By Jeanne Sahadi, CNNMoney
One million audits.
That’s how many audits the IRS plans to conduct this year, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told reporters Thursday.
While 1 million is hardly small potatoes, it’s a lot less than the 1.4 million audits the agency conducted in 2013 and the 1.2 million it conducted last year.
The reason for the steady decline: Budget cuts that will leave the agency operating at a level that is 17% below where it was 5 years ago.
By Powder
Tahoe City resident Dave Rosenbarger, 38, died in an avalanche Jan. 23 while skiing off the Helbronner on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.
An avalanche swept him down the mountain. Details are scarce, but sources say he was skiing with three partners. They were able to dig him out of the debris and he was alive, but after being airlifted to a local hospital, Rosenbarger succumbed to his injuries.
Having spent consecutive winters in Chamonix since 2003, Rosenbarger, an Oregon native who splits time living in Tahoe City and Chamonix, picked up the nickname “American Dave” for his dedicated pursuit of fresh powder on the Mont Blanc massif.
El Dorado County’s former assistant chief administrative officer is back – at least on Tuesday’s agenda.
The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 is being asked to approve a contract with Alliant Insurance Services to provide employee benefit consulting for the Risk Division of the Human Resources Department.
While there is already a contract in place, this would extend it to Jan. 31, 2016, and increase the not to exceed amount from $100,000 to $610,000.
Kim Kerr, the No. 2 for the county, left in December not long after her boss was told to leave by the Board of Supes.
The connection to Tuesday’s agenda item is that Kerr now works for Alliant. And while she was with the county she was the one who handled the contract with Alliant.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
A jury last week sided with a South Lake Tahoe police officer who was accused of acting improperly when he arrested a suspect in 2011.
The two-day trial in federal court in Sacramento concluded with Officer Jake Herminghaus being exonerated.
Herminghaus arrested Patrick Solomon of South Lake Tahoe on Jan. 21, 2011, at the Raley’s at the Y in South Lake Tahoe after he allegedly shoved El Dorado County sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Pena. Solomon received minor lacerations to his head and was transported by ambulance to Barton Memorial Hospital for treatment after Herminghaus wrestled him to the ground.
“We are definitely delighted with the outcome and it vindicates the city’s position of cases being tried on their merits. This also clearly shows our police department is operating within the law and gratifying that a federal jury recognized that,” City Attorney Tom Watson was in a statement.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
By Sandra Chereb, Las Vegas Review-Journal
CARSON CITY — Four years ago, the focus of Nevada economic development was creating jobs. With tens of thousands of people out of work, almost any job was welcome as the state tried to claw its way out of the Great Recession.
But with the economy rebounding, officials are looking beyond just job creation to laying the groundwork for a whole new economy based on high tech — from drones and advanced manufacturing to health care and renewable energy.
That shift could bring a change in priorities for tax abatements.
A bill being proposed by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development would reduce the amount of abatements available to companies that pay below the state’s average wage, depending on the county location and unemployment rate.
By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal
To Uber, the ride-sharing transportation network company, and its legion of fans, it’s an easy fix.
Copy and paste legislation that’s been enacted somewhere else, run it before the Nevada Legislature for a vote, get Gov. Brian Sandoval to sign the bill and Uber on.
More than 26,000 people have signed a petition asking Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt to lead the way toward allowing the company to operate in the state.
There already are 22 jurisdictions that have laws in place that enable Uber and similar companies to do what they do — accept requests from customers through a smartphone app to provide transportation in their personal vehicles.
There’s only one problem: Under Nevada transportation laws, the service is illegal.
Three men allegedly connected to a strong-arm robbery in Roseville were arrested Jan. 25 on the South Shore.
Dee Gunther with the Roseville Police Department told Lake Tahoe News the robbery happened Jan. 24 about 8:30pm in a public parking lot. The victim told authorities he thought he was meeting people to buy a vehicle he had found on Craigslist.
The suspects reportedly stole $30,000. Cash was recovered by Tahoe law enforcement, but it’s not known if the full $30,000 was found or where it was located.
Jeremy Wood, 25, of Stateline is a security guard at Lakeside Inn Casino and was arrested at work. Dylan Sapsford, 25, of Stateline was arrested after a traffic stop on Lake Tahoe Boulevard while he was headed toward the casinos. He was allegedly driving the vehicle used at the site of the robbery.
Eric Anderson, 34, of South Lake Tahoe was arrested at his residence and booked into the South Lake Tahoe jail.
All three face robbery charges. Anderson also was arrested on a charge of cultivation of marijuana.
Gunther said it would be up to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office to file formal charges against the three when they are transferred to that jurisdiction.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
A fence and gate prevent access to the beach at Tahoe Keys. Photo/LTN
After nearly 50 years of allowing the public to access the beach at Tahoe Keys, the homeowners’ board voted to stop that practice.
South Lake Tahoe officials issued a permit for the fence Oct. 30 and made the final inspection earlier this month.
An employee of the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association told Lake Tahoe News a lot of people who are not owners of this South Lake Tahoe neighborhood were using the beach so the decision was made to make it an exclusive area.
The fence is on TKPOA’s property. A card key is necessary to get to the beach – which is perfectly legal. The public does not have the right to cross private property to get to the beach or lake.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
By News 10
A lumber truck crashed down an embankment near Twin Bridges Road on Highway 50 early Monday morning.
The driver was taken out the truck and transported to a nearby hospital, California Highway Patrol said. His injuries are unknown.
Updated Jan. 27 3:25pm: Barton received the trauma designation from the Board of Supervisors.
By Kathryn Reed
In a matter of hours Barton Memorial Hospital is likely to become the only trauma center in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The final hurdle is for approval from the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.
The electeds on Jan. 27 are expected to sign the paperwork to make this a reality. The board is being asked to certify the designation.
“Barton’s goal is to provide high quality and appropriate care for our patients around the clock with compassion and expertise. Trauma III designation means we can help patients receive the best care and treatment available,” surgeon Kim Evans told Lake Tahoe News.
Barton originally had hoped to be a trauma hospital two years ago. The amount of paperwork and hoops to jump through forced the delay. The American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma has 160 items a level three center must meet. Barton has done so and passed the verification visit on the first try.
“We have a very active population and a high volume of visitors year-round, which means our potential needs for trauma patients is greater than our population indicates. This also shows in our patient data – approximately 30 percent of our emergency visits are trauma-related,” Evans said.
There are 51 trauma centers in California, with Barton being one of four level three facilities verified by ACS.
“Trauma III designation recognizes Barton Hospital as a critical access point for patients seeking trauma care. Unlike other hospital facilities, trauma centers guarantee the resources for in-depth emergency care and the immediate availability of emergency medicine physicians, surgeons, nurses, lab and X-ray technicians, and life support equipment 24-hours a day,” Evans explained.
Renown Medical Center in Reno is a level two facility, while UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento is a level one. These levels are usually found in urban centers.
Barton has been operating as though it’s a trauma center. So it is not like there will be immediate, dramatic changes. The additional staff required for a level three has been hired, including a trauma program coordinator.
“In the long run, the care may be less expensive for patients. A patient may avoid being transferred to another trauma center and the patient’s treatment plan includes follow-up and injury prevention program,” Cate Neal, registered nurse and trauma program coordinator, told Lake Tahoe News.
However, added costs are possible from Barton.
“An activation fee is only implemented if the patient meets the trauma activation criteria for a full or modified trauma,” Evans said. “This fee covers the additional cost of care including staff and equipment implemented to help someone with a life-threatening injury.”
A major difference with being a trauma center would be the coordinated care approach. The team concept starts when a person is admitted and then all the way through rehab. Patients are also likely to see more in-depth care and have it administered faster.
“Injury prevention programs will be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan, depending on the injury. Examples of programs include concussion awareness, alcohol prevention outreach, and physical therapy,” Neal said.
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Notes:
• The Board of Supervisors meeting is Jan. 27 starting at 9am in Placerville.