December 31st 1945 and was raised in Chicago, Illinois and spent 32 incredible years in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., with the love of his life, his Lynnie.

John's passion for fishing and extraordinary sense of humor were only surpassed by the love he showed for his family and friends. When he wasn't on his boat fishing, he loved spending time at home with his family sitting out by his pond enjoying the wildlife that he so loved.

Nothing is normal about the new Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, and that suites management just fine.

Gone is the stuffy front desk. Gone are plastic outdoor furniture and generic beds. What takes their place are locally made wooden furniture, fire pits, a bar that doubles as the check-in counter, and books, games and s'mores to make guests feel like they're just hanging out in someone's home.

Some lessons in school can carry forward into life lessons teaching the student both the material new to their minds as well as accessing their innate skills. This year for the first time the fifth grade at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School in Meyers, California had just such an opportunity.

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With thousands of fans lining the streets of Santa Rosa, Team KATUSHA’s star sprinter Alexander Kristoff (NOR) catapulted to a stage win, his eighth of the season, by a rim over all-time Amgen Tour of California stage win record holder Peter Sagan (SVK) of Tinkoff, who had spent much of the 109.1-mile day in a breakaway. The Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease™ Women’s Race Empowered with SRAM also spent the day in Santa Rosa, with cycling’s winningest woman Marianne Vos (NED) cinching the victory for Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team.

Anne “Annie” Elisabeth Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday, April 29 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Annie was born in Batavia, New York on December 16th, 1955, to Anne Elisabeth McGee (Zehrung) and Herman Fisher.

The Sierra State Parks Foundation is excited to announce our first Archives Bus Tour on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Attendees will meet at Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center for a day of discovery and fun. Hopping aboard the bus at 9am, we will make our way to the California State Archives in Sacramento, with a stop in the heart of Gold Country, the Auburn State Recreation Area. Tickets are $60 ($55 for members) with limited seating. Reservations are required and parking for the day is included in the ticket price.

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In a representative democracy, the system the United States supposedly has, the policy making is controlled by the representatives elected by the people. The idea behind representative democracy is that people will elect representatives that will serve their best interest. However, in the United States the funding for election campaigns is provided by large corporations, banks, and a handful of wealthy individuals that results in the election of representatives who serve the best interests of the large corporations, banks, and wealthy individuals.

What does a police officer do after they retire?

Hunt for Bigfoot, of course.

That is what South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Donna Kingman said she'll be doing after hanging up her shield after 29 years of working in the community. Her official last day is April 30, but Thursday was her last shift working in uniform.

Of course, she won't be hunting for Bigfoot in cold, shaded areas as she'll be seeking sun and a life of being "footloose and fancy free."

It has been about 18 months since the Cal Tahoe JPA voted to spend $192,000 on badly needed EKG monitors for the nine ambulances that serve the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers area. As of March 31, not a dime has been spent due to a division between the two fire departments that are part of the JPA.

"I don't want public safety to get in the way of politics," said SLT City Councilman Tom Davis at Thursday's emergency JPA meeting. Davis is one of two Council representatives on the JPA board. The other is Mayor Wendy David.

The Tahoe Prosperity Center received an award on Thursday, March 31, 2016 from the Placer County Economic Development Board for “Best Collaboration to Encourage a Prosperous, Sustainable and Healthy Lake Tahoe Basin.”

Certificates of recognition were also presented to the Tahoe Prosperity Center from Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, Senators Ted Gaines and Jim Nelson, and Congressma=en Tom McClintock and Douglas LaMalfa.

"Egg"citing week ahead for the younger residents, with Easter Egg hunts schedule around the South Shore.

The Tahoe Douglas Firefighter's Association will host their annual Tot Egg Hunt at Kahle Community Center on Friday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. for kids ages 0 to 6. The Easter Bunny will be hiding eggs outside and the kids can climb on fire trucks during the event. Inside there will be a bounce house, indoor playground and refreshments. Bring a basket to collect eggs and a camera. Gym is open until 1:00 p.m.

Tahoe Best Friends owner Paige Rice has a big heart not only for all of the family pets that she and her team at Tahoe Best Friends train and care for but also for those less fortunate members of our community who are in need of a helping hand. On Monday February 1st, Paige sponsored an “Adopt A Day of Nourishment” dinner held by Bread & Broth at St. Theresa Grace Hall. Paige brought Tahoe Best Friends’ employees Allison Brilliant and Maureen Stuhlman and friend and customer Judy Arnold to spend their evening helping at Paige’s sponsorship dinner.

Two musicians who performed in South Lake Tahoe over the years have died.

Glenn Frey, the guitarist and sometime singer for the legendary 1970s band The Eagles, died Monday at age 67. The Eagles last performed in South Lake Tahoe during a two-day concert at Harvey's Outdoor Arena in 2014.

According to news reports, Frey had surgery for intestinal problems in November.

The band has the following message on their website:

Snow got in the way of school in South Lake Tahoe today, but the show must go on and opening night of Cinderella is on.

South Lake Tahoe's Maddie Bowman, Olympic Gold Medalist in the Ski Halfpipe, will be at Sierra-at-Tahoe on Saturday, January 9, 2016 for the Subaru Conquer Winter Day.

There will be giveaways during the special event, including a chance to have lunch and ski with Maddie. She will be giving autographs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Subaru tent.

A new burger place has opened on the South Shore, giving residents on the Nevada side of town a new option for eating out (or on the run).

Neighborhood Burgers was opened by locals Erik Watada and Matt Grime, and in less than a week of being open its already a hit.

Grime, owner of The Fox & Hound at the top of Kingsbury, joined Watada in providing an option for people to get a quick bite, especially those on the Nevada side where options are at a minimum.

The annual Barton Foundation Festival of Trees and Lights opened Wednesday at MontBleu with tree judging and the Senior Stroll.

The winners of the designer and school trees and wreath contests:

Designer Tree Category

Best Interpretation of Theme: No Place Like Home, by Cyndy Brown – Carlton

Most Elegant: Tantalizing Tango, by Belen Urrutia

Most “Out of the Box” (Creative): Steampunk Christmas, by Jeri Oishi & Enchanted Florist team

Best of Show: Tantalizing Tango, by Belen Urrutia

LTUSD Trees:

The HEROs from Harrah’s and Harveys’ Casino Resorts lived up to their name and mission by hosting a Bread & Broth dinner on October 26th. HEROs, a Caesar Entertainment employee organization, is committed to having members volunteer at charitable causes and give back to their community. Through their generosity, they are heroes to those who benefit from their support and concern.

The SnowGlobe Music Festival announced Thursday additional artists to the 5th anniversary of the three-day celebration in South Lake Tahoe December 29-31, 2015. Hosted in the heart of California’s breathtaking Sierra Nevada Mountains, the unique outdoor winter festival offers over 50 world-class artists performing multiple stages and culminating in an impressive NYE firework show. By day, time is spent enjoying the many alpine adventures available in the stunning setting of Lake Tahoe.