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The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday recognized the extraordinary, lifelong contributions of Coe Swobe. Swobe is considered the “father of TRPA” for his bipartisan work to create the agency and its mission to conserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s environment. Swobe died on May 26, 2016 at age 87.

As a Nevada State Senator, Swobe brokered the landmark 1969 agreement between then Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt and then California Gov. Ronald Reagan and the two state legislatures to create TRPA and the nation’s first environmental bi-state compact.

June is wildfire awareness month at Lake Tahoe. And nine years later, the 2007 Angora Fire remains a vivid remember that wildfire is one of the greatest threats facing our environment, our homes, and our businesses. We must prepare accordingly.

Our region continues to take important steps to manage that wildfire threat, improve the health of our forests, and create fire adapted communities that are prepared for the next wildfire at Tahoe. But there is more work to do.

Search teams have suspended the search for a paddle boarder who went missing Friday night off of Obexer’s Marina on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office reported Saturday, June 11 that two days of searching have not recovered Marc Ma, a 20-year-old football player for the University of Nevada Reno (UNR).

Every year, countless dogs die in cars on summer days. Sometimes it’s not even that hot outside. Many times the window is cracked and the car is parked in the shade. The startling truth is that even in seemingly safe conditions the temperature inside your car can soar to life-threatening heights in just ten minutes – about the time it takes to run into the post office or the coffee shop or the pet store.

Even on a relatively mild day, your car can turn into an oven with frightening speed.

Although vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe have received a bad reputation in regards to loud parties echoing down our streets, and trash not being disposed of properly, they do help the local economy by bringing in tourist dollars. Even with all of the problems, the assets outweigh the liabilities for both tourists and town residents. For example, tourists will be given a sense of being at home, rather than hearing gamblers stroll the halls late at night.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding motorists and bicyclists to share responsibility for roadway safety. California’s weather allows bicyclists to enjoy riding many months throughout the year. Although bicycle safety should be practiced every day, the month of May has been set aside to draw awareness to how we can all help minimize bicycle injuries and deaths.

Over one hundred community members will gather on May 14 as the League to Save Lake Tahoe organizes the year’s largest single-day, hands-on citizens science effort to capture a snapshot of the water quality health of South Shore streams feeding into Lake Tahoe.

“By participating in the 16th annual Snapshot Day, volunteers are building on years of data gathered in these streams to provide valuable data information we can use to help protect Lake Tahoe,” said Jesse Patterson, deputy director for the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

The Food Bank of El Dorado County will bring their mobile food pantry to South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the American Legion located at 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

One allocation of emergency supplemental groceries will be given per qualifying household. Those who are struggling to make ends meet, live in El Dorado County and meet the State of California Health and Social Services Agency Emergency Food Assistance Program income guidelines may stop by for food distribution. Income guidelines can be found online at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/efap/.

Google wants to get a better idea of how people use their products, so it put a few researchers inside a van and sent them off to drive around the country to find out. That van makes a stop in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kahle Community Center.

The local community is invited to stop by and provide feedback on Google products, and for doing so, get Google swag or Starbucks gift cards as a thank you.

When people visit Tahoe for the first time, they marvel at the extraordinary natural landscape and fresh, clean air. At the same time, some are shocked at the dilapidated condition of the built environment: rundown buildings, crumbling infrastructure, and tired-looking development. The paradox is compelling. Despite TRPA’s mandate to harmonize the natural and human-made landscapes so that they blend together, outdated development that preceded environmental standards now serves as blight in our community.

Enlightened gardeners realize that it is not enough for a garden to be just beautiful. Gardens must also attract crucial pollinators and conserve water. Gone are the days of lush, green, thirsty lawns. We can replace turf with species that are well adapted to the local climate, save water, reduce runoff, and support wild creatures in the face of habitat loss and climate change. Learn how to support the local ecosystem and insect pollinators like native bees and butterflies, too, at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) lecture on April 7, 2016.

At an event held at the Juvenile Treatment Center in South Lake Tahoe, five youth from the Challenge Program recently performed for their families, other detained youth at the facility, Juvenile Service Council members and community members.

The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is divided by lines. These state, county, and city lines work well on a map, but they do not define the day-to-day reality of the people who live and work in this community. In the last decade we have seen definitive projects reshape South Shore – Heavenly Village, Lakeview Commons, Harrison Avenue Streetscape. We have seen new bike trails and the opening of a bi-state park.

With the massive traffic jam created by travelers trying to get out of South Lake Tahoe during the snowstorm January 31, several options have been discussed to prevent a repeat, especially with a large holiday crowd this weekend.

How would you describe Millennials? Until recently I found myself apologizing for my generation as if I were ashamed to be part of the group of people that grew up with the internet, and cell phones, and electric toothbrushes, and CGI, and therefore didn’t know what it meant to struggle. But I’ve come to realize that perhaps this isn’t true.

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.

The New Year is getting off to a phenomenal start with snow falling at Lake Tahoe. It seems long ago since we’ve had snow around the lake, but as California and Nevada continue to grapple with four years of drought and water shortages, the snow couldn’t be falling at a better time.

The South Lake Tahoe community is aware of Christmas Cheer, and how they serve those in the area by providing food and other necessities all year long. What the community may not be aware of is how students at Mt. Tallac High School came to help the non-profit agency this Christmas season.

Bob Lear, a board member of Christmas Cheer, approached Mt. Tallac Principal Holly Greenough when he was concerned of how the agency would be able to supply all they need to the community after the loss of one of their big donors.

The visions are big for a new recreation center in South Lake Tahoe. A large indoor aquatic center, a senior center with services, a modern and sustainable building. A large gymnasium

Almost 50 people attended the first of four community meetings to discuss what the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center will provide, how it will look and function. New Mayor Wendy David and Mayor Pro Tem Austin Sass were at the meeting long with members of the Planning Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, and other citizens.

This past summer was Lake Tahoe’s busiest tourist season in recent memory. With the economy rebounding and major population growth projected for nearby metropolitan areas, this summer is also a harbinger of change. We must be prepared to meet the challenges of increased visitation in the future.

Posh Finds will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 30. Since opening in 2014, the clothing store has filled a need in the South Shore community for gently used women’s clothing and accessories. The ribbon cutting provides an opportunity for the community to check out this locally owned store and shop for the winter season.

Owned and operated by Krystal Garcia, Posh Finds offers a range of stylish clothing that is gently used and gentle on your wallet. Posh Finds was born out of Garcia’s interest in affordable fashion.

Wave action is damaging pipes for Douglas County’s Lake Tahoe Cave Rock water system that are above the surface, thanks to the drought.

Lake residents get their water from the Lake, once famed for its clarity.

But with the surface continuing to drop, Douglas is looking at means to ensure the water keeps flowing.

County Engineer Nick Charles told Douglas County commissioners at a workshop on Thursday that the Lake level was about 4 inches from activating a Stage 2 drought.

During the 2014 Kokanee salmon run at Taylor Creek, spectators left pathways at the popular U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center in South Lake Tahoe to approach bears in search of a selfie photo with a bear. Not only was this dangerous for the human, it was dangerous for the bear and USFS threatened to close the area to the public.

6:47 p.m. - Cal Fire says containment on the Butte Fire has grown to 47 percent, with acreage burned holding at 71,780 acres.

Damage assessment shows 233 residences, 175 outbuildings and 15 other structures burned in the fire, with 6,000 additional structures still threatened.

Officials ask that area residents remain vigilant, as the fire is still active in many areas. They also ask for people to assist by calling the appropriate authorities for specific situations:

If you see trees on a highway, please call Cal-Trans at 209-948-7543.