A kayaker died July Fourth near the Tahoe Keys in South Lake Tahoe.
The name and hometown of the 41-year-old man have not been released.
He was just off shore near Beach Drive when he fell into the water. It was extremely windy with white caps when he went over at about 3:30pm.
He was not wearing a life jacket.
While the surface temperature is about 64 degrees, it is much colder just below. Cold shock takes over, then hypothermia.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
By Anjeanette Damon, Reno Gazette-Journal
Information on Nevada voters, including names, addresses, dates of birth and voting history, will be turned over to President Trump’s election integrity commission, but the Nevada Secretary of State will not provide confidential information such as a voter’s Social Security number.
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, said Friday that Nevada’s public records law requires her to provide specific voter information to those who request it.
“As a result, the Secretary of State’s office will provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with only the publicly available voter registration information under Nevada law,” Cegavske said in a written statement.
Westbound 50 is closed at Highway 395 because of a fire.
It erupted at about 12:30 on July 4.
Reports are that the fire has been contained to 1 acre. There is no estimation on when the highway will be reopened. Visibility was so poor is why it was closed.
The amount of terrain burned has not been released.
No cause has been determined.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Even though recreational marijuana is now legal in Nevada, it doesn’t mean it’s available in every county.
While voters said yes to marijuana, ultimately it’s up to each county’s elected officials to say yes or no.
Douglas County commissioners earlier this year said it’s one vice they don’t want.
Carson City elected won’t allow the sale of pot until Sept. 19.
That means Washoe County is the closest place in Northern Nevada to legally obtain recreational marijuana.
California will allow recreational marijuana sales on Jan. 1, but it’s up to each municipality to regulate it.
Smoke from the Foothill Fire captured by the Alert Tahoe cameras on Monday afternoon.
Updated 9:43pm:
A fire burning off Jacks Valley Road in Douglas County was at 45 acres Monday night, with crews saying they halted forward progress.
The Foothill Fire was reported just after 4pm July 3 just north of Genoa Lakes 2 Golf Course.
No evacuations have been ordered.
The fire is being fought on the ground and from the air.
There is no cause at this time.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Smoke from the Truckee fire via the Alert Tahoe camera.
By Reno Gazette-Journal
Due to low visibility caused by the Truckee Fire, Interstate 80 near Mustang has been closed in both directions, according to Nevada Highway Patrol.
The fire has grown to 4,500 acres and is now 15 percent contained.
The Truckee Fire, which is south of Pyramid Lake, has been battled throughout Monday and is not expected to cause any structural damage.
Sherese C. Settelmeyer
Sherese Settelmeyer, wife of state Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, who represents Lake Tahoe, is going to rehab.
Settlemeyer, 52, was sentenced to alcohol treatment after pleading guilty to driving under the influence. She was arrested on Jan. 5 in Gardnerville with a blood alcohol level of 0.136. She faced the same charges in 1995, 2010 and 2013. She was convicted in 2010 and 2013.
If she completes the program in the next five years, the DUI charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor. If she doesn’t go in that time period, she could go to prison and be fined.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Two people were arrested early July 1 in a burglary at Enjoyabowl Smoke Shop in Truckee.
Tad Crane, 22, of Truckee and Luke Smith, 22, of Soda Springs were found hiding in heavy brush, according to Truckee police officers.
The alarm at the West River Street store went off at 3:48am Saturday. This was the second time in a week that it had been burglarized.
Officers found stolen property stashed in a culvert across the street, with the two suspects nearby.
Crane and Smith face commercial burglary, conspiracy and resisting arrest charges.
Officers later served a search warrant on a nearby location and recovered additional stolen property, which was reportedly taken from the business on June 25.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
By Nathan Bomey, USA Today
Americans won’t just celebrate the Fourth of July this week, but cheap gas too.
Some 37.5 million motorists will hit the road, up 2.9 percent from last year, in a driving marathon that should make it the most traveled Fourth of July holiday weekend ever, AAA says.
It helps that the holiday falls on Tuesday, making it a four-day affair.
Patty Olson
Updated July 3, 2:08pm:
Patty Olson’s attorneys are doing what they can to allow one of South Lake Tahoe’s pioneers to hang onto her property in the Bijou area.
Last week documents were filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Reno asking for the stay to be extended until her appeal is decided.
Olson owns the retail center where the lone medical marijuana facility in the city exists. She also has a house nearby. Only the commercial property is threatened by foreclosure.
She filed for bankruptcy, which stopped the foreclosure process. The problem is the judge last month tossed the case because of federal law not recognizing medicinal marijuana. Olson for years has been receiving rent from Tahoe Wellness Cooperative owner Cody Bass. Rent today is $10,200/month.
The bankruptcy judge in May put a 60-day stay on the foreclosure process to give Olson time to decide if she wanted to appeal his decision. She is appealing. But the appeal will not be resolved before the 60 days is up.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report