By Geoff McIntosh, San Francisco Chronicle

If Senate Bill 231 (Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys) becomes law, property owners would be saddled with thousands of dollars in additional, annual property taxes. What’s worse is that this bill would allow these tax increases to be implemented without a vote of the people.

Political sleight of hand? Yes, and here’s how.

SB231 redefines the word “sewer” to include storm water and storm drains, thereby allowing local governments to evade Proposition 218 taxpayer protections. That 1996 initiative requires that all new property-related taxes and most fees proposed by a local government or agency be approved by two-thirds of voters. If SB231 is enacted, local governments can assess property owners to fund storm water infrastructure projects without voter approval.

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By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis, Washington Post

WASHINGTON – Scott Pruitt has repeated a particular line again and again since becoming the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“The future ain’t what it used to be at the EPA,” he’s fond of saying.

As it turns out, the past may not be what it once was, either.

In an obscure corner of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, a debate is under way about how to tell the story of the EPA’s history and mission.

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Crews work to shore up Highway 50 on Aug. 10 after a water main break. Photo/Susan Wood

A water main break in Stateline caused a portion of Highway 50 to wash away on Thursday afternoon.

“Thousands of gallons of water washed away portions of the roadway base gravel and water flowed to lower Olivers,” Eric Guevin with Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District told Lake Tahoe News.

Lakeside Inn was the only business affected, but has water service now.

Kingsbury General Improvement District crews were able to stop the flow fairly quickly. The cause of the break is unknown.

KGID along with Nevada Department of Transportation are patching the road for now. More permanent repairs will be forthcoming. Traffic headed west on the evening of Aug. 10 was backed up quite a ways while crews were working.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

The County Committees of Placer, Nevada and El Dorado are hosting the inaugural Tri-County State of Jefferson Town Hall on Aug. 17 at 7pm at the Auburn Garden Theater.

Admission is free and all ages are welcome to attend.

Mark Baird, a resident of Siskiyou County and State of Jefferson spokesperson, is the keynote speaker. He will be joined by other speakers who will offer information and updates about the Citizens for Fair Representation lawsuit against the state of California, as well as the process to achieve representation, plus proposed policies for the 51st state.

This is an opportunity to pick up information, ask questions, and learn more about the State of Jefferson’s game plan for equal/fair representation, reduced taxes and regulations and smaller government for all Northern California rural residents.

By Roger Yu, USA Today

Good luck looking for a house to buy. 

The number of residential houses available to buy is at a 20-year low as the appeal of McMansions wanes and a growing reluctance by Baby Boomers to trade up or down from their current homes, according to a report by Realtor.com. 

More than half of its survey respondents, or 59 percent, said they are not planning to sell their houses in the next year. 

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By Chris Kudialis, Las Vegas Sun

When the Nevada Department of Taxation last month released a draft of permanent regulations to govern recreational marijuana starting Jan. 1, one item was noticeably missing for industry officials: Home delivery service.

Home delivery is currently allowed under temporary regulations through the state’s “early start” program, which launched July 1 when recreational sales started and runs until the end of the year.

But when department officials met in late July they eliminated that service in the first and only draft of new regulations because of security concerns.

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By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
New companies and subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment Corp. got the green light Wednesday from the state gaming regulators to be licensed in Nevada, a key step toward the company’s emergence from bankruptcy protection.

The state Gaming Control Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the registration of several companies and the licensing and suitability of several board officers, executives and key employees.

The recommendation will go to the Nevada Gaming Commission for final approval on Aug. 24.

Caesars is the parent company of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys at Stateline.

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·      Eyes on Lake Tahoe, a component of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, is having a training Aug. 16 from 4-6pm at the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association office. Volunteers will focus their efforts on aquatic invasive plants.

·      The parking debacle at Fitness Evolution in South Lake Tahoe may so soon improve. The fitness center is expanding its parking next to Izzy’s.

·      TRYP will host a networking mixer Aug. 15 from 5:30-8:30pm at Village Pub in Incline Village. One free drink and complimentary appetizers will be provided for attendees. It’s free for members, $10 for others.

·      Dustin Tremaine, who is a seasonal firefighter and ski patroller at Heavenly, is now a deputy with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

·      The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will be Saturday at 10pm.

By Kaleb Roedel, KRNV-TV

Following an investigation into the January death of a Squaw Valley ski patroller, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has cited and fined Squaw Valley Ski Holdings for violating two workplace safety codes, according to documents obtained by News 4-Fox 11.

On Jan. 24, Joe Zuiches, a 42-year-old Squaw Valley ski patroller, was killed during avalanche control activities at the top of Gold Coast Ridge at Squaw Valley Ski Resort.

Six months later, Cal/OSHA has cited Squaw Valley for “failing to correct an identified unsafe working condition by implementing a procedure for protection against the workplace hazards associated with hang cord entanglement during hang cord blasting operations” for a fine of $11,250.

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By Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun

CARSON CITY — The state Board of Finance today approved issuing $140 million in bonds to help build a plant at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center that plans to turn garbage into jet and diesel fuel.

Fulcrum Sierra BioFuels will build and run the facility with a total cost estimated at $340 million.

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