By LZ Granderson, CNN

Usually when we talk about the 1936 Olympics in Berlin we focus on two men — Adolf Hitler and Jesse Owens — and rightfully so. They are the two with an undeniable impact on history, albeit in vastly different ways.

But in light of President Obama’s recent remarks on “The Tonight Show” denouncing Russia’s new anti-gay laws, laws that have led to bloodshed in the streets, it is important that we remember Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller.

They too were at those Games. They too left a mark.

You see, the day before they were scheduled to run in the 400-meter relay, their coach, Dean Cromwell, replaced them.

They were not injured.

They did not break any team rules nor were they disqualified for any violations.

They were, however, Jewish, and this was Nazi Germany, which had adopted the Nuremberg laws limiting Jewish citizens’ rights a year earlier. Apparently, Cromwell, along with leaders from the U.S. Olympic Committee, decided it would be best if Glickman and Stoller did not compete.

At the time I’m sure it seemed like a decision that would only hurt the two men. After all, the 400, led by Owens, still won gold.

Today we know better.

Today we look at that decision and lower our heads in shame, understanding that it made us complicit with something that evolved into a far worse crime than unjustly replacing a pair of sprinters. In the moment when we should have spoken up, we remained silent.

And so here we are again: an Olympics on the horizon, another host country with recently legislated laws persecuting a group of people, and for a while, we were silent. And then Tuesday happened.

“I’ve been very clear that when it comes to universal rights, when it comes to people’s basic freedoms, that whether you are discriminating on the basis of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, you are violating the basic morality that I think should transcend every country,” Obama said, going on to talk about how Russia’s treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people goes against the spirit of the Olympics.

He did not call for a boycott.

But on Wednesday he canceled a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin planned for September. The White House cited Russia’s decision to grant asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and “lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control” among other reasons. But it also mentioned human rights issues.

Recently, Secretary of State John Kerry received a letter from 88 members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats — urging him to do something to guarantee the safety of LGBT Americans visiting Russia during that time. That leaves 447 lawmakers we should be asking why they did not sign that letter.

Last month Buzzfeed provided the world photos of LGBT people being violently beaten by anti-gay protesters and police in Russia.

There are reports of LGBT teens being kidnapped, bullied, tortured and killed.

Russian officials have said they don’t condone the attacks, but police have stood by while they happened and then arrested the battered victims for being gay. And because it is unclear whether or not the anti-gay laws will be enforced during the Olympics, the safety of all Americans — because you can be arrested if police think you look gay or even if you support gays — is in question.

Which brings me to: Why aren’t the names of all 535 members of Congress on that letter?

In talking about the 1936 Olympics, I do not equate what is happening in Russia to what happened to Jewish people during World War II. I just want to remind you that the Holocaust did not happen overnight. It was subtle.

Surgical.

In silence.

These new anti-gay laws are disturbingly similar to the anti-Semitic Nuremberg laws Hitler passed before the 1936 Olympics. And with the Pew Institute finding 84 percent of Russians believe society should reject gay people, perhaps some saying they object to gays for fear of arrest, the world should question how far Russia intends to go.

We should question how far Russia, our lukewarm ally, intends to go and what our participation in the 2014 Olympic Games will look like generations from now.

In one of his final interviews before passing away in 2001, Glickman told the San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage that there had been some talk of boycotting the 1936 Olympics because of Hitler, but no one foresaw what would happen to the Jews a short time later.

“There is no way in the world that I would think of going to Nazi Germany,” he said. “The Holocaust and those things around Nazi Germany which we all loathe weren’t in existence in 1936.”

No one can predict the future. But last week Obama showed he learned an important lesson from our Olympic past — offering silence to appease evil is a senseless endeavor because evil will never be satisfied. Now it’s our turn to speak up. There are 447 members of Congress who have yet to sign that letter to Kerry — we need to be asking why.

By Kathryn Reed

Sometimes I wonder why I hang on to emails. Some just sit in the in box, others are filed into categories.

And every now and again there’s a nugget hiding there.

While doing some cleansing of an email account I came across correspondence from John MacCready, owner and winemaker at Sierra Vista Winery in Placerville. The email contained some recipes that he thought were worthy of sharing.

I have not tried the ribs, but I remember when I ate meat of thinking ribs were such a fun summer food. It’s something about eating with your hands, licking your fingers and going through multiple napkins.

Plus, I liked that this combo uses a dry rub and sauce. And even better, the marinade is not coming out of a bottle.

The winemaker suggests paring the ribs with a Sierra Vista Zinfandel.

Sierra Vista’s Fabulous Barbecued Ribs

Dry Rub

1 T cumin

1 T curry powder

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

1 T ground coriander

1 T Kosher Salt

Whisk together to blend. Rub spice mixture all over ribs. Refrigerate with rub on for 24 hours before grilling.

Barbecue Sauce

1/3 C finely chopped yellow onion

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 T olive oil

¾ C tomato paste

1 2/3 C water

½ tsp celery seeds

1 tsp thyme

3 T red wine vinegar

2 T prepared Dijon style mustard

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

2 T granulated sugar

2 T packed golden brown sugar

1 T instant espresso powder

1 tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper or to taste

Saute chopped onion and minced garlic in olive oil in a small saucepan until tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Add tomato paste and water and blend well. Add celery seeds, thyme, vinegar, mustard, cinnamon, both sugars and espresso powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste, correct seasoning if necessary.

Brush barbecue sauce on ribs and grill. Serve extra sauce on the side if desired.

By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

A man was sentenced Aug. 9 in El Dorado County Superior Court to 138 years to life in prison for acts of sexual misconduct committed more than a decade ago.

An El Dorado County jury in July convicted Patrick Senatore, 45, of 10 felony counts of sexual misconduct.

In October 2001, two children reported incidents of sexual misconduct and forcible rape to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department.

Read the whole story

By Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee

In the county that brought the Gold Rush, surging with newcomers and rough-hewn mining camps, prospects of another boom are unnerving the modern-day populace.

Amid an improving real estate economy, developers are proposing nearly 7,000 new houses for the Western Slope of El Dorado County.

The new wave of potential major projects is emerging after a 2004 county general plan that promised to preserve the county’s rural character while anticipating up to 21,000 additional houses.

In a region renowned for perhaps the most bitter growth battles in the lower Sierra Nevada, current residents are pushing back. Where miners once ravaged land for gold, determined homeowners are digging in for a protracted political fight to protect rustic lifestyles from new people, more houses and increased traffic.

Slow-growth advocates are now threatening a 2014 vote to limit new construction.

Read the whole story

Placer County Public Health officials are tell people to take precautions against West Nile virus, a preventable, mosquito-borne disease that can infect humans.

The disease is typically spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird, then bites a human. While most people who are infected with the virus will not become ill, in certain populations the disease can cause serious illness and even death.

The Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District has advised that there is increased mosquito activity and is conducting additional control activities and surveillance in and around areas where they have detected the virus.

In Placer County, most human cases have occurred between mid-July and the end of August.

About 20 percent of those infected with WNV may experience mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, called West Nile fever, which may be prolonged. About one in 150 infected people will become very ill. People over 50 and people with suppressed or compromised immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill.

Her are tips for preventing the spread of West Nile virus:

Drain any standing water that may produce mosquitoes.

Defend yourself and your home by using an effective insect repellent and dressing protectively when outside and making sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition.

If you know of swimming pools that are not maintained and become “neglected,” report them to the district at (916) 380.5444.

Report dead birds to 877.968.2473.

Horses are vulnerable to West Nile virus, and the mortality rate for unvaccinated horses is high.

By Ed Komenda, Las Vegas Sun

Caesars Entertainment Corp. is selling its Macau golf course to an Asian developer for $438 million.

The gaming giant, which owns Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys at Stateline, announced the sale Friday in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

The deal landed this week with Pearl Dynasty Investments Ltd., which put up a $65.7 million deposit.

If Caesars successfully closes the deal by the end of the year as expected, it plans to use the money to help pay down its $20 billion debt.

Read the whole story

By AP

BANNING -– California truly is the Golden State this summer — golden brown — and that has fire officials worried heading into the peak of the wildfire season.

It’s still weeks before the fire-fanning Santa Ana winds usually arrive and already it’s been a brutal fire season, with nearly twice as many acres burned statewide from a year ago, including 18,000 scorched this week in a blaze still raging in the mountains 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

So far this year, California fire officials have battled 4,300 wildfires, a stark increase from the yearly average of nearly 3,000 they faced from 2008 to 2012, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the CalFire.

Until last week, those fires had already burned 111 square miles or more than 71,000 acres, up from 40,000 acres during the same period last year. The annual average for acreage charred in the last five years was 113,000 acres, he said — roughly 177 square miles.

“We have seen a significant increase in our fire activity and much earlier than normal,” said Berlant, adding that fire season began in mid-April, about a month ahead of schedule after an especially dry winter. “We’re not even yet into the time period where we see the largest number of damaging fires.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who lives in Riverside County, said more than 165,000 acres or 258 square miles have burned in California this year, and climate change is setting conditions for more disastrous blazes, while budget cuts are limiting resources to fight them. Boxer’s data comes from both California officials and federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.

This year, state fire officials have called up more firefighters and reserve engines on days with hot, dry conditions, Berlant said.

And while state officials encouraged residents to rid their properties of dry brush before fire season starts, he said authorities are now urging the public not to use lawnmowers or weed eaters during the heat of the day because a spark off the metal blades can trigger a blaze.

On Friday, firefighters launched a fleet of seven retardant-dropping airplanes against Southern California’s latest destructive wildfire, which has destroyed 26 homes and threatened more than 500 others in the San Jacinto Mountains.

The so-called Silver Fire injured five firefighters and seriously burned one civilian.

It had grown to 28 square miles late Friday, but it was 40 percent contained and showed little more than white smoke.

At its peak, it forced the evacuation of 1,800 people, including 800 campers, but orders were lifted for many areas Friday and only a few hundred evacuees remained.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared an emergency for the area Friday, freeing up additional funds and resources for the firefight and recovery.

In the Twin Pines neighborhood outside Banning, Andy Schrader said he couldn’t get out in time. The wildfire crept up suddenly and blew over his house, burning his motor home and singeing his hair as he sprayed water from a hose to try to keep the house wet.

“I could feel my face burning,” the 74-year-old carpenter said. “And I thought I was going to die.”

Most of Southern California’s severe wildfires are associated with Santa Ana winds, caused by high pressure over the West that sends a clockwise flow of air rushing down into the region.

This week’s fire, however, was being fanned by a counter-clockwise flow around a low pressure area over northwest California. The National Weather Service said conditions could change in the second half of next week, with weaker winds in the mountains and deserts.

Wildfire experts say the traditional fire season has grown longer in California as rainfall has been lower than usual over the last two years and tapered off sooner.

Los Angeles, for example, received only 5.85 inches of rain from July 2012 through June 2013, compared with 8.71 inches a year before and a 30-year average of 14.93 inches, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Tom Scott, a natural resources specialist who teaches at University of California campuses in Riverside and Berkeley, said plants can have a harder time staying hydrated under such conditions.

“The whole system is like a bank account — it’s being drawn down,” he said.

Richard A. Minnich, a professor of earth sciences at UC Riverside, said much of Southern California is in pretty good shape because older vegetation burned off during a spate of wildfires over the past decade, but there are spots at serious risk because of the prevalence of old-growth chaparral.

“Wherever there is very old chaparral, we’ve got a tremendous threat,” he said.

When the South Lake Tahoe City Council in July 2012 approved money for K9 agility features the plan was they would go in the back of the dog park off Al Tahoe Boulevard.

Now they are going to be next to the main parking lot across from the dog park, but still in Bijou Community Park. The belief is this is be better so the park never has to be closed to the public while officers train.

The city said the Disc Golf Association is OK with the location and that it will not interfere with the disc golf course.

The fence is going up and the equipment is ordered.

The agility equipment will be available for public use when officers are not training. Training sessions will last no more than 20-30 minutes a few days a month.

A 31-year-old Carson City man was seriously injured early this morning when a vehicle struck him as he was crossing Highway 50 in Stateline.

The man, whose name has not been released, was walking near Lake Parkway by MontBleu just after 3am Aug. 10. Nevada Highway Patrol officers say it is possible he was hit by more than one vehicle.

“One witness who stopped to render aid told troopers that he was driving west when he observed a person lying in one of the eastbound travel lanes. When he turned his vehicle around to provide assistance, he saw a full size blue Dodge pickup strike the downed pedestrian,” Trooper Chuck Allen said in a press release.

CalStar took the man to Renown Medical Center in Reno where he was listed in critical condition.

NHP is asking anyone who saw the accident to contact Trooper Doug Hildebrand at (775) 689.4623 or dhildebrand@dps.state.nv.us.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

• Services for Tom Wendell will be Aug. 18 at 3pm at Lake Tahoe Golf Course in Meyers.

• The Chart House restaurant in Stateline is one of OpenTable’s 2013 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the Top 100 Scenic View Restaurants in the United States.

• Read this article to find out about 10 foods people eat in the U.S. that are banned in some other countries.

• Here is Caltrans’ weekly roadwork schedule for the Sierra.