Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the Oct. 4, 2017, New York Times.

Residents of Nevada voted in November to require background checks for most private gun sales, closing a loophole in federal law. But nearly a year after the ballot measure passed, these checks aren’t being made because state officials have claimed, with little evidence, that there’s no way to carry out the policy.

Such background checks might not have prevented the massacre in Las Vegas on Sunday night; the gunman, Stephen Paddock, is not known to have a significant criminal record and appears to have bought at least some of his guns from dealers required to vet buyers.

But it has been shown that requiring checks on private sales of guns, such as at gun shows and over the internet, makes it harder for felons and other prohibited people, like those who have been committed to mental institutions and drug addicts, to buy firearms.

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By Molly Sullivan, Sacramento Bee

When Jaclyn Baxter spit into her 23andMe DNA kit, she wanted to know if she carried any troublesome genes she could pass on to her infant son, Jack.

The Placerville mother of two worried about his chances of developing Alzheimer’s or Type I Diabetes— diseases ran in her family. Or so she believed. When she got her results, however, they changed everything she thought she knew about herself.

Baxter, 33, knew she was an only child until three months ago, when she discovered a half-brother in her DNA matches. This discovery launched a three-month long journey that revealed three half-siblings and a sperm donor they all had in common. And there could be many more siblings, possibly hundreds. Baxter figured her dad could be her half-brothers’ sperm donor.

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American Legion Post 795 and the American Legion Auxiliary of South Lake Tahoe are having a community toy event Oct. 7 beginning at noon at the American Legion Hall.

Bring new unwrapped toys or non-perishable food items that will be distributed by Christmas Cheer to local families in need during the Christmas holiday.

The event will be held in combination with Oktoberfest at the American Legion Hall. Oktoberfest food will be available for purchase for $10 per person. There will be a raffle and live music.

To donate before or after the toy event, call 530.542.4934 or stop by Christmas Cheer on Third Street in South Lake Tahoe.

Douglas County is participating in the Oct. 28 National Drug Take Back Day.

It is the goal of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Partnership of Community Resources and East Fork Fire and Paramedic District, who have partnered with the DEA to collect every unused, unwanted and expired prescription, along with non-prescriptive medication at the five drop locations. 

The locations will be operating from 10am to 2pm at Wal-Mart in Carson City, Walgreens in Gardnerville, DCSO Ranchos substation, East Fork Fire and Paramedic station No. 4 in Topaz Ranch Estates, and Safeway grocery store in Zephyr Cove. 

You may also drop off pet medications and liquid form of medications.

By Guy McCarthy, Union Democrat

Current weather forecasting tools are less than adequate for managing California’s most vital natural resource, state water officials said Tuesday.

People at the state Department of Water Resources are now working with researchers at NASA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to develop new technology to better forecast moisture-laden atmospheric river storms, like the ones that hammered the Mother Lode and the rest of the Central Sierra in January and February.

Current short-term forecasting for seven days out is 70 percent accurate, while 14-day forecasts are 7 percent accurate, Grant Davis, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said Tuesday.

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To the community,

As someone who drives on South Lake Tahoe’s deteriorating, embarrassing roads every day, I was sad to see Lake Tahoe News publish an editorial urging voters to maintain the status quo of dangerous potholes and crumbling streets.

The opposition to Measure C is so quick to point out the city’s history of not providing funding for our roads, but fails to examine why this is the case. We’ve elected city council after city council for over 50 years now, and you’re telling me that every one of them conspired to mismanage funding away from roads? There’s no political capital in not funding road repairs – a council that fixed our roads would be local heroes.

No, the reason for our ugly road problem is the budget itself. Take a look at its details and its intricacies, I have. Our city’s budget is online and available to anyone. The fact is, despite what the stated goals of South Lake Tahoe’s founders were, the budget was not constructed in a way that adequately funds road repairs, much less the reconstruction and renovation that our inferiorly paved roads need to properly serve our community.

Saying “vote no” because you think the city is irresponsible with its money is the short-sighted solution. Doing so ensures that the very council members you say are mismanaging funds continue to have the power to do so. The only recourse that California cities have available to ensure funds consistently go to roads and cannot be diverted for other purposes is to pass a measure like Measure C. Truckee did it. Placerville did it. Why can’t we?

Look at your options. Vote yes on Measure C to fix potholes, repair dangerous cracks and see our city thrive. Vote against it and watch our streets continue to wither away. Join me. Vote yes on C.

Kirt Willard, South Lake Tahoe

DCSO investigators are looking for this woman because she was seen with the victim at the Hard Rock prior to him being found deceased. Photo/Provided

A Reno man was found dead Tuesday in a hotel room at the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe.

While Kevin LeRoy Edwards’ death is being called a homicide, Douglas County sheriff’s officials will not say how he died.

Investigators also aren’t saying if the 56-year-old was a guest at the hotel. They also would not tell Lake Tahoe News who found the body. Deputies were called by the hotel on Oct. 3 at 5pm.

Edwards’ driver’s license listed an address in Dublin, however investigators said he had recently moved to Reno.

The victim’s 2001 silver BMW four-door sedan is missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Nadine Chrzanowski at 775.782.9909. 

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Emergency personnel on Sept. 29 at the crash site scene. Photo Copyright 2017 Carolyn E. Wright

The man driving the motorcycle that went down an embankment near Twin Bridges last week has died.

Christopher Deboer, 70, was riding with his wife Susan Deboer, 52, on a 1986 Harley Davidson Ultra Glide at 2:15pm Sept. 29 when the accident occurred.

“For reasons still undetermined, Mr. Deboer allowed his motorcycle to drift from the center of the eastbound lane to the right, leaving the roadway. His motorcycle continued off the shoulder, striking the guardrail along the south edge of the road,” the CHP report says.

The Fresno couple was ejected and “thrown over the embankment and down the hillside.”

Several people stopped to render aid before paramedics arrived.

It is not known how fast they were traveling on Highway 50.

Both were airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno. Susan Deboer sustained multiple lacerations and fractures.

The accident is still under investigation.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

More than 160 cats and dogs from New Orleans shelters will be arriving at the Reno-Tahoe airport on Saturday in hopes of finding a new forever home in the region.

Shelters there need to make room for animal victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

Jason Stipp, executive director of Pet Network Humane Society in Incline Village, will depart for New Orleans today with a team of volunteer rescue workers. A plane is set to arrive with 80 animals into Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and another with another 80 animals into Hayward Executive Airport on Oct. 7.

New Orleans residents remember well the assistance they received from neighboring states when Hurricane Katrina devastated their region in 2005, leaving many thousands of people and animals homeless. Louisiana animal rescue organizations consider this payback time. They have taken in thousands of displaced dogs and cats from Texas and Florida, and are anticipating receiving animal victims from Puerto Rico soon. Their shelters are filled well beyond capacity.

Stipp obtained grants from Maddie’s Fund and the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation to make the trip possible.

By Ben Botkin, Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval is seeking legal guidance into whether the state can implement the stalled background-check law for private gun sales and transfers that voters approved in 2016.

Sandoval spokeswoman Mari St. Martin said Tuesday the governor’s office is asking Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s office if Nevada can operate as a “dual point of contact state.” That means two systems of background checks for firearm purchases: one for licensed dealers and another for private sales and transfers.

No evidence has emerged that background checks for private sales would have stopped Stephen Paddock, who didn’t have a criminal record and purchased firearms in retail gun stores after passing background checks. Federal law doesn’t require background checks for private gun sales.

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