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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While determining the exact timing and scope of coronavirus’ peak in the Lake Tahoe region is difficult, Barton Health is working diligently to be prepared to respond accordingly and address the needs of patients in the community. Surge planning is almost complete including more than doubling hospital bed capacity and expanding facilities to accommodate those who may be infected by the virus.

The 2020 Census is underway and while more households across America are responding every day, there are still many that have not been heard from. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing over 48 percent of all households in America.

The California response rate is a bit higher at 49.2 percent and 48.3 perfect of Nevadans have replied.

South Lake Tahoe is lower than most, with 20.9 percent of the population replying so far.

Other area results:
44.3 percent El Dorado County
47.9 percent Douglas County
51 percent City of Reno

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The proposed Lake Tahoe West Restoration Project is in the final planning stages and the three agencies involved, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, are inviting the public to provide their input. The project is a big one, covering 59,000 acres, and will provide a science-based, all-lands approach to guide restoration approaches on the West Shore over the next two decades to increase the resilience of ecosystems and human communities.

STATELINE, Nev. - The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is rolling out zero-fare bus service on the South Shore starting Sunday, April 12.

While they already had plans in place for a free system to help eliminate traffic, the rollout is sooner than expected in order to make travel safer in response to COVID-19 by eliminating fare exchanges between drivers and riders.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Working closely with state and county health agencies in a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barton Health is preparing for an anticipated patient surge by more than doubling its hospital bed capacity as well as expanding its facilities to accommodate patients who may be infected by the virus.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Parks run by the City of South Lake Tahoe that were closed for the season will remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We aren’t discouraging public access to the parks, we want our residents to get outside during this crisis,” said Public Works Director Ray Jarvis. “We are going to keep the parks closed to vehicle access though to discourage large gatherings and to continue to encourage people to follow state and federal guidelines.”

Today is Census Day, the day that determines who is counted in the 2020 Census and where they are counted.

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - Today the Alpine County Health Department was notified of the first laboratory-confirmed case of the new coronavirus COVID-19 infection in an Alpine County resident. The individual is recovering at home and was never hospitalized.

Alpine County is located south of Lake Tahoe, has a population of 1,120 and is 743 square miles in size and includes Markleeville and Bear Valley.

An investigation has determined the person was exposed and acquired the infection in a location distant from Alpine County. This person and their household "have

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Operational changes, including hospital visitation, screening protocols and testing facilities, continue to be made in the wake of El Dorado County’s first reported cases of coronavirus COVID-19. The health and safety of patients and care providers is Barton’s top priority, and community spread of COVID-19 is a concern. Regardless of confirmed cases in South Lake Tahoe, the advice of Barton Health medical experts is to assume COVID-19 is in the community and stay home unless absolutely necessary, keeping a distance of 6 feet from others if you must leave the home.

STATELINE, Nev. - Rider input is needed by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) in order to best determine their bus routes during the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19.

TTD is asking riders to contact them with what routes and runs are most important. In the meantime, they have implemented safety measures for both riders and employees to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Due to the current public health crisis, the El Dorado County Superior Court will be limited access to courthouses, effective immediately. They currently plan to resume normal operations on April 17, 2020, though with the rapidly unfolding coronavirus situation, this could change.

Courtrooms will be practice social distancing, including at least two seats between people in the gallery. Members of the public are strongly discouraged from attending court proceedings unless they are statutory support persons or those who have been subpoenaed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - All public activities at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center and Senior Center have been suspended for the time being. The City of South Lake Tahoe is closing those activities per recommendations from Governor Newson's response to the threat of coronavirus-COVID 19.

At this time, the County Meals on Wheels program that operates out of the Senior Center will continue but the senior's in-person lunch program will cease for the time being.

The City of South Lake Tahoe has partnered with Barton Hospital, El Dorado County

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Over 34 million Americans have caught the flu this year with over 20,000 deaths recorded, but its the coronavirus COVID-19 that is getting all the headlines.

There are no current reported cases of COVID-19 in South Lake Tahoe/El Dorado County, Alpine County or Douglas County, but local agencies want to be prepared, just in case people come down with the virus.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT), which includes local, state and federal land management agencies, will continue prescribed fire operations in the Tahoe Basin over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Aspen 1011 - USDA Forest Service - Location: Off Pioneer and Marshall trails near South Lake Tahoe. Burn Type: Hand Piles. Total Acreage: 10.00. Planned Ignition: 02/28/2020

Twin Peaks 1091 - USDA Forest Service - Location: Near corner of Pawnee Drive and Iroquois Circle, Meyers, CA. Burn Type: Hand Piles. Total Acreage: 30.00.

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.

It is time for Tahoe to have a new representative in Congress. Tom McClintock has represented our region in congress since 2009. During that time he has not promoted our interests.

1. He never moved into our district. He continues to live in a gated community in Elk Grove. Is our district not nice enough for him to live in? After all, we are paying his salary.

2. He has not had a town hall in the Lake Tahoe District during the past 4 years.

3. His votes are not supportive of our local needs. His votes that do not represent our community are represented by the following votes:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the second manual snow survey of the season at Phillips Station Thursday, and they found 40.5 inches of snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) of 14.5 inches. The snowpack at this location is 79 percent of the February average, with the rest of the state measuring in at 73 percent of average.

The Phillips Station total is 58 percent of the seasonal average.

"It's decent but below average," said Sean de Guzman, chief of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Section.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A overflowing crowd was at Tuesday's City Council meeting to take part in what has become a hot topic in the South Lake Tahoe community - cell towers.

Before the Council was an appeal to the Planning Commission's June 13, 2019 approval of a Special Use permit for a Verizon Wireless Monopine planned for installation at 1360 Ski Run Boulevard on the site of Hansen's sledding hil

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For some students, there are many barriers to their being able to get a college degree, one of them being affordable child care. A recent move by the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is helping remove that barrier by having extended hours on Monday and Tuesday evenings so parents who are LTCC students can attend classes and/or study.

Every day we wash our dishes, fill our water glass, and flush the toilet, likely without thinking much about the systems required to make this all possible. I’d like to think we are doing our job so you don’t have to think too much about it.

A new agreement is resulting in a $5 million decrease in revenue needs for NV Energy which means Northern Nevada customer electric rates are going down.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approved the agreement between NV Energy, the Regulatory Operations Staff of the PUCN, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and other interested parties that start new lower rates January 1, 2020.

The year was 1969. And what a year it was. On July 20, 1969—the Viet Nam War was raging—American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon. For much of the decade, America and indeed the world had been mesmerized by the space race.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - A Carson City man who died from multiple gunshots Friday in what is being investigated as a possible homicide on Washoe Tribe land had previously been arrested in 2018 on El Dorado County warrants out of South Lake Tahoe for alleged lewdness with a child and indecent exposure.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The December edition of the City of South Lake Tahoe's "At Lake Level" has been released by City Manager Frank Rush. This month Rush covers SnowGlobe, the 56-acre site and a possible new Fire/EMS station for the community.

56-Acre Site