By Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee

Major homebuilders are pouring more than $575,000 into an El Dorado County campaign committee established to defeat two local slow-growth initiatives.

The contributors to the Committee to Protect El Dorado County Water and Open Space are developers who want to build more than 4,000 homes and town houses amid oak woodlands and on a former golf course in El Dorado Hills.

Development affiliates of Parker Development Co., builder of the Serrano El Dorado Hills community, have contributed $577,400 in an effort to defeat Measure E and Measure G in the county of 184,000 residents.

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By Moonshine Ink

As Tahoe delves into a rabid housing crisis, the real question is: What solutions can we tap into to solve this issue? There are myriad options being explored by the community at large. The Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, which is spearheading a regional housing needs assessment, just wrapped up a series of housing forums aimed at tackling solutions to this multi-pronged topic.

“What strikes me is there is no single solution,” said Truckee Town Manager Tony Lashbrook. “We have to pursue them all.”

Indeed, there are several options to explore in solving the #TahoeHousingCrisis, including regulatory approaches, tapping into local and regional agencies, a plethora of funding strategies, alternative housing, and even how we as a community look at this issue. While the solutions may not be clear, it is imperative that we get creative to harbor viable, alternative solutions to tackle the housing behemoth. Sustainable solutions will require passionate and involved community members willing to try anything.

“The success of this issue is going to hinge on the community commitment to solving this issue,” said Aaron Nousaine, senior associate for BAE Urban Economics, which is working on the Truckee North Tahoe Regional Housing Study. “We need to build support around solutions.”

It really is the culture of a community that drives changes in affordable housing. Communities need to be willing to be flexible to change what is already in place and get behind new policies. Aspen has some of the most onerous development standards — including housing mitigation for new construction and deed restricted units — but the community has backed the regulations and is committed to fixing its own housing crisis, according to Aaron Nousaine, senior associate for BAE Urban Economics.

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By James Raia, Sacramento Bee

Five years ago, teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer rode together for several miles in an uphill breakaway at the Amgen Tour of California. The riders’ skills, showcased high in the San Gabriel Mountains, defined cycling’s beauty but with a bizarre chunk of irony.

Confident and fit, the two riders pedaled in unison. They mastered the short, steep switchbacks to the Stage 6 finish near the 10,000-foot peak of Mount Baldy. Leipheimer, a three-time event winner, surged and won the stage. Horner finished second and the next day won the tour title.

Then, strangeness ensued. A disciple of clean living and meticulous preparation, Leipheimer called out Horner, his antithesis. Horner, the “Everyman’s Rider,” is a proud proponent of eating junk food.

Leipheimer said Horner would become a serious cyclist only after curtailing his penchant for hamburgers, soft drinks and candy bars.

A year later, Leipheimer, a Lance Armstrong accomplice, was suspended for his admission to doping throughout much of his career. He hastily retired.

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By Howard Riell, Las Vegas Sun

Diners these days expect more from restaurants, and the proof is that digital amenities have gone from futuristic novelties to modern necessities in just a few short years.

Chicago-based market research firm Technomic Inc. reported in a recent white paper that several smartphone-enabled conveniences have become important to restaurant consumers. While digital pioneers like national pizza chains are recognized for well-integrated technology, relatively few consumers strongly agreed that a restaurant they recently visited used technology to improve their experience, indicating a big opportunity across the industry.

According to over 100,000 consumers polled by Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics program, nearly 2 in 5 called loyalty and rewards programs important or very important to their decision to visit a restaurant. The percentage was even greater among millennial customers, 50 percent of whom called digital-loyalty offerings important for limited-service restaurants, and 53 percent for full-service restaurants. Millennials also attached greater importance than the overall population to free Wi-Fi, online or mobile ordering, and mobile payment, regardless of restaurant industry segment. The implication is clear.

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By Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle

Memorial Day weekend is two weeks off, and dozens of lakes are filling in time for the start of the vacation season.

Many lakes will hit their peak in the next two weeks. A great summer is imminent for lake-based vacation and recreation — camping, boating and fishing.

The U.S. Forest Service and recreation outfitters will open most of their campgrounds in time for the holiday weekend. Above 7,500 feet in most areas, there is still a lot of snow. Access to high-country lakes and wilderness probably won’t be available until mid- to late-June.

In the central Sierra, Caltrans reported that it cleared and opened Highway 4 over 8,730-foot Ebbetts Pass. Caltrans also projected that Highway 108 over 9,623-foot Sonora Pass will be open in the week leading up to Memorial Day.

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Admission to Nevada’s 23 state parks will be free on June 11.

This statewide event encourages Nevadans and visitors to explore the outdoors.

Discover Nevada State Parks day is also an opportunity for visitors to take the passport challenge and add a stamp to their passport booklet, or if they don’t have one yet, to pick one up while visiting a state park. Once visitors have their passports stamped at 15 different parks, they earn a free annual pass to all Nevada State Parks.

For more information on the Nevada State Parks Passport Booklet, or to find a list of state parks, go online.

By Anjeanette Damon and Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal

Nevada has a pill problem.

From the number of people dying from prescription pain pill overdoses to the sheer amount of narcotics that doctors prescribe, Nevada tops national lists.

At the same time, Nevada lawmakers — pushed by a strong lobby of doctors — have resisted instituting programs used in other states that could flag practitioners who may need intervention for their prescribing practices.

That regulatory gap is exacerbated by professional licensing boards that say it’s not within their purview to initiate investigations against members outside of the formal complaint process.

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By Jeremy B. White, Sacramento Bee

Before the eight Republicans jockeying to claim an open Assembly seat began their debate last week, the party faithful in attendance were treated to some light political metaphor.

Images of a lion and buffalo flashed across a screen against pulsing drum and flute music, telling a parable of buffalo banding together to repel an invading predator. But the next time the lion approached, the text warned, the buffalo scattered and were easily devoured one by one. Quotes about unity and solidarity followed. Then, a note of caution.

A race in a reliably Republican district, anchored in Placer County, would seem to pose little risk for the GOP. But, as wary campaign managers would attest, a safe open seat in the top-two primary era can be a dangerous thing.

With Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, R-El Dorado Hills, forced out by term limits and leaving no obvious heir, a crowded field of Republican contenders has formed. Not one stands as a clear frontrunner, with money and endorsements scattered throughout.

The two candidates who garner the highest pluralities in the June primary will advance regardless of party.

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More than 100 people turned out on a Saturday afternoon to voice their concerns about the proposed development at Squaw Valley that would transform the village area.

Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, over the course of 25 years wants to add hotel rooms that would equal more than the four casinos at Stateline, build a year-round indoor adventure park and other amenities.

After three hours of testimony on May 14, the Squaw Valley Municipal Advisory Council voted against the project. Three of the seven members had to recuse themselves – one because of living too close to the project site, and two because of stating their opposition before the hearing.

This group is an advisory panel to the Placer County Board of Supervisors. Ultimately it will be the elected board that will decide the fate of the project. The Planning Commission will also have a vote.

Proponents believe the development would make Squaw a year-round destination, and be an economic driver.

Opponents believe such development would forever change the complexion of the Olympic Valley, create traffic problems and in other ways harm the environment.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Stevie Wonder, who last played on the South Shore nine years ago, is returning in September as part of the Harveys Outdoor Concert Series.

Tickets for the Sept. 2, 7pm show range from $99.50 to $249.50.

Other shows include:

• July 2: ­­ Slightly Stoopid, Soja, the Grouch, Eligh, Zion I
• July 6: ­­ Widespread Panic
• July 13: ­­ James Taylor
• July 15: ­­ Peter Gabriel and Sting (sold out)
• July 23: ­­ Tim McGraw, Brooke Eden
• July 24: Don Henley
• July 27: Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris
• July 29: ­­ Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris
• Aug. 18: Steve Miller
• Aug. 26: Sammy Hagar and the Circle.