Lake Tahoe

The COVID-19 virus is widespread throughout the South Lake Tahoe community. Transmission is taking place at its highest rate to date largely due to cooler weather moving gatherings indoors. Any gathering outside of your immediate household is now the largest vehicle for spread.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Caltrans is planning a $16.8 million U.S. Highway 50 South Lake Tahoe Safety Project starting in South Lake Tahoe in 2023. Circulation of the project's Draft Environmental Document (DED) was expected on November 25, but it has been delayed, Caltrans announced Tuesday.

The safety project is proposing to install additional intersection and mid-block lighting, pedestrian signals and advisory signs from the “Y” intersection to Pioneer Trail.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 73 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 23 are in El Dorado Hills, seven in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, four in North County, four in Greater Placerville, two in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, three in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 27 in Lake Tahoe region. There are three awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, ten are under the age of 18, 33 are aged 18-49, 24 are aged 50-64, and six aged 65 or older.

STATELINE, Nev. - Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $822,676,544 for the month of October 2020, the fifth month of casinos reopening in the state after being closed due to the coronavirus. This amounts to a 19.50 percent decrease compared to October 2019, when licensees reported a gaming win of $1,021,966,875, according to the monthly report released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board today.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 88 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, 18 are in El Dorado Hills, 14 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, four in North County, one in South County, 10 in Greater Placerville, one in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, three in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 25 in Lake Tahoe region. There are 12 awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, 12 are under the age of 18, 49 are aged 18-49, 15 are aged 50-64, and 12 aged 65 or older.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The week ahead will not be full of too many surprises as a couple of small systems appear to be keeping north of Lake Tahoe. Expect a slight increase in breezes for Monday with some gusts up to 25 mph as flow turns cooler, back to seasonal averages according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Another system is possible for Wednesday into the Thanksgiving holiday, but besides cooler temperatures, there will be minimal impacts across the region are anticipated at this time.

Forecast from NWS Reno:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The holidays can be stressful for those worrying about not only buying gifts, but for the basics of putting food on the table.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The long-awaited opening day for skiing and riding in South Lake Tahoe arrived Friday with season pass holders hitting the slopes at Heavenly Mountain Resort. They joined Northstar in being the only two resorts in Lake Tahoe to open. Squaw Alpine opens on November 25, followed by Kirkwood December 4, Sierra-at-Tahoe has not announced an opening date.

Heavenly reported a foot of natural snow from this week's storm added on top of the snow they've been making since temperatures dropped a few weeks ago.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - To our South Lake Tahoe Library Friends and Community, Thank you for your patience as the Friends of the Library have been working with Library staff and the El Dorado County Public Health Services to continue our book sale events at the Library. Unfortunately, due to weather and grounds concerns and also increasing Covid-19 virus cases in the area, we are canceling our Saturday, November 21 sale and suspending book sale events until the weather warms or we can go back inside. As conditions change, we will let you know and welcome your participation.

The winners of the 13th annual Blue Ribbon Awards were announced Thursday, November 19 during an awards show shown on Lake Tahoe Television. In place of the annual awards dinner the community was invited to tune in virtually with hosts Chris Fiore from the City of South Lake Tahoe and Meg Peart from the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. If missed, everyone can watch the celebration of the 2020 finalists and winners at https://tahoechamber.org/13th-annual-blue-ribbon-awards-show/ (and don't read any further if you want to be surprised).

Crews began work this month in the marsh system of Taylor and Tallac creeks in the Southwest portion of the Tahoe Basin to remove aquatic invasive plants from an abundant and impacted marsh ecosystem, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) said today.

UPDATE 11/20 11:30AM: On the night of November 15, 2020, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to a domestic violence incident in the 1200 block of Sierra Boulevard. A woman had been bettered after her boyfriend returned to their apartment after being at a local bar, allegedly throwing her around by her throat. The boyfriend, Brandon Bannowsky, then allegedly stole the victim's car and fled.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 52 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 15 are in El Dorado Hills, five in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, four in North County, one in South County, eight in Greater Placerville, eight in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, and 11 in Lake Tahoe region.

One of those new cases, three are under the age of 18, 31 are aged 18-49, 15 are aged 50-64, and three aged 65 or older.

Another 374 people were tested for the coronavirus and 322 negative tests results were received.

Time is a unifier of sorts, isn’t it, even during a pandemic. It keeps marching on, month by month, day by day and minute by minute.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Those in the North Upper Truckee neighborhood in Meyers are still until a boil water advisory but that could be lifted Thursday. The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) has received good results on their first set of water samples from the North Upper Truckee neighborhood.

STPUD collected 30 water samples from the affected Tuesday evening. The tests for chlorine residuals came back normal (ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 parts per million) and no coliform bacteria was detected in any of the samples.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 49 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 18 are in El Dorado Hills, nine in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, one in North County, two in Greater Placerville, four in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, and 15 in Lake Tahoe region. There are three positive results awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, two are under the age of 18, 22 are aged 18-49, 19 are aged 50-64, and six aged 65 or older.

The time-honored tradition of Lake Valley Fire Protection District touring streets in their jurisdiction with a decorated fire engine returns starting December 11.

Due to COVID-19, the Holiday engine will not be handing out candy canes this year but all are welcome to wave and say hello from a safe social distance. Each night they start their trek between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

December 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle

December 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Opening day at Heavenly Mountain Resort is planned for Friday, November 20, with ski and snowboard operations exclusive for all pass holders until December 8.

This year there are many changes due to COVID-19 and Vail says their goal is to prioritize pass holders, including those who have the Epic Day Pass. Those with passes need to reserve their day on the slopes as does the general non-pass holding public.

There will be no ticket sales at the Vail ski resorts this season and all is conducted virtually except for sightseeing rides.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 97 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 21 are in El Dorado Hills, ten in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, three in North County, two in South County, 14 in Greater Placerville, eight in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, five in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and 33 in Lake Tahoe region. There are three positive results awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, six are under the age of 18, 50 are aged 18-49, 23 are aged 50-64, and 18 aged 65 or older.

UPDATE 8:15PM: The Mountain View Fire is currently burning around the community of Walker. Due to the fast moving nature of the fire, an Evacuation Order has been issued for the Walker, Coleville and Topaz areas, and US 395 is still closed from Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. There is 0 percent containment and 5,000 acres burned according to Inci-web. Liberty Utilities has de-energized the communities of Walker and Coleville up to Topaz at the state line for safety precautions. Liberty is working with all emergency agencies and will safely restore power when possible.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin are now sold out! They went on sale one day ago and all 2,000 online permits were issued on a first-come, first served basis.

Nearby Eldorado, Humboldt-Toiyabe and Tahoe national forests are also selling Christmas tree permits online. Check permit availability for these forests at www.recreation.gov.

No additional permits will be authorized for this season.

In addition, Christmas trees may be purchased from private Christmas tree farms in El Dorado, Nevada and Placer counties.

Stories published on Lake Tahoe News are now free in archival form.

Lake Tahoe News was the preeminent source for news about the greater Lake Tahoe area from 2009-18. When it closed in summer 2018 the site was accessible via a paywall. That has been removed so people may access past stories without paying a fee.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) has been awarded a $86,126 grant to combat recognized traffic issues in the city limits including DUI, pedestrian, and motorcycle enforcement.

The safety of everyone traveling is the focus of the grant with efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on South Lake Tahoe roads and to improve traffic analysis, reporting, and data collection.

The one-year grant is for the 2021 federal fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 64 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, 18 are in El Dorado Hills, eight in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, four in North County, four in Greater Placerville, three in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, one in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and 24 in Lake Tahoe region. There are two results awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, seven are under the age of 18, 40 are aged 18-49, 13 are aged 50-64, and four aged 65 or older.