By Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times
 
The Trump administration is abandoning a Justice Department threat to crack down on recreational marijuana in states where it is legal, a move that could enable cannabis businesses in California and other states that have legalized pot to operate without fear of federal raids and prosecution.

President Trump personally directed the abrupt retreat, which came at the behest of Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado. White House officials confirmed the policy shift Friday. Trump did not inform Attorney General Jeff Sessions in advance of the change in policy, an almost unheard of undermining of a Cabinet official.

Gardner was incensed in January when the Justice Department announced that it was rescinding an Obama-era policy that directed federal prosecutors not to target marijuana businesses that operate legally under state law. The senator had blocked Justice Department nominees in retaliation.

Read the whole story

By Wade Tyler Millward, Las Vegas Review-Journal

An agreement between Caesars Entertainment and a Northern California tribe will bring a Harrah’s casino to tribal land southeast of Sacramento.

The $168 million project will be developed, owned and operated by the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. Caesars will license the Harrah’s name to the tribe and manage and maintain the 71,000-square-foot property once the casino is operational.

Read the whole story

Fisheries biologist Corene Luton measures a Lahontan cutthroat trout as it moves through the fish passage facility at Marble Bluff Dam, Nevada. Photo/Jeannie Stafford/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

By Lauren Bain, Nevada Today

The Lahontan cutthroat trout was rediscovered in a “dinky” stream near the Nevada-Utah border. Genetic testing by Associate Professor of Biology Mary Peacock led to the rediscovery of an iconic Nevada fish.

“Even though they were in that tiny, dinky stream on the edge of Utah for close to 100 years, they had maintained that capacity to grow into this big fish,” Peacock said. “People just went completely wild; it’s like the big boys are back.”

Peacock became involved with the research and recovery of the Lahontan cutthroat trout in the early 2000s. She began working on ways to perform genetic testing to determine if the small trout discovered in the Pilot Peak streams were the original species of the Truckee River watershed.

Read the whole story

The U.S. Forest Service has released the draft environmental impact statement for the Tahoe National Forest over-snow vehicle use designation project.

The USFS is proposing to designate snow trails and areas for public OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest. The Forest Service will also identify snow trails where grooming for public OSV use would occur within the Tahoe National Forest.

The notice of availability will initiate a 45-day public comment period on April 13 on the DEIS.

The DEIS is available online.

In addition, the Tahoe National Forest will be answering at open houses on April 24 and May 2. The April meeting is from 3-7pm at the Sierraville Ranger Station and the May event is from3-7pm at the Holiday Inn in Auburn.

There will be fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s at LuLu’s Hair Design in Stateline on April 21.

Heads will be shaved to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

To become a “shavee” the minimum donation is $50. To register, go online.

There will be food for sale and a raffle, with money going toward St. Baldrick’s.

The event is at 6pm at the lower arcade level at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

The Nevada Division of State Lands is providing approximately $350,000 to fund various environmental preservation projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The funding is generated through Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate sales and annual renewal fees.

Programs to be funded include:

·      Aquatic invasive species surveillance monitoring, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

·      Water Trail educational wayfinding interpretive signage, Tahoe Resource Conservation District

·      Operational remote sensing to support Lake Tahoe nearshore monitoring, Desert Research Institute

·      Aquatic invasive plant control at Elk Point Marina, Tahoe Resource Conservation District

·      Outreach and education for the Lake Tahoe shoreline plan, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

·      A sustainable method for the rapid assessment of the extent and causes of metaphyton in Lake Tahoe, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

Bus service on the South Shore, which has long been inadequate, could get even worse.

Tahoe Transportation District officials are considering cutting service, including the ski shuttles to Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Lack of funding is the main reason for the proposed changes.

The board on April 13 heard various scenarios for future service and the reasons for them. Before any changes are made the public will be asked to get more involved. Future meetings will be conducted to gather input.

Federal grants are going away, and then there is the issue of an aging fleet. Added to that is the difficulty TTD has had in retaining drivers. In part this has to do with wages as well as people having a hard time finding housing. Overtime costs are another problem.

While money is an issue, on the table is a proposal for a 20 percent pay hike for drivers. This is largely an attempt to lure people here. Without drivers, it doesn’t matter how many state-of-the-art buses come on line or how many routes are proposed.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Brooke Laine

I am providing the following information because I can no longer be a party to the violations of law, secrecy, manipulation, lies, and power struggles that are rampant at the city today.  

There appears to be a complete disregard on the part of politicians and appointed officials for state law, transparency, and honesty to the public. The interim city attorney has admitted to many that a recent contract she oversaw violated the Brown Act – think Mary Egan contract. To this day, that contract has never been addressed, corrected, or publicly acknowledged.

Brooke Laine

Multiple violations of law have occurred in closed session, often relating to discussions involving personal attacks on non-agenda issues. The interim city attorney and the politicians engaged in the violations refused to cease the unlawful discussions, even when asked to do so to avoid continuing the unlawful conduct.

In addition, the minutes of the March 20, 2018, meeting seriously misstated the facts by asserting an action occurred at a prior meeting, but the council never took that action. The law requires the city to tell the public the truth, follow the law explicitly, and provide accurate public records. This absolute failure at the very top is a violation of law, injures the public’s trust, and is currently crippling the city.

Secrecy has no place in local government. If one councilmember is not privy to the same information as other councilmembers, the question is “why?” If one, two, or worse, three councilmembers discussing information the others don’t have, not only is that also a violation of the Brown Act, it creates distrust. It results in decision-making taking place outside of the public’s view (another violation of law) and it literally has no place in our city. The only purpose of such secrecy is to shift the balance of power from the council as a whole to a few electeds and appointed staff. Worse yet, blindsiding some people through this type of manipulation, fuels the public’s distrust of process, transparency, and government in general.

Power struggles, when the struggle for power is not for the benefit of public policy, but rather for personal gain, are selfish, create hostility, and purposely keep many in the dark. The public is a witness to this, which creates confusion and increases distrust. Further, the media that buys into the incomplete and inaccurate information they are fed, unwittingly become tactical participants in this sport to gain personal power. Most important, the public’s business is not a priority. 

I care deeply about this community. I always endeavor to hold myself to strong ethical and moral standards, as I feel every elected official should. I respect and hold in high regard the law that dictates how we as local leaders are to govern. It is my belief that the only way to address these serious violations, which illustrates a fundamental and complete breakdown of legal process, is to bring this information to the attention of the community. I can no longer be a party to this unethical, hostile, distrustful environment that currently exists. I have opposed these tactics both publicly and privately, and tried to stand against the illegal and improper actions I have witnessed. However, this burden has become so heavy.

Today, I am choosing to shine light where it is necessary because I believe our community deserves better. Together, we can do better.

Brooke Laine is a South Lake Tahoe City Council member.

Bernice Attinger

Bernice Ann Attinger died peacefully at her home in South Lake Tahoe on April 5, 2018, at the age of 73.

The 42-year South Lake Tahoe resident is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert Attinger and her children, Julie and (Robert) Cain of South Lake Tahoe, Scott Attinger of Zephyr Cove, and Jeff and (Anne) Attinger of Palm Desert. She will be fondly remembered by her three grandchildren, Justin, Matthew, Baileya, by her siblings, Michael Scott of Ontario, Canada; Regina Dawe, Terry Scott, and Bill Scott of Newfoundland, Canada, and many nieces and nephews.

Bernice “Bean” Ann Scott was born on Aug. 18, 1944, in Kelligrews, Newfoundland to Donald and Bernice “Bunny” Scott.

Bernice and her husband met minutes before midnight New Year’s Eve 1965 and married the following year. She stayed at home caring for their children until they were all in school, and then began waitressing at various restaurants in Lake Tahoe. Her gracious manner and uncompromising work ethic resulted in her managing some of Lake Tahoe’s finest restaurants. 

In 2003 Bernice was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. With the help of her doctors, and faith in God, she beat it twice. During the 15 years that followed, her role as “Nana” took on new meaning in the lives of her grandchildren, baking for them, loving them, and instilling her values.  These years were marked by the celebration of Bernice and Bob’s 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries, and 50th renewal of marriage vows.  

She divided her spare time between volunteering at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and Lake Tahoe Cancer League. She would share her inspirational story of cancer survival with cancer patients while driving them to and from treatment in Truckee, Reno, Carson City, and Sacramento.

A memorial service and reception are scheduled for May 4, 2018, at 2pm at St. Theresa’s Church in South Lake Tahoe. A private interment will take place at a later date. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bernice’s life.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Barton Home Health & Hospice, Barton Memorial Hospital, UC Davis Cancer Center and UC Davis Hospital for their dedicated efforts. 

Donations in memory of Bernice can be made to any of the fine organizations listed above.

We wish to extend our appreciation to friends, family and community for the outpouring of support.

·      Truckee planning commissioners on April 17 will consider adopting a mitigated negative declaration, development permit and sign plan for a two-story climbing gym on Donner Pass Road. The meeting starts at 6pm in council chambers.

·      Rich Looney joined the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency as the travel management coordinator. He will be leading the Safe Routes to School Program, Lake Tahoe Bike Challenge, and spearheading the Travel Management Program.

·      South Lake Tahoe Mayor Wendy David will be having a conversation about retails sales of cannabis on April 25, 9am at the senior center. Who will be joining her has not been determined.

·      Keep Truckee Green and Truckee Roundhouse are hosting another Fixit Clinic on April 20 from 4-7pm at the Truckee Roundhouse. It’s a free, all-ages, do-it-together event where you can bring your broken household things and learn how to take them apart, and repair items with the help of expert coaches. Interested in volunteering? Contact mconti@townoftruckee.com.

·      Placer County is looking for poll workers. More info is online.