Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the Nov. 16, 2015, Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Daylight-saving time is a misnomer. Americans waste untold hours moving their clocks forward every spring and backward every fall, then dealing with the days of disorientation that accompany each adjustment. By ensuring that it stays hotter in summer evenings and gets darker sooner each winter, we end up saving neither daylight nor time.

Nevada could halt this counterproductive exercise if Congress would allow it. But the state’s congressional delegation doesn’t appear inclined to put in the time to make it happen. It will take some persuasion from the public to compel federal lawmakers to spare us from further falling back.

This year, the Nevada Legislature finally did something about the clock changes that no one enjoys. Lawmakers approved a resolution to keep Nevada on daylight-saving time year-round, which would keep Nevada’s clocks synced with most of the West through spring and summer, providing evening sunshine. But instead of falling back each November, Nevada would retain some early evening daylight in the winter. The darkness that falls so quickly after schools are dismissed and greets workers on their way home would be delayed.

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By Andrew Martin, Bloomberg Businessweek

Log Cabin All Natural Table Syrup has no artificial flavors or colors, nor does it contain preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup. It’s sold in a traditional jug similar to those used by many Vermont maple sugar makers, complete with a picture of a snow-covered log cabin on the label evoking the woods of the Green Mountain State.

But while Log Cabin All Natural Table Syrup may indeed be “natural” and “authentic,” as the jug suggests, it isn’t maple syrup, despite the best efforts of its marketers to suggest otherwise. (The top ingredients are brown rice syrup, water, and sugar.)

It’s just one example of a marketing trend that’s quickly transforming the nation’s grocery aisles. Consumers are clamoring for food that’s simple, less processed, and genuine. Companies are rushing to oblige them by reformulating products or labeling them in a way that evokes verdant farmland and authenticity.

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By Paul Hirschfield, Rutgers University

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first degree murder November 24 in the death of Laquan McDonald. A video released by police shows Van Dyke shooting the teenager 16 times.

Van Dyke is an extreme example of a pattern of unnecessary deadly force used by US police. American police kill a few people each day, making them far more deadly than police in Europe.

Historic rates of fatal police shootings in Europe suggest that American police in 2014 were 18 times more lethal than Danish police and 100 times more lethal than Finnish police, plus they killed significantly more frequently than police in France, Sweden and other European countries.

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By Kathryn Reed

Retirees from the city of South Lake Tahoe are suing their former employer over the changes to the health benefits that took effect the first of this year.

“What the city has done essentially is thrown the retirees under the bus. They don’t have the power to negotiate now that they are retired,” Joe Rose, attorney with Rose Law in Sacramento, told Lake Tahoe News. “These were loyal public servants. They should be able to sit down with the city leadership and have a meaningful dialog. If we can’t resolve our disagreements, we will do our best to resolve the retiree benefits in court.”

The city in July rejected the initial claim filed by the firm on behalf of the nearly 160 retirees who are part of the city of South Lake Tahoe Retirees Association. The lawsuit was filed Dec. 1 in U.S. District Court in Sacramento. The suit was filed now because the statute of limitations to do so is Dec. 31.

City Attorney Tom Watson did not return a phone call.

City Manager Nancy Kerry on Thursday said she was unaware of the lawsuit.

“First I’ve heard of it,” Kerry told Lake Tahoe News when called Dec. 3. “I have not received a filing or been served or anything.”

It was Kerry’s idea, and one the council unanimously approved a year ago, to revamp the health care plan for current and retired workers. By changing the health care plan, eliminating retiree health benefits for employees not yet retired, and modifying coverage the city estimated a cost savings of $1.5 million a year for three years beginning with last fiscal year.

Retirees don’t have a separate contract with the city once they retire. They are subjected to whatever the current employees agree to.

The retirees’ attorney contends the agreements entered into when they were working provided a certain level of health care, and that they are legally binding and enforceable. He believes what the city did was illegal, and is seeking to have the prior benefits package restored. Retirees are also seeking to be reimbursed for any health care expenses incurred since the change took place that would have been covered by the previous plan, and they want the city to pay their attorneys’ fees.

The changes adopted last fall created what is called Plan A. That is a basic health plan that has a $5,500 deductible. The city picks up the cost for singles, couples and families. Vision and dental are no longer offered. If people want a better plan, they may pay the difference for it.

South Lake Tahoe is the only public entity in the Lake Tahoe Basin that offers any retirees medical coverage.

Donner and Echo summits are experiencing heavy, slick snow conditions tonight. Chain controls are in place from Drum Forebay to Truckee on Interstate 80 and from Twin Bridges to Meyers on Highway 50.

On Interstate 80 westbound trucks are being stopped at Overland Trail east of Truckee to screen for possession of maximum chains. Trucks without chains are being turned around. Permit loads are prohibited over the summit at this time.

Caltrans is advising motorists to expect major travel delays Thursday night for chain installation as well as to allow Caltrans crews working to clear and sand the road. Numerous minor collisions and off-roadway accidents have occurred.

The National Weather Service predicts up to 7 inches of snow falling on Donner Summit and up to 9 inches on Echo Summit through early Friday morning.

Current road conditions may be accessed by clicking on the state icons on the home page of Lake Tahoe News.

            ’Tis the season for people to steal packages left on doorsteps.

Two Central Valley residents are behind bars tonight on charges of felony conspiracy to commit a crime, misdemeanor theft, and violating probation.

South Lake Tahoe police officers said a neighbor saw a pickup drive slowly down Tanglewood Avenue on the afternoon of Dec. 3. A woman got out of the truck and picked up a package on the porch.

The neighbor called 911.

Police tracked the vehicle down at the Y.

Arrested were Brandon Graves Perreira, 24, and Virginia Morris, 26, both of Gustine. Both individuals are on felony probation for a host of drug and theft charges out of Stanislaus County.

Officers said they discovered the stolen property that had been ordered for delivery to the victim’s home.

“Theft of delivered packages is a type of criminal activity which can occur any time of year, but tends to increase during the holiday season,” officers said in press release.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Light up a Life is hosted by Barton Health’s Hospice staff to honor family members and friends who have died.

Light up a Life is a non-denominational ceremony. It will be Dec. 17 at 6pm in the North Room at Edgewood Tahoe.

Hospice staff will share readings and a remembrance message. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect and acknowledge those who have passed. The event will culminate with the lighting of tree decorated with photo ornaments honoring individuals lost in the past year.

Hospice staff will read out loud any honorees’ names provided prior to the event.

For more information or to share an honoree, call 530.543.5592 or email tbruess@bartonhealth.org.

Washoe Lake State Park will offer two opportunities this month to learn about past holiday traditions and local history.

Christmas Past is a family-friendly, Christmas-themed slide show. It will cover past holiday traditions combined with local history from places that include Virginia City, Fort Churchill, Buckland Station and other locations in Northern Nevada. Rangers will also discuss origins of holiday traditions, including Santa Claus, candy canes and Christmas trees.

It is Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 at 1pm. Washoe Lake State Park office is at 4855 Eastlake Blvd. Take Exit 44 from Interstate 580, drive north on Eastlake Boulevard for four miles and the park office is on the right. This event is free; however donations are accepted to support future park programs.

There will be a Christmas Eve Full Moon Hike at Washoe Lake State Park.

This is a moderate, one-mile round-trip hike to the gazebo on the Deadman’s Creek Trail. Participants should bring good shoes, water, a flashlight and dress for the weather. This program will last approximately one hour.

Dogs are not permitted. This event is limited to 30 participants. Contact Kim Zuch at 775.687.4319 or washoelake@hdiss.net to register.

Meet at the Maze parking lot on Dec. 24 at 5:30pm. Turn left past the fee booth and it is the first parking lot on the right. It costs $7 to park, $5 for Nevada residents.

By Jason Blevins, Denver Post

Vail Resorts on Wednesday promised $30 million toward employee housing projects in the California, Colorado and Utah mountain communities where its ski areas are powerful economic drivers. The money is intended for partnerships in towns such South Lake Tahoe and Truckee; Breckenridge, Vail and Avon in Colorado;  and Utah’s Park City.

“We are here with money and we want to partner and collaborate with these communities to get projects off the ground,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said. “We need to combine our money with others — towns, counties, other businesses. That’s the only way to get enough housing built. The need is real.”

Resorts are pursuing out-of-the-box plans — such as temporary trailers and tiny-home communities for workers — to help locals who are struggling to find a home for the season.

Vail has pledged its own land, cash and long-term lease guarantees that could help municipal projects securing financing as the spark to get projects rolling.

Vail Resorts owns and manages about 3,200 beds around its Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Park City resorts. The company has added 650 beds over the past three years, but that hasn’t been enough to meet the demand.

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El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies on the morning of Dec. 2 shot and killed what they called an aggressive bear.

Deputies said a 700- to 800-pound bear in the area of Minniconjou and Susquehana drives on the outskirts of South Lake Tahoe had been disrupting the neighborhood for several weeks by breaking into multiple residences.

Loud noises and less lethal beanbag rounds were unsuccessfully used to shoo the bear away.

Deputies said when the bear moved aggressively toward them that is when they shot it.

In the past year, deputies responded to 177 bear related calls, of which 23 were located in the same neighborhood as Wednesday’s incident. All but this one was resolved with the use of non-lethal measures.

Calls have been left with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to find out if this is the same bear that was found in Meyers and taken to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report