TAHOE BASIN, Calif. – A strong El Niño could bring above-average snowfall to the Tahoe region this winter, according to OpenSnow’s 2026-27 winter forecast.
Meteorologist Alan Smith said the developing “super El Niño” played a significant role in shaping Open Snow’s winter forecast, which draws on historical strong El Niño winters, oceanic and atmospheric conditions and seasonal climate models.
For California and Nevada, OpenSnow is forecasting above-normal snowfall, with January through March favored as the strongest part of the season. Northern areas of California, including the Tahoe region, are also expected to see above-normal temperatures.
While the forecast calls for a warmer-than-average winter in the Tahoe region, Smith cautioned that the outlook does not necessarily mean temperatures will reach the exceptional levels seen last winter.
“Last winter was exceptionally warm – the warmest on record for a large portion of the West,” Smith wrote. “It’s unlikely it will be that warm again this winter even if this above-average outlook verifies.”
El Niño could bring a wetter winter
OpenSnow is forecasting above-normal precipitation across much of the West Coast, including California and Nevada. Strong El Niño winters can bring warmer atmospheric rivers and higher snow levels to the Sierra, meaning some storms could produce rain at elevations that would typically receive snow.
“While major snow events can occur, warm atmospheric rivers that bring rain and high snow levels to the mountains can also occur,” Smith wrote.
A slower start
OpenSnow’s historical analogs point to a potentially slower start to the season, with December favored to be less active before conditions become more favorable for snow in the new year.
The strongest signal for above-average snowfall comes between January and March.
Across California’s ski regions, the signal for above-average snowfall is strongest in the Central Sierra, including Mammoth and China Peak, according to OpenSnow. Tahoe is also included in the broader area favored for above-average snowfall.
The forecast also notes that the 2015-16 El Niño winter, the most recent super El Niño, did not deliver the exceptionally wet and snowy conditions some forecasts had anticipated in the Tahoe region. Snowfall around Tahoe that year was near average.
Still, Smith said that winter represents only one historical example. When combined with other El Niño analog years and seasonal model data, OpenSnow found a strong enough signal to favor above-average precipitation and snowfall this season.
OpenSnow emphasized that seasonal forecasts are inherently uncertain because many atmospheric conditions cannot be predicted months in advance.
OpenSnow’s forecast covers more than 15 states across the United States and 10 countries around the globe
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On August 11, 2026, at approximately 6:36 p.m., South Lake Tahoe police officers responded to the report of a stabbing at Whole Foods. Officers arrived on scene and located a 42-year-old male victim of South Lake Tahoe, being tended to by witnesses in the outdoor seating area at Whole Foods. The victim had received multiple stabs wounds and was transported to Barton Hospital by ambulance. Officers learned the suspect had fled the area on foot and a description was obtained. Within 5 minutes, South Lake Tahoe offices located and detained the suspect on foot in the Ski Run area. The suspect was identified as a 15-year-old male juvenile of South Lake Tahoe.
Detectives were called out to the scene to continue the investigation. The investigation revealed the suspect and the victim are unknown to each other and the stabbing was unprovoked. The juvenile suspect was booked into the El Dorado County Juvenile Treatment Center for attempted murder and is being held without bail. The case remains an active investigation.
The victim remains in the hospital, in stable condition.
South Lake Tahoe Police Department would like to thank the members of the community on scene who took action to tend to the victim and provided critical information to the officers, which swiftly led to the arrest of the suspect.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded a $2.2 million grant to the City of South Lake Tahoe to reduce wildfire risk for south shore communities and schools. The City will use the funds to facilitate fuel hazard reduction treatments on 213 acres of local public land, including:
137.5 acres of City-owned public land
41 acres of Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) land
35.3 acres of El Dorado County-owned public land.
The City and County land includes properties around the courthouse and law enforcement facilities at Al Tahoe Boulevard and Johnson Boulevard, at Bijou Community Park, and County open space lots. LTUSD properties to be treated include South Tahoe Middle School, Bijou Community School, Tahoe Valley Elementary School, Sierra House Elementary School, and Meyers Elementary School.
“The work this grant will fund is a great example of how partnerships can accomplish more together, faster, to protect communities and visitors,” said South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Division Chief Jay Manning.
The Conservancy awarded this grant using Climate Bond (Proposition 4) funds.
Forestry activities funded by this grant will reduce the quantity and continuity of the forest fuels that increase wildfire risk. By reducing fuels and thinning overcrowded forest on these public lands, these treatments will improve forest health and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire, protecting life and property of the residents and visitors to South Lake Tahoe.
All properties considered for fuel hazard reduction treatments under this grant are high priority for forest health and fuels reduction treatment, and include public lands along evacuation routes, as identified in the Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The LTUSD properties are also identified as temporary refuge areas—meaning spaces where community members or firefighters can seek refuge from flames and heat in a fire event where evacuation is no longer possible.”We’re thankful for the City of South Lake Tahoe’s leadership in advancing this effort, which will make south shore forested lands within the community more resilient and better prepared for wildfire,” said Conservancy Executive Director Jason Vasques.
The Conservancy and the City collaborated with Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) partners in developing this grant. The TFFT is a Basinwide partnership that includes 21 federal, Tribal, state, and local conservation, land management, and fire agencies. This grant advances the TFFT’s goals to improve wildfire resilience within the wildlife-urban interface, the areas where neighborhoods and forests meet.
Tahoe Resource Conservation District helped set the stage for this work by providing Registered Professional Forester services in developing the vegetation management plans for the projects.
Map showing City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, and El Dorado County parcels to be treated. Provided / CTC
Lake Tahoe has a reputation for dramatic peaks and rugged wilderness but tucked between those postcard views are dozens of trails perfect for families. These are the routes where strollers roll, snacks get shared on sun-warmed rocks, and the journey matters just as much as the destination. Many are short, relatively flat, and packed with scenery – ideal for keeping younger hikers engaged without exhaustion.
Pope-Baldwin Bike Path (South Lake Tahoe) If there’s a crown jewel for families, this is it. A paved, flat path winding along the shoreline, it’s more stroll than hike, but that’s the magic. Kids can bike, scoot, or wander while parents soak in uninterrupted lake views. Expect beaches, picnic stops, and plenty of shade. Why it ranks #1: Maximum scenery, minimum effort.
Eagle Rock Trail (West Shore) A short climb delivers one of the best panoramic views in Tahoe. The trail is under a mile, and the payoff – a sweeping overlook of the lake – is instant gratification for kids who need a quick win. Best for: Families who want “big views” without a big hike.
Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop (Mount Rose Area) Wildflowers, boardwalks, and wide-open meadows make this one feel like a nature classroom. It’s gentle, stroller-friendly in parts, and often filled with birds and butterflies. Why families love it: Easy terrain + constant visual interest.
Cascade Falls Trail (Southwest Tahoe) A short walk leads to a dramatic overlook of cascading waterfalls and Lake Tahoe beyond. It’s the kind of place where kids stop mid-step and just stare. Highlight: Waterfall views without a long trek.
Spooner Lake Loop (East Shore) Flat, scenic, and encircling a peaceful alpine lake, this trail is tailor-made for families. There’s wildlife, shaded sections, and plenty of spots to pause. Perfect for: A relaxed half-day outing with younger kids.
Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake (Emerald Bay) A bit more adventurous but still doable for active families, this trail features waterfalls, granite steps, and a stunning alpine lake at the end. Why it stands out: A “real hike” experience without being overwhelming.
Fallen Leaf Lake Trail (South Lake Tahoe) Quiet, serene, and less crowded than Tahoe’s main attractions, this lakeside path offers calm waters and forested surroundings. Best for: Families seeking a peaceful escape.
Vikingsholm Trail (Emerald Bay) A short but steep descent leads to a historic Scandinavian-style castle on the lake. The return climb is the challenge but kids tend to forget that once they see the turquoise water below. Bonus: History + scenery in one outing.
Skunk Harbor Trail (East Shore) A hidden gem with a rewarding beach at the end. The trail is short but includes a moderate incline, making it ideal for families with slightly older kids. Why it’s special: Secluded shoreline vibes.
Rubicon Trail (D.L. Bliss to Emerald Bay) Longer than others on this list, but you can hike just a portion. With constant lake views and rocky coves, it’s one of Tahoe’s most iconic family-friendly routes. Tip: Do a shorter out-and-back section with younger hikers.
The Takeaway: Tahoe at Kid-Speed
Lake Tahoe’s best family trails aren’t about conquering peaks, they’re about discovery. A pinecone becomes treasure, a lake becomes a destination, and a half mile can feel like an expedition.
The secret? Choose trails with variety, short distances, and visual rewards, because when kids are engaged, everyone wins.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 edition of Tahoe Bike and Recreation Guide.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — CASA El Dorado County invites the community to come together for its 3rd Annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 26, from 12–4 p.m. at The Hangar Lake Tahoe, 2401 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Family Fun Day is all about celebrating our community and creating a fun, welcoming afternoon for local children and families. The event is free and open to everyone, with a variety of free activities for kids of all ages, including arts and crafts, games, and hands-on activities.
The annual event gives community members an opportunity to spend time together, enjoy an afternoon of family fun, and connect while learning more about CASA El Dorado County’s mission to advocate for children in foster care.
CASA El Dorado County extends a special thank you to Soroptimist South Lake Tahoe for sponsoring Family Fun Day and helping make the event accessible to the community, and to The Hangar Lake Tahoe for generously donating the venue and hosting this special day.
Admission and activities are free, and everyone is welcome. Bring the whole family and join CASA El Dorado County in celebrating the South Lake Tahoe community! For questions about Family Fun Day, please contact Natalie at natalie@casaeldorado.org.
(The Center Square) – Being convicted of a drunk or impaired driving offense even one time in California could now result in lengthier driving restrictions, and makes permanent a state law that requires the installation of ignition interlock devices in the cars of DUI drivers.
Assembly Bill 1830, authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, would require ignition interlock devices to be installed in the cars of someone convicted of a DUI after the first offense.
“The bill before us replaces a limited, repeatedly-extended pilot program with one permanent statewide ignition interlock devices program,” Petrie-Norris said in a Senate Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday morning. “This consolidates years of overlapping and sometimes conflicting statute into a single, coherent framework.”
According to Petrie-Norris, 35 other states also have permanent ignition interlock device requirements for all convicted drivers, including first-time drivers. Her bill would also require a 6-month-long driver’s license suspension after the first DUI offense. For first-time offenders who cause bodily injury after driving drunk, their license would be suspended for one year.
Under current law, first-time offenders can be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their cars for up to six months. Second-time DUI drivers are required to have an ignition interlock device for one year, and those convicted of subsequent DUI convictions can be required to have one for three years, according to the bill analysis.
Depending on the brand of ignition interlock device, it can cost DUI drivers $90 to $116 a month, since such devices are leased, not bought. Installation can cost $50 to $150, and they have to be recalibrated every 60 days, which comes with its own costs. California has a program for those whose income level falls at or below the federal poverty level where up to 90% of the costs of an ignition interlock device are covered by the state.
There are sentences imposed by this law on those convicted of drug-only DUI offenses, too, according to the bill analysis. The number of prior DUI convictions and special circumstances in each case could increase the amount of time a driver’s license is suspended for up to 60 months, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
One of Petrie-Norris’s 2025 bills, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law, extended the sunset date on a pilot program under the California Department of Motor Vehicles that stipulates that first-time DUI offenders may be required to install ignition interlock devices in their cars. The sunset date on that program is now Jan. 1, 2033.
Those who testified in support of the bill on Tuesday said that many times, multiple DUI offenders could have been prevented from continuing to drink and drive if they had been required to install an ignition interlock device in their cars after their first conviction. Because judges often had discretion over whether to impose that sentence on first-time offenders, some continued to get behind the wheel after drinking – to deadly ends.
“The woman who killed my children has multiple DUIs,” Colin Campbell, a board member at Mothers Against Drunk Driving and father of two teenagers who died in a drunk driving accident, testified in the committee meeting on Tuesday. “There was a warrant out for her arrest for violation of probation on a previous DUI. Nothing was going to stop her from drinking and driving that night except a bill like AB 1830.”
Those who opposed the bill on Tuesday testified that requiring many first-time DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their car will affect individuals who are not likely to reoffend.
“Current law allows a judge to impose an IID on a first-time offense based on the circumstance of that specific case,” Ignacio Hernandez, an attorney who represented California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, testified in opposition. “We believe that is a better policy.”
The bill hearing follows a July 2026 announcement from the California Highway Patrol that the agency was awarding $41 million in taxpayer-funded grants to local law enforcement agencies, crime labs, local governments and nonprofits across the state to combat impaired driving.
The money came from Proposition 64, which California voters passed in 2016 and made marijuana legal under state law. Under Prop. 64, the California Highway Patrol is required to spend grant money on impaired driving education, prevention and enforcement.
The bill passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and now heads to the Senate Transportation Committee.
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Barton Health welcomes orthopedic specialist Marco Mendoza, MD to Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Serving the Carson City and Carson Valley communities for more than nine years, Dr. Mendoza is committed to delivering exceptional care that helps patients find lasting relief and return to active, pain-free living.
Dr. Mendoza is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and fellowship-trained spine specialist. He is experienced in treating complex back and neck conditions and developing personalized surgical and non-surgical treatment plans to help patients achieve optimal spine health.
“Barton Health has long been recognized for providing exceptional orthopedic and sports medicine care to our community,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, President and CEO of Barton Health. “The addition of Dr. Mendoza expands our ability to provide specialized spine care and strengthens Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine’s commitment to meeting the needs of patients throughout the region.”
Dr. Mendoza earned his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He then completed an orthopedic research fellowship and surgical residency at Northwestern University, followed by a spine surgery fellowship at OrthoCarolina Spine Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his free time, Dr. Mendoza enjoys spending time with his family, snowboarding, golfing, and mountain biking.
Dr. Mendoza will see patients for their orthopedic needs at Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at both the Carson City and Carson Valley offices. Patients have access to comprehensive, coordinated orthopedic and sports medicine care close to home through Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. From diagnosis and imaging to surgical and non-surgical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, our specialists work seamlessly across Barton Health and Carson Valley Health to provide the right care at the right time. To make an appointment at Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, call 530.543.5554 or contact your primary care provider for a referral.
The Reno man responsible for the death of 24-year-old Carson City resident Brian A. Vazquez-Gonzalez was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of vehicular homicide.
District Judge Tom Gregory said Stephen Michael Pawlowski, 65, earned the maximum sentence after having ignored every warning about his drinking.
“This did not have to happen,” Gregory said of the March 20, 2025, head-on collision that claimed Vazquez-Gonzalez’s life and injured his significant other and their daughter on the day before her third birthday. “You participated in the victim impact panels and felt and heard and saw the impact of drinking and driving.”
Six members of the Vazquez-Gonzalez family provided victim impact statements in person and one statement was read by prosecutor Chelsea Mazza.
“We are sentenced to a life without him,” said partner Karla Rea, who was behind the wheel of a Subaru that Pawlowski hit head-on as he was driving the wrong way on Highway 50 with a .192 blood alcohol content. “You took my partner, my soulmate, the father of my children, the person I planned to grow old with,” Rea said. “I will never forgive you.”
She received a head injury in the collision while her daughter had a broken leg.
“I have to remind myself that it’s not my fault,” she testified. “We have to live with the consequences of this every single day.”
Vazquez-Gonzalez’s father and mother testified that they learned of his death when their phones issued an accident alert.
His father and brother were also heading to South Lake Tahoe for work.
Vazquez-Gonzalez told his dad he would ride with Rea.
While the two men were en route, they received an alert on their phone and made their way to the scene of the Glenbrook collision.
They testified that they saw Vazquez-Gonzalez sitting in the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Unsure of his condition, his father walked up and tried to talk to him, but he didn’t answer.
A firefighter told them at the scene that Vazquez-Gonzalez didn’t survive the crash.
“If I had known then what I learned later, you wouldn’t be sitting there, it would be me,” the father said. “You will see me in your dreams.”
His mother said she was stuck at home with a broken ankle when she received the alert and called to find out what happened, but no one answered.
Nearly three dozen friends and relatives attended Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, many wearing T-shirts with Vazquez-Gonzalez’s photo and an airplane.
His father said that Vazquez-Gonzalez was an airplane mechanic who worked hard to complete school.
The child’s grandmother says every time the little girl sees an airplane she says her dad’s onboard.
Attorney Alexis Dyer confirmed that on Monday, Pawlowski had been sentenced to six months for the DUI he was arrested on 13 days before the fatal collision. He also received 25 days for contempt.
On Tuesday, Gregory sentenced Pawlowski to 10 years to life for felony vehicular homicide, 8-20 years for driving under the influence causing substantial bodily harm or death and 4-10 years for reckless driving causing injury. In addition, he must pay $10,000 in fines and $1.3 million in restitution.
Most of that will come from the $1 million cash bail his brother posted to get him out of jail last summer. Pawlowski wasn’t free for long because he was tested positive for alcohol and was taken back into custody.
Under the sentence, Pawlowski received a minimum of 22 years in prison. Because state law segregates DUI drivers from violent offenders, most of that won’t be in a cell, Mazza said.
“Money does not take away the harm,” Dyer said during her argument seeking a lesser sentence. She told the judge that Pawlowski suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues.
She said she’d advised him not to express remorse until the sentencing hearing.
“He will be in custody well into his 70s just on the first count and other supervision for the rest of his life,” she said.
“I want to express to the court and family how sorry I am,” he said. “It’s all on me. That doesn’t do anything to replace a father.”
Mazza said Pawlowski’s Monday sentencing meant he had committed five instances of driving under the influence before the 2025 collision.
Pawlowski was arrested with a .183 blood alcohol content on March 7, 2025, by University of Nevada, Reno, police.
Brian Vazquez Gonzalez, Karla Rea and daughter Kataleya Vazquez Rea in this photo posted with a gofundme.com account shortly after the March 20, 2025, fatal collision in Glenbrook.Provided / Record-Courier
He was released on supervision by Washoe County courts with orders not to drink alcohol, but on the three days prior to the collision he violated those conditions. He tested positive on March 17 and 18. On March 19, he began a bender that only ended when he killed Vazquez-Gonzalez, injured Rea and their daughter.
Mazza said on two occasions that day Pawlowski was warned that he was drunk, including by a state highway worker who saw him parked by the side of the road and the bartender of the Stateline establishment where he ordered a beer and a shot of tequila to wash down the sliders that morning before nodding off.
“He was willing to spend $1 million for brief freedom, but not a small amount of money for transportation home,” Rea said.
She testified that she learned she was pregnant with a second child while she was in the hospital being treated for a brain bleed. The child, a healthy boy, was born in November 2025.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Forest Service today announced an alignment of national wildfire management authorities that strengthens operational efficiency and clarifies reporting roles across the agency. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz delivered the formal delegation of authority letter today, consolidating all fire and aviation authorities under the agency’s Deputy Chief of Fire and Aviation Management, Safety, and Employee Wellbeing, a position currently held by Sarah Fisher. The delegation is effective immediately and implements Executive Order 14308 and Secretary Memorandum 1078-017.
Under the delegation, all fire and aviation authorities outlined in Forest Service Manual 1230 (Delegations of Authority) and 5100 (Fire Management) are reassigned to the deputy chief, except where a specific delegation restricts the exercise of certain powers reserved to the chief. The action establishes distinct lines of authority and reduces administrative layers to support more efficient delivery of national wildfire response and aviation operations.
Specifically, the deputy chief is authorized to oversee wildfire response, preparedness and aviation management programs; authorize critical fire-related expenditures, resource allocations, communications and emergency response and emergency declarations across the agency.
In addition, supervision of the agency’s Geographic Area Fire Directors will shift to the Deputy Chief of Fire and Aviation Management, Safety, and Employee Wellbeing, effective immediately. Aligning supervisory responsibility with national fire and aviation authorities will provide a more direct line of accountability and strengthen coordination across the agency’s geographic areas.
“Today, it is more important than ever that we move with speed, clarity and accountability when fire threatens our communities, our forests and our critical infrastructure,” said Chief Schultz. “This action streamlines reporting structures, creates clarity and ensures the people responsible for managing these critical programs have the authorities they need to get the job done.”
The delegation does not change fire organization or field structure at the forest level and does not alter this season’s operational posture. The shift formalizes existing governance updates and reinforces a unified chain of authority for national fire and aviation management. The Forest Service and interagency partners previously completed all action items under EO 14308, updating national wildfire governance structures and primary interagency agreements guiding wildfire response. Today’s delegation aligns the agency’s internal structure with that national direction.
Hangry, slang for the combination of hungry and angry, reflects a coordinated biological response that evolved to promote survival when food was scarce.
Throughout human development, declining energy availability signaled the need to locate food. The brain evolved systems that sharpen attention, motivation, and prepare the body for action. Those same survival mechanisms can also temporarily increase irritability, impatience, anxiety, and reduce the ability to think clearly.
The brain’s hypothalamus continuously integrates signals related to the body’s nutritional status, including blood glucose, hunger hormones, and other metabolic cues. As glucose availability and other signals indicate a need for food, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis engages, which engages a chain of events. The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), stimulating the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which signals the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. Cortisol increases impulses, particularly toward calorie dense foods.
At the same time, the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal medulla to release epinephrine (adrenaline), while the pancreas releases glucagon to stimulate glucose release from the liver. Rising concentrations of ghrelin, the primary hunger hormone, also increase food-seeking behavior and appetite. Together, these responses restore energy availability, but may temporarily influence mood, concentration, and behavior.
In the context of the World Health Organization’s definition of health, the complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmary, hunger-related irritability may negatively affect relationships, workplace interactions, judgment, and emotional well-being.
For most healthy individuals, hanger is generally not physically harmful. However, individuals with type 1 diabetes are at the greatest risk for true hypoglycemia because insulin therapy may occasionally lower blood glucose excessively. Some individuals with type 2 diabetes, particularly those using insulin or sulfonylurea medications, also have an increased risk.
In contrast, healthy adults without diabetes rarely experience true hypoglycemia because as blood glucose begins to fall, insulin secretion decreases while hormones such as glucagon, epinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone work together to restore blood glucose to a normal range.
During intentional weight loss, a modest calorie deficit is generally needed to reduce body fat. However, overly restricting calories may intensify hunger enough to increase irritability, impair decision-making, and even promote overeating. Although completely avoiding the hunger sensation during weight loss might not always be possible, managing this hunger effectively is key.
Recognizing early signs of hanger can help prevent impulsive reactions. Brief physical activity, such as a short walk, or temporarily redirecting attention may reduce emotional responses while preparing a meal. Snacking on low starch vegetables distends the stomach and lowers ghrelin, the hunger hormone, concentrations while stimulating the release of other satiety hormones. Pairing fiber-rich carbohydrates, such as vegetables, legumes, fruit, or a small sweet potato, with lean protein sources including Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, fish, poultry, or beans promotes fullness. Small portions of nuts or seeds, although calorie dense and must be effectively managed, can further enhance satiety.
Summary
Hanger reflects the interaction of hunger hormones, the nervous system, and the brain’s regulation of energy balance, not simply low blood sugar. Recognizing these normal biological signals and responding with balanced nutrition rather than impulsive eating can support physical health, emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and long-term weight management.
A registered dietitian can help distinguish normal hunger from medication-related hypoglycemia or other medical conditions while developing an individualized nutrition plan that supports stable energy, healthy weight management, and overall well-being.
About the Author
Patrick Traynor, PhD, MPH, RD, CSOWM, CPT, is a registered dietitian and founder of MNT Scientific, LLC (MNTScientific.com), an insurance-based nutrition practice serving South Lake Tahoe, CA; Minden, NV; and Ashland, OR. He holds the Interdisciplinary Specialist Certification in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM) from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Virtual appointments are available via telehealth. For inquiries or appointments, visit MNTScientific.com, call (530) 429-7363, or email info@mntscientific.com.
(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that automakers are offering a $3,500 instant rebate for state residents buying or leasing their first new zero-emission electric vehicle as part of a $271 million incentive program.
Customers buying or leasing a used ZEV are eligible for a $1,750 rebate.
“California is once again leading with bold, decisive action and expanding access to the benefits of zero-emission vehicles with the launch of the MyFirstEV program,” Lauren Sanchez, chair of the California Air Resources Board, said in Gov. Newsom’s press release. “This program means more than just new technology for California families – it means cleaner air for their children, lower fuel and maintenance costs and the opportunity to be part of California’s clean air future.”
According to the California Air Resources Board, the MyFirstEV program aims to accelerate ZEV deployment, strengthen California’s ZEV market, and support U.S. auto innovation.
The state is making a $135.5 million investment in the program, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by participating automakers, totaling a $271 million investment.
Tesla, Hyundai, and Lucid are currently offering rebates, and more automakers have planned to launch rebates in the coming months, according to the press release.
But some economists view the rebates as a redistribution of wealth with the intent of forcing an increase in the demand for electric vehicles.
“You basically have to take money from some people and give it to others in order to prop up the demand for this product that people otherwise just don’t want,” Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow in business and economics at the Pacific Research Institute, told The Center Square Monday. “You’re trying to buy up the demand, you’re trying to force a market where people don’t value these vehicles the way you want them to, and it’s industrial policy at its worst.”
The program has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price cap of $50,000 on new vehicles and a $25,000 sales price cap on used vehicles. Manufacturers headquartered in California are exempt from the MSRP and sales price caps if they only produce ZEVs.
A federal subsidy worth up to $7,500 in tax credits expired in September of 2025, and electric vehicle sales have dropped since then, according to Winegarden. The decrease in demand led companies like Ford and Ram to discontinue their productions of various full-size electric truck models.
“Without the subsidy, the demand isn’t there, and nor do the producers believe the demand is there,” Winegarden said. “You don’t need government subsidies for products that people buy every day.”
Data from the California New Car Dealers Association shows that, in the first quarter of 2025, there were 95,520 new ZEV registrations in the state of California. In the first quarter of 2026, there were 57,111 new ZEV registrations, a 40.2% decrease from the year before.
The ZEV market share declined to 13.7% in the first quarter of 2026, before increasing to 15.9% in the second quarter.
There were 80,319 new ZEV registrations from the second quarter of 2026, which is 23,208 more than the first quarter of the year.
Newsom also announced that the state’s battery storage systems have surpassed 21,000 megawatts of solar energy, which is enough to power 15.75 million homes for 4 hours each, after the sun goes down, according to the press release.
The Center Square requested an interview with Gov. Newsom’s office, but was redirected to the California Air Resources Board. The CARB did not respond by the time of publication. The Center Square also reached out to Hyundai, who declined an interview, and Tesla, who did not respond by the time of publication.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Despite the occasional muscle cramp on the nine-mile swim in South Lake Tahoe, Dave Shapiro’s focus was grounded in the rhythm, form and technique of his stroke with the image of his dad, Marvin, pushing him forward.
Dave Shapiro and his father, Marvin. Provided
On Wednesday, July 29, Shapiro swam from the Cave Rock boat ramp to Camp Richardson in the second annual Swim for Him, a charity swim honoring his father and raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The organization aims to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, which Shapiro says his father lived stoically with until his passing around 40 years ago.
Taking advantage of the calmer waters, Shapiro entered Lake Tahoe under a full moon at 2 a.m., describing the lake as an abyss at the dark hour. He arrived at a sunny beach full of supporters, drinks and a well-earned meal around seven hours later.
Dave Shapiro approaches the beach at Camp Richardson.Provided
The swim originally started as a way to honor his dad. Plans quickly turned into a charity event after Shapiro reunited with a friend, Justin Vedder, and got connected with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, raising $25,000 from the swim in the first year.
Shapiro also teamed up with his lifelong friend, Tadd Perkins, who provided aid from a support boat during this year and last year’s swim.
The two became fast friends in ninth grade after they were both new to town. They’ve been friends since and even worked together as ski patrollers in Tahoe for a time during their over 50 years of friendship.
“The stories we could tell,” Shapiro said. “We had a lot of fun stories and still do.”
The cause has a special place in both their hearts after Perkins’ father also bravely endured Parkinson’s.
The shared experience is something the two have been able to relate to and support each other through. Perkins witnessed Shapiro care for his father very early in their friendship. “It made me admire Dave,” Perkins said, “because he was just a high schooler at that time.”
Tadd Perkins, left, and Dave Shapiro, right, at last year’s Swim for Him.Provided
Shapiro recalled attending football games with his father. “A lot of times we’d be sitting in the stands,” Shapiro recalled, “and he’d be shaking violently, and it would be hard to watch, and I would grab his hand and just still it for him.”
Perkins’ father was diagnosed with the disease later in life. A prominent jazz musician, Bill lost his ability to play due to the disease. “There’s a lot of devastating diseases,” Perkins said, “but it’s particularly cruel because it can take away some of your motor functions.”
Shapiro expressed gratitude to all those involved with the swim, including Restoring the Lakes Depths Foundation’s founder, Lindsay Kopf, and director of programs, Ryan Incerpi, for providing the boat. He also thanked those who donated online, those who provided support on the boat, and those who cheered him on at the finish line.
Restoring The Lake Depths Foundation provided the support boat for the swim.Provided
A core memory from this year’s swim is the moon setting over Mount Tallac ahead of Shapiro, and the simultaneous sunrise beside him. “It still gives me chills,” he said, “seeing both of those instances at the same time, it’s pretty powerful.”
Shapiro has raised around $38,000 so far, with a goal of $50,000.
For the next Swim for Him, in pursuit of raising more funds, Shapiro hopes to inspire corporate sponsors, as well as local and community business support.
He also hopes to swim farther and faster, welcoming others to join.
Dave Shapiro completes the charity swim at Camp Richardson on Wednesday, July 29. Provided
Welcome back to Ask Talie Jane, where great design meets everyday living. I’m Talie, your interior design insider, here to share expert advice, solve those frustrating design dilemmas, and help you create a home that’s not only beautiful, but works brilliantly for the way you live.
Today’s hot topic: The End of the Instagram Home: Why Personality Is Replacing Perfection?
For the best part of a decade, our homes have been designed with the camera in mind. Neutral color palettes, boucle furniture, perfectly styled coffee tables and carefully curated shelves have dominated social media feeds, creating a formula for what was considered the “perfect” interior. But as quickly as the Instagram home rose to prominence, its influence is beginning to fade.
Today’s homeowners are asking a different question. Instead of, “Will this photograph well?” they’re asking, “Does this feel like home?”
As an interior designer, the biggest shift I’m seeing isn’t towards one particular style, but away from designing for trends altogether. Clients are becoming more confident in choosing pieces that reflect their personalities, lifestyles and memories, rather than replicating interiors they’ve seen online.
This evolution explains why seemingly opposing trends such as quiet luxury and maximalism are thriving at the same time. While their aesthetics couldn’t be more different, they share the same philosophy: authenticity. Whether it’s a calm, understated space crafted from natural materials or a vibrant home layered with art, antiques and bold color, both celebrate individuality over imitation.
There’s also a growing appreciation for interiors that evolve naturally. Rather than furnishing an entire room in one shopping trip, homeowners are investing in quality pieces over time, mixing vintage finds with contemporary furniture and incorporating objects that carry personal meaning. The result is a home with depth and character, one that tells a story rather than following a formula.
Functionality is playing a greater role too. The pandemic fundamentally changed how we use our homes, and people now expect their interiors to support everyday living rather than simply impress visitors. Comfortable seating, practical storage and flexible spaces have become just as important as aesthetics, reflecting a broader shift towards designing for real life.
Social media will undoubtedly continue to inspire, but its influence is becoming more selective. Instead of copying an entire look, homeowners are borrowing ideas and adapting
them to suit their own tastes. That confidence is producing richer, more individual interiors than we’ve seen in years.
Perhaps that’s the most exciting development of all. The most desirable homes are no longer the ones that look perfect on a screen. They’re the ones that feel authentic the moment you walk through the door. In an industry once driven by flawless styling, personality has become the new hallmark of exceptional design.
Talie Jane is the Owner and Principal Designer of Talie Jane Interiors, an award-winning, full-service design firm serving the Lake Tahoe and Napa/Sonoma regions. She is also the co-owner of Talie Jane Construction, a design-driven general contracting firm specializing in luxury remodels.
Tastes of Incline will be held on August 27Provided / Patricia Walker
INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV. – For its 25th year, Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Chapter AC is hosting Tastes of Incline at the stunning Chateau at Incline Village on August 27 to support women’s education with harmonious wine and mouthwatering delicacies from 17 local restaurants.
Founded in 1869, the P.E.O. Sisterhood was created by seven female Iowa Wesleyan College students who shared a friendship and an enthusiasm for educational opportunities for women. In 1927, Cottey College was gifted to the Sisterhood by founder Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard. To this day, the college, located in Nevada, Missouri, is the only nonsectarian college in the United States that is solely owned and supported by women.
Fast forward to the present day, and P.E.O. is now a thriving international nonprofit organization, providing not just a fellowship between women, but a means of support through grants, loans, awards and scholarships with chapters in all 50 states and Canada.
P.E.O. International also allows each chapter to establish a foundation account. Donations to Chapter AC’s foundation account are tax deductible, and those funds are used to provide additional funds to their existing scholarship recipients. If more funds are needed, recipients can request additional funding.
“It’s a sisterhood unlike anything I’ve ever been in,” said Patricia Walker, P.E.O. Chapter AC’s Tastes of Incline Chair.
Walker, together with Donna Nielson, current Chapter AC President, Julie Mater, Vice President, and 31 other members, strive to maintain funds for women locally.
Circumstances vary for how each member came to join P.E.O. For Mater, she grew up in a P.E.O. household where her great grandmother, grandmother and mother were all members.
“My best friend and I were initiated in May 1980,” said Mater.
Nielsen found P.E.O. three years ago and fell in love.
“I loved the premise of it,” Nielson said. “Everybody was helping each other, and I really liked the idea of giving scholarships to women.”
Walker was introduced to P.E.O. from a next-door neighbor on their daily walks around the neighborhood. Now, she has made Incline Village’s Chapter AC her third chapter.
They all have one thing in common: “We really want to give back, and we want to give back to young women, and make sure they have a good shot at their lives,” Walker said.
P.E.O. Chapter AC has over 30 membersProvided / Patricia Walker
Paola Herrera is among those young women. As a P.E.O. scholarship recipient, Herrera, 18, originally had her sights set on community college due to her family’s financial situation but applied to Middlebury College in Vermont anyway. After her acceptance into the liberal arts college, Herrera began searching for financial support to attend school. Her aspirations are to eventually work abroad in a United States embassy.
“I interviewed for the P.E.O. scholarship and I got the grant,” said Herrera. “With that grant, I was able to pay most of the remaining cost for my tuition. Because of P.E.O., I’m attending my dream school, and I’m pursuing an education that I didn’t think I would ever pursue.”
Herrera noted how important it is for younger generations to get involved with the nonprofit because it allows for a fresh perspective. Among her highlights working with P.E.O., Herrera touched on how accepted she feels, saying she’s not expected to be anyone but herself.
“Incline Village, specifically, has a very tight knit community, so it’s nice to have an even tighter community within P.E.O.,” said Herrera.
In 2026, Chapter AC gave $18,000 in scholarships away, including two recipients who are now able to attend nursing school. Events like Tastes of Incline make this possible.
Chapter AC member Doris Spain first suggested Tastes of Incline 25 years ago. She had the vision for what Tastes of Incline could become and how the chapter would be able to change the lives of young women who have now been supported over the last two and a half decades. In its first year, the event raised around $1000. Their current goal is to raise around $30,000.
17 restaurants will be participating in Tastes of Incline this year, including A Catered Affair, Alibi Ale Works, Azzara’s, Big Water Grille, Bite, Crosby’s Kitchen and Cocktails, Crystal Bay Steak and Lobster House, Happy Tiers Cafe, Jason’s Beachside Grille, La Fondue, Soule Domain, Sunshine Deli & Catering, Susie Scoops Ice Cream, The Grille at the Chateau, Tunnel Creek Cafe, Brimms Catering and Sierra Senior Services.
In addition to the vast selection of delicious fares, a restaurant raffle will take place with chances to win restaurant gift cards, along with a silent auction offering more than 50 items including Reno-Aces tickets, Tahoe Knight Monsters tickets, stays at Thunderbird Lodge, Shakespeare Festival tickets, and more.
Folks will also have a chance to bid on auction baskets filled with an assortment of goodies, including some tasty, high-quality wine, coffee and tea.
Tastes of Incline kicks off from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27. Pre-sale tickets are available in person at The Potlatch for $80. Tickets are also available at the door for $90. Availability is limited to around 300 attendees and frequently sells out.
For those interested in learning more about P.E.O., International, scholarships, loans or grants, visit https://www.peointernational.org/.
The Chateau at Incline Village is located at 955 Fairway Blvd in Incline Village, Nev.
RENO, Nev. — In response to a recent increase in crashes involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the area of US 50 and US 395, the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division’s Commercial Enforcement Section has increased inspection and enforcement efforts in the affected area.
Over the past two weeks, enforcement units operating in this focused area have:
Conducted 102 roadside inspections
Documented 286 violations
Placed 45 drivers out of service
Placed 33 commercial motor vehicles Out-of-Service
Note: Out-of-Service violations must be corrected before a driver or vehicle can resume operations.
Troopers identified violations involving driver documentation, vehicle equipment and mechanical condition, motor carrier operating authority, and drivers’ daily logbooks.
During this period, inspectors did not observe any commercial vehicles with obvious or severe brake defects.
To further support commercial motor vehicle safety on steep grades, inspectors deployed a portable message board east of the US 50/US 28 junction displaying: “Steep grade ahead. CMV check brakes.”
Inspectors also implemented pop-up safety alerts through drivers’ electronic logging devices (ELDs). As commercial drivers approach the US 50/US 28 junction, they receive the message: “Runaway Truck Ramp 1 mile ahead,” before each ramp.
Through a combination of enforcement and education, the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division is working to reduce crashes, improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers, and enhance the safety of all motorists traveling Nevada’s highways.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Monday, August 3, Edgewood Tahoe Resort brought its spirit of hospitality and generosity to Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal as the evening’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment sponsor and host.
“On behalf of all of us at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for once again providing us with the opportunity to participate in Bread & Broth’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment program,” shared Cristine Holtziner, Edgewood Tahoe Resort’s Executive Administrative Assistant.
Cristine coordinated Edgewood’s Adopt A Day (AAD) sponsorship meal and was joined by a compassionate team of Edgewood volunteers: Siobhan Fajayan, Edgewood General Manager; Corinna Osboren, Edgewood Chief Operating Officer; Abraham Rubio, Food and Beverage Manager; and his wife, Gabriela Rubio.
Known as one of South Lake Tahoe’s most beautiful lakeside resorts, Edgewood Tahoe Resort is dedicated to creating exceptional experiences for its guests. On Monday evening, that same gracious hospitality was shared with Bread & Broth’s dinner guests. With warm smiles and kind words, the Edgewood crew welcomed community members and served 130 hearty meals featuring country fried chicken, parmesan fries, coleslaw, and sautéed bell peppers.
Left to right: Gabriela Rubio, Abraham Rubio, Cristine Holtzinger, Corinna Osborne, Siobhan Fajayan.Provided / Bread & Broth
After the meal, Cristine reflected on what the evening meant to the Edgewood Tahoe Resort team. “It is always a privilege to partner with your incredible organization, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity to both financially support and serve alongside your dedicated volunteers. Giving back to our local community is something that means a great deal to our team, and each of our volunteers leaves the evening with a renewed appreciation for the important work Bread & Broth does to provide nourishment, compassion, and hope to so many members of our community. We are honored to play even a small role in helping further your mission.”
Gail Clair, the evening’s Bread & Broth Adopt A Day Coordinator, expressed her gratitude for the caring support shown by the Edgewood crew. “Everyone was so kind and eager to help in every way, especially staying until the very end to help dry dishes and clean up the dining and kitchen areas. It was our pleasure having Edgewood Tahoe Resort sponsor another Monday Meal.”
To learn more about Bread & Broth, donate, sponsor an Adopt A Day of Nourishment, or volunteer, visit www.breadandbroth.org or follow Bread & Broth on Instagram or Facebook.
As a financial advisor, I am sometimes asked to give my opinion on dividend-paying stocks. Many retired investors hope that a dividend stock portfolio will provide a steady stream of income while growing the portfolio. My goal for most of my retired clients is the same—income with portfolio growth—and I use a strategy that follows over 100 years of research and evidence to pursue that goal.
First, some facts. Dividends are payments that companies make to their shareholders, typically from the company’s earnings. Many companies pay dividends. For companies that do, their dividend payments are normally calculated on a per-share basis, so a shareholder with 100 shares of the stock would receive a dividend 100 times as large as a shareholder with 1 share of the same stock.
Dividends are often seen as a marker of how a company is doing; companies that consistently increase their dividends over many years are typically thought to be financially healthy, while companies that decrease their dividends are often assumed to be under financial stress. Historically, companies with consistent and growing dividends have tended to produce strong long-term returns.
Some companies don’t pay a dividend, instead either reinvesting their profits into the business or using them to buy back company shares. To give you an idea of how many companies pay a dividend, S&P Global Market Intelligence reported that in early 2026, 411 companies (over 80%) in the S&P 500 pay dividends. The Russell 2000 small-cap index, on the other hand, has just over 40% of the companies paying a dividend during the same timeframe.
Now, to my own thoughts on dividend-paying stocks. If you are investing broadly and diversifying in the stock market, you will have quite a lot of exposure to dividend stocks without trying. If you want to focus on owning a bunch of dividend-paying stocks in addition to that broadly invested portfolio, you are concentrating your portfolio around that one particular characteristic. Investors who choose to invest solely in dividend-paying stocks will find their portfolios to be even more concentrated around that same characteristic.
There is evidence that certain types of dividend stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 in recent years. The “S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index”, which consists of companies in the S&P 500 that have raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, has outperformed the S&P 500 since 1990, with a total annualized return of 11.6% vs 10.2%. And, it has done this with lower volatility than the S&P 500 over that same time period. The important thing to remember is that dividends are one component of an investor’s total return, not an additional return on top of it.
Nevertheless, we should be careful about getting too clever for our own good. Over the past 100 years, value stocks and small-cap stocks have also strong historical premiums. Rather than trying to pick the right individual stocks and concentrating your portfolio, I suggest you take the
opportunity to diversify into different company sizes, styles, and countries. You will end up with quite a few dividend stocks by doing this.
There’s one other part of this discussion worth noting: the tax implications. Particularly in a taxable investment account, dividends will be paid when the company chooses, and in the amount that the company chooses. You will then owe taxes in the year the dividends are received, whether you needed the money or not! Those dividends are generally either taxed at ordinary income tax rates or at long-term capital gains tax rates, depending on their structure.
Instead, you can design a strong, diversified portfolio and set up withdrawals as needed. Unlike the dividend stock owner, you will choose how much income to take and when to take it. That puts you more in control of the amount of taxable income you create from your portfolio.
Whether you pursue a dividend strategy or choose not to, invest smartly and invest well!
Larry Sidney is a Zephyr Cove-based Investment Advisor Representative. Information is found at https://palisadeinvestments.com/ or by calling 775-299-4600 x702. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities. Clients may hold positions mentioned in this article. Past Performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Tahoe Environmental Research Center’s new vessel is currently getting retrofitted for a future of research on Lake Tahoe.
“We are excited to launch our new research vessel soon,” said TERC director Stephanie Hampton. “This boat opens up new research opportunities, capabilities for operating on multi-day trips, operating nearshore, reaching locations across the lake faster and safer, and [is] better equipped to enable cutting-edge research and education.”
TERC announced last week that after meeting its fundraising goal, the new research boat is fully funded thanks to its Give Day campaign, generous supporters, and other fundraising efforts throughout the year.
The new vessel’s transformation will make it a state-of-the-art research platform, allowing TERC scientists to pursue exciting new research while furthering more than 60 years of continuous monitoring. This long monitoring history makes it one of the world’s longest and most valuable records of a freshwater ecosystem.
The discoveries made aboard this new vessel will help guide the protection and stewardship of Lake Tahoe for decades to come, TERC says, and ensure that researchers have the tools they need to understand a changing lake, inform restoration efforts, and provide the knowledge needed to protect Lake Tahoe for future generations.
Once the boat is ready, it will replace TERC’s flagship vessel, the R/V John LeConte, marking a bittersweet moment. Over the past 60 years of UC Davis’s lake monitoring, the R/V John LeConte has been at the heart of that work, now in its 50th year of service on Lake Tahoe.
Scanned copies of newspaper articles celebrating the christening of the R/V LeConte that took place over the Fourth of July weekend in 1976.Provided / TERC
With the vessel’s approaching retirement, TERC looked back at its 50 years in the State of the Lake annual report. The R/V John LeConte was instrumental in countless milestones, including gathering scientific data that informed the landmark total maximum daily load regulations to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, and deploying Tahoe’s first weather stations.
It has also been a dependable ride in keeping tabs on Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity.
The R/V John LeConte’s last research trip has not yet been scheduled. TERC says it will keep the community posted when it embarks on its final research endeavor and when the new vessel arrives.
As the summer begins to come to a close, nature is hard at work preparing for next year’s survival. From now through September, it’s the Foxtails’ peak-risk period for animals – and even humans – due to the shedding of their stiff bristles or tiny-hair-like structures (called awns) on each foxtail seed. It is estimated that each foxtail can produce thousands of seeds!
What are Foxtails?
Several tall, spiked grass varieties sport these distinctive barbed seed heads, or awns. At a distance, or to the untrained eye, the awns may look soft and harmless, resembling a fox’s bushy tail (hence the name “Foxtail”), but for man’s best friend, they are anything but!
Unfortunately, the Western United States, particularly California, experiences the highest number of related animal injuries from Foxtails, including pets and livestock. This is due to their high concentration found in meadows, abandoned lots, ditches, neglected fields, and at the edges of walking trails and pastures. Even in drought-like conditions, the Foxtail continues to thrive!
Foxtail Awns
Initially, in the late winter/early spring, the green grasses and seed heads are soft and harmless. However, once the plant dries out, the hardened seeds can easily drop to the ground, attach to passing fur and skin, or even be inhaled! The true danger lies in the needle-like bristles, which contain microscopic, backward-pointing barbs (awns) that relentlessly penetrate deeper into the soil (for germination), fur, or skin, preventing them from being dislodged or expelled naturally. In other words, the attached awn can only move in one direction.
If not removed immediately, the awns continue to burrow into soft tissues and even vital organs, causing infection (and worse) and requiring surgical removal because the body (whether human, dog, or other animal) cannot break down these destructive barbs or awns.
How to Protect Dogs from Invasive Foxtails
Keep your dog out of overgrown, grassy areas, meadows, flatlands and other places Foxtails are known to inhabit.
After a walk, thoroughly check your dog’s body for any foxtail awns/seeds, including:
Legs, paws, pads and between the toes.
Tail, genitals and skin.
Ears and eyes.
Nose from inhalation.
Mouth, gums and tongue.
(Thoroughly check your body as well!)
If possible, pull all awns out with tweezers. If you cannot remove the awns, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately for assistance.
Look for and remove any foxtail plants in your yard or around your home.
Keep your dog’s coat shorter during the summer and fall, especially on the legs and paws, to easily detect attached seeds.
Symptoms of Foxtail Invasion
Even with the best inspection, awns can be missed, especially if they have already become embedded. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your dog, see your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
1. Signs of distress, such as limping or difficulty breathing.
2. Swelling or redness.
3. Constant licking, scratching, or biting.
4. Shaking their head or tilting the head to one side.
5. Discharge around the eyes or nose.
6. Wounds or abscesses.
Learn More: Foxtails: What They Are and Why They’re Harmful to Dogs Foxtails and Dogs Foxtails & Dogs: Why They’re Dangerous Are Foxtails Dangerous to Humans?
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — OMNI Tahoe Yoga Festival celebrated three days of movement, music, and authentic connection at historic Valhalla Tahoe this week, concluding its fourth annual gathering with an outpouring of gratitude from attendees, presenters, volunteers, and community partners.
Hundreds of guests gathered on the shores of Lake Tahoe to experience more than 40 classes, workshops, performances, wellness experiences, and community discussions led by world-renowned teachers, musicians, and facilitators. While the festival continues to grow each year, for founder Jess Broyles, its greatest success isn’t measured by attendance, but rather by the connections created along the way. It’s the people who show up that make the experience what it is.
“To every presenter who shared their heart these last three days: thank you,” said Broyles. “The passion you bring, the way you teach, the way you live… it was felt. To every single person who showed up: thank you for allowing yourselves to be honest, vulnerable, playful, present, and free. Thank you for showing up exactly as you were and giving yourselves permission to feel exactly what you needed to feel.”
That same feeling echoed throughout the festival community as social media filled with heartfelt reflections from attendees, volunteers, presenters, and partners. Many described the festival as transformative, citing not only the caliber of programming and organization, but the sense of belonging they experienced throughout the three days.
One first-time attendee shared that they traveled to Lake Tahoe specifically for the festival, calling it “an amazing adventure.” Another reflected on leaving with “a full heart” after meeting inspiring people and forming meaningful new friendships.
Returning presenters echoed those sentiments. Brooke Haley described the festival as “an honor to be a part of this ineffable and profound experience,” adding that “each year just gets better and better.”
Janet Stone thanked the OMNI team for “an epic feat of tenacity and grace,” while Yogi Bryan expressed gratitude for, “such an amazing venue and festival. Grateful to be a part of it!”
Local partners and venue hosts shared similar appreciation, recognizing the festival’s positive impact on the South Lake Tahoe community and celebrating another successful year at historic Valhalla Tahoe. Now in its fourth year, OMNI Tahoe Yoga Festival continues to establish itself as more than a few days of yoga. It is a gathering rooted in community—a place where movement becomes a catalyst for connection, where strangers become friends, and where people leave feeling more connected to themselves, one another, and the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe.
2026 Omni Tahoe Yoga Festival.Provided
As planning begins for next year, organizers remain committed to creating an experience that prioritizes authenticity, inclusivity, and meaningful human connection while continuing to celebrate the vibrant wellness community that calls Tahoe home.
Stay connected for festival announcements by subscribing to the TYF Newsletter and following along on socials @Tahoe_Yoga_Festial.
The east end of downtown Tahoe City has a problem. Two of the town’s biggest properties — the Lighthouse Center and Boatworks Mall — are in trouble. The former’s anchor tenant and property owner, Safeway, moved to the other end of Tahoe City last fall. The Lighthouse space has been empty ever since, partly due to Safeway’s refusal to sell to another supermarket. MJD Capital Partners, which owns Boatworks, defaulted on its loan in January. The property is now in foreclosure and goes to auction next month.
“I think the majority of commercial square footage in our town is tied up in those two properties, so I think it’s concerning to the entire community and to the whole region, really, when you lose key commercial properties to service our needs, especially in such great lakefront locations,” said Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, who represents North Tahoe.
Safeway
Safeway vacated the Lighthouse Center last October. The grocery store was the center’s only street-front business; all other businesses, like A Santé Lakeside Fitness and Tahoe National Brewing Co., are in the back of the building. (CVS and the Tahoe City Post Office are in a separately owned building.)
When Safeway left, hopes were high that another grocery store would purchase the building. Tahoe City had been left with only one grocery store since October 2023, when Save Mart lost its lease to make way for Safeway’s relocation. The remodel ultimately took two years.
Word of residents’ growing frustration with the gaping vacant space at Lighthouse and lack of the current Safeway’s ability to keep up with demand during peak visitor months reached Sup. Gustafson. On June 9, she wrote a letter to Safeway’s corporate headquarters in Pleasanton, California:
“The continued vacancy of this highly visible property has become a significant community concern. Residents frequently describe the site as an eyesore and a missed opportunity at one of Tahoe City’s most important commercial locations. In addition, I continue to hear frustration from community members regarding reports that Safeway has limited or discouraged opportunities for other grocery operators or potential buyers to utilize the property.”
SAFEWAY’S former location has been sitting empty since last October. The company is blocking other grocery stores from buying the building. Photos by Melissa Siig/Moonshine Ink
A local real estate agent confirmed that the former Safeway building is for sale with a non-compete clause.
“Apparently it keeps falling out of contract,” the realtor wrote to Moonshine Ink. “They have turned down offers of $10 million and started to list it at $12 million, but they wanted a deed restriction and clause in the purchase contract that it could not be leased to or used as a grocery store.”
Gustafson has heard the same thing directly from supermarkets that have tried to purchase the building.
“I’ve been told that by people who have tried to acquire the property,” she said. “Other grocery stores that are in the region have tried to acquire this site.”
Numerous phone calls and emails by Moonshine Ink to multiple Safeway corporate officers and media relations were not returned.
On June 22, Gustafson’s office received this response from Todd Paradis, Safeway real estate manager based in Hawaii:
“Thank you for your recent letter sharing concerns raised by some residents of Tahoe City regarding Safeway’s new store and our intentions for the site of our previous store. We are in the process of reviewing the concerns raised and will discuss them internally. We will be in touch.”
Six weeks later, her office still has not received a follow-up response.
On July 22, Gustafson sent a letter of support for California Assembly Bill 1857, also known as the Grocery Store Access Act, to the state senate. The act, which was introduced in February, would ban corporate grocery chains from using restrictive property covenants to block new supermarkets from opening in spaces they have vacated.
“For the residents of Tahoe City, this legislation represents more than good public policy,” Gustafson wrote in the letter. “It represents an opportunity to remove unnecessary barriers that have prevented our community from attracting new grocery investment and restoring a vital commercial property to productive use. Communities should not be forced to choose between an underperforming grocery store and no grocery store at all.”
Gustafson said she now understands how Safeway won the lease for its current location.
“I think it’s very clear Safeway could outbid because they knew they were going to capture the market by not selling to another grocery store,” she said.
THE BOATWORKS MALL is in foreclosure and will go to auction in August, making the future of its tenants uncertain.
Boatworks
With MJD’s default on its $14-million loan in January, its failure to pay property tax, and the Boatworks now set to go to auction in Roseville on Aug. 12, there are concerns that the mall could face the same fate as the neighboring Safeway building — becoming a large, vacuous, empty space.
“I think that if we are looking down the barrel of having [another] ‘Henrikson Building East,’ that is a detriment to our community,” said Jeff Hill, Jake’s on the Lake general partner, referencing a dilapidated, empty building that used to sit on the opposite end of town. “We all have this vision of what we want our community in town to be. And I think that this is just another tipping scale of adversity that is, all eloquence aside, just sad.”
Jake’s has had a contentious relationship with MJD since it bought Boatworks, where the restaurant is housed. That is one reason this summer is Jake’s final season in Tahoe. After 48 years, it’s closing its doors in October unless the new owners present a deal too good to refuse.
“Due to the dynamic with the landlord and other outside factors, a path hasn’t really been presented to be able to move forward,” Hill said. “Should a path illuminate, we would walk it, but I just don’t see what that would be.”
MJD has not been communicative with tenants about its financial situation and foreclosure. The owner of Mountain Lotus Yoga found out about the auction when Moonshine Ink reached out to him, and Tahoe Fit owner Katie Peterson said every time she asked the company about the auction, they denied it.
“I did approach them about the auction a couple of times. And they’re still, to this day, denying that that’s even happening. So that part is slightly puzzling,” she said. “They say it’s a real estate financial issue they are working with.”
Tenants also complained about MJD’s neglect of the building. The electricity was turned off twice due to unpaid bills, and so was the water. The company cut back on garbage collection and maintenance staff. The mall’s main bathrooms got so bad at times that some tenants refused to use them.
“I feel that they definitely tried to run it on a shoestring budget,” said Allison Yonto, owner of the Tahoe Wine Collective. “And you saw that happen about, I want to say two or three years ago, when we lost our full-time maintenance guy.”
Hill agrees.
“I would say that whatever financial duress has fallen upon MJD has been reflected on the Boatworks itself,” he said. “The time and care and consideration have not been cultivated to the degree that we wish within our community.”
Fears of Boatworks becoming vacant are not unfounded. The building is currently only half occupied. Many businesses — Geared for Games, Tahoe Core Pilates, Tahoe T-Shirtery — had already left in anticipation of the structure being torn down to make way for MJD’s massive redevelopment proposal; Acorn Home Furnishings & Design is leaving at the end of August. The tenants are also all on a month-to-month lease (except for Jake’s), which only adds to the uncertainty. The mall’s other restaurant and anchor tenant, Hacienda del Lago, closed in 2021.
ONE OF Boatworks’ staple businesses, Hacienda del Lago, shuttered its doors in 2021. The space remains empty.
According to Yonto, only eight businesses in the Boatworks are open on a daily basis. She thinks MJD did not do enough to attract customers to the mall.
“There was definitely a disconnect of thinking that just because it’s a building on the North Shore on the water, that it would just always be busy. Foot traffic is a big problem getting people to come through here,” she said. “I don’t think they [MJD] did us any favors by not doing marketing regularly, by allowing spaces to go vacant, especially a lakefront restaurant space. They were just unfamiliar with how it works up here.”
Though MJD founder and CEO Marie Murphy did not admit to the impending auction, she issued a statement to Moonshine:
“We deeply love Tahoe, and are integral, long-standing members of the business community here. Our site has always reflected this love and stewardship for Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City. We are working through addressing current financial headwinds.
Despite the challenges we have faced, our focus remains on finding solutions that allow us to move forward and create a destination serving residents, businesses, and visitors — one that will bring much needed vitality, employment, and tax revenue to Tahoe City, while preserving the character of this amazing place.”
Yonto has a word of warning for the Boatworks’ next owner.
“Whomever takes this building over, I feel like they need to realize that if they don’t help the tenants that are here, the tenants aren’t going to get any better [financially],” she said. “We’re not going to magically start making more money until this building has some reason for people to come here, and the vacant spaces are definitely not that [reason].”
“Hard to put into words how freeing it is,” Jimi Brenner said while taking a break from an afternoon at the downhill mountain bike trails. Brenner lives and works on an orchard around Auburn, he likes biking, he is into metal fabrication, and when he was 29, his car slid off the road into a big oak tree. He became paralyzed from chest down.
JIMI BRENNER on his adaptive bike. Trails for these bikes should be at least 58 inches wide, according to High Fives. Photo courtesy Jimi Brenner
Brenner found the hospital-provided wheelchairs not to his liking, so a year after his injury, he built his own. “I’ve always been the outdoorsy person,” he said. “I can’t get stuck inside much.”
Three years after his accident, Brenner rode a bike again. The bike was adaptive to his injury, lent to him at the High Fives Community Bike Day, a fundraiser open to everyone.
High Fives was launched in 2009 after its founder, Roy Tuscany, overshot a ski jump and became paralyzed from the waist down. Tuscany received help from his community and started High Fives to “prevent life-changing injuries and provide resources and hope if they happen.” Since then, High Fives has served over 1,000 athletes in a multitude of sports and funded more than 1,900 grants.
After receiving a grant from High Fives and the Kelly Brush Foundation, whose mission is “to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lifestyles,” Brenner was able to buy one of the bikes, which start at $15,000. But he didn’t know where to ride it. “Auburn has a lot of real tight single track,” he said. “It’s hard to ride independently.”
In 2021, High Fives collaborated with Sky Tavern Bike Park, located off Mt. Rose Highway, to build a trail suitable for adaptive riders. “We wanted to include several [adaptive specific] design features,” said Becca Lefanowicz, director of brand and creative for High Fives. For instance, “that it would be wide enough for adaptive bikes that have a wider and longer frame.”
I DID IT! Estocado is triumphant after a downhill mountain bike run.
A High Fives adaptive trail must be at least 58 inches wide, a standard that unaffiliated organizations like Lee Canyon resort in Las Vegas have begun to copy. Because adaptive mountain bikes have a lower clearance than standard ones, the trail is also maintained to avoid what Lefanowicz calls “pinch points” — areas that would be too rocky for the low clearance of an adaptive bike. Brenner described the Sky Tavern trail as “super fun, super flowy.” It’s also one of two locations for the High Fives Community Bike Day in June, July, and August this year.
Since the Sky Tavern installation, High Fives has put in another adaptive-friendly trail at Sierra Vista in Reno.
“Most trails are not too far off,” Brenner said, “there’s maybe just a little something on them [that makes them not suitable for an adaptive bike].” But on Brenner’s new-model Bowhead Reach with a tilting mechanism, he said that “98, 99% of the trails — I can ride on them.”
ALL SMILES: High Fives collaborated with Sky Tavern Bike Park, located off Mt. Rose Highway, to build a trail suitable for adaptive riders, which Estocado happily bombs down. Photos courtesy High Fives
Brenner said it’s big news in his community when a new trail like this is put in. “It’s more open space you can get out and explore.” This, he said, is the point. And Lefanowicz added that the word she most commonly hears from people who use the adaptive trails is “independence.”
There was a moment at the second-ever Gambler’s Run in 2024 when The Main Squeeze was covering Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” and it all kind of came together for Crystal Bay Casino’s production/marketing manager Sam Shear.
“It was right at dusk,” he said. “The golden hour light. The energy of the band, the energy of the crowd. It was epic. All the work we’d done, a lot of things had to line up to make that moment happen.”
MUSICAL CONNECTION: A festivalgoer and a musician are in sync during a daytime set.
Things did line up and that moment did happen. More moments happened last year and more moments will happen in 2026, the festival gaining momentum like some incendiary fiddle solo played against a devil down in Georgia. This year, the String Cheese Incident leads its biggest lineup yet, headlining three days of deep-pooled musicality with their Thursday night set.
Formed in Colorado a good 30 years ago, the band has shredded strings and lit up audiences around the world with its bluegrass meets funky-country-rocky-jazzy-reggae-infused sound that offers a pinch of psychedelia and throws in a warm breeze
for good measure.
IT’S ALL GRATITUDE AND GOOD TIMES in the front row at dusk at Gambler’s Run.
The band’s name stems from a cheese-heavy food fight the members had in a bar back in the ’90s. They’ll be coming off a two-night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater before rolling the dice in Crystal Bay as part of their five-month Just Keep Spinning tour.
Red Rocks has a 9,500-person capacity, a typical venue size for the band. Gambler’s Run, on the other hand, is capped at 1,000. A faraway lawn seat won’t exist at the festival, and access to the front rows won’t cost $500-plus — so fans will see and hear and feel the cheese-grating up close.
“String Cheese is about the biggest act we can get,” Shear said. “We’ve had them in the Crown Room, but this is a new time for a new setting.”
That setting is outdoors. That setting is intimate. That setting is Tahoe air and golden hour light and the mysteries of the night. And visuals.
“A lot of focus is also on the art, the eye candy of the festival,” said Shear, who was coy with details to not give away too much and spoil first-impression surprise and intrigue. “It’s an all-encompassing experience. We’ll transform the festival grounds as much as possible.”
Those adorned grounds will be played from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the gates opening at 3 p.m. for food and craft vendors, and high-energy afterparties in the Crown Room raging until midnight or so.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters headlines Friday’s lineup with its own sweet Colorado-born style that has continued to evolve and delight music lovers since its 1993 platinum rock album Sister Sweetly, featuring the decade’s iconic and seemingly immortal (for good reason) “Bittersweet.” The soulful sounds and rhythmic beat of The California Honeydrops will get Saturday night’s airs swirling and the dancefloor moving.
But Gambler’s Run isn’t just three consecutive big-name concerts; it’s a music festival that features eight hours of music per day and over 10 bands that run the gamut. Also performing are the Humboldt funk machine Diggin Dirt, the electronic-instrumental synthesis of the groovy Octave Cat (featuring Jessie Miller of Lotus), and the Nashville-based Grateful Dead-influenced punk rockers Sicard Hollow, among others.
Sicard Hollow’s guitarist Alex King shared his thoughts: “We love music festivals, casinos, and lakes. Gambler’s Run is a perfect place … because it crosses off all three of those boxes. Let’s party.”
Three-Pronged Event
In addition to the intrepid tunes and dynamic art, Gambler’s Run also features a core contingent of activities and activism at its nonprofit village.
The nonprofit tine is a who’s who of local ecological stalwarts: Keep Tahoe Blue, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), UC Davis, Restoring My Lake; and, from Colorado, Conscious Alliance. Each entity helms an interactive booth and leads an engaging activity that ties back to its message. Festival-goers are provided a punch card; punches are earned by doing the activities; completing all the activities gains entry into drawings for signed posters and other rad prizes.
A main component of the activism for the festival itself focuses on sustainability. “When we started Gambler’s Run four years ago now, we were like, ‘We are in Lake Tahoe, we should be as conscious of our environment as possible.’”
THE OUTDOOR GROUNDS at Gambler’s Run hosts bands from 4 to 10 pm. before the event moves into the Crown Room for the afterparties.
A main cog in that activism/sustainability wheel was to phase out plastic cups by phasing in aluminum ones. The CBC began doing so at the first Gambler’s Run in 2023 and it’s now become standard practice at every show it hosts. No single-use plastic cups, not one; stats showing the switch having already saved close to 100,000 plastic cups and thousands of plastic water bottles from ending up in landfills.
That’s the type of action that helps the world keep spinning and the music keep playing. And summer music festivals right here in the Tahoe Basin, without having to undertake some distant drive in some super-hot direction, are a good thing too.
“If you’re a local,” Shear concluded, “you know the Crystal Bay Casino; what we do is live music. This is our masterpiece — three days of music, art, activism. Come on over and hang out.”
Wade Snider, master photographer, believes that every photo taken should be planned for months. In accordance with his tight hierarchy of strict guidelines, he camped out for ages, waiting for this exact photograph. On day 90, lightning struck. The beagles lined up. The bear was there. All he had to do was hit the shutter. The world softened for a bit. The birds, awestruck, quieted their ritualistic song. When the day returned to focus and time resumed ticking, all that was left was a photograph. Seen here.
With summer in full swing, the Cancer new moon on July 14 offers a welcome invitation to slow down, to rest, and to reconnect.
On July 18, Uranus in Gemini trines Pluto retrograde in Aquarius, an amicable transit that highlights both the tension and harmony between abstract ideas and collective technological transformations underway. Two days later, Jupiter in Leo forms a trine to Neptune retrograde in Aries, while also opposing Pluto — encouraging examination of values and relationships to the world’s changes.
The sun enters Leo on July 22, followed by Mercury coming out of its retrograde transit on July 24. Expect a certain momentum to return to a plan of yours that’s been stalled.
A major collective shift occurs on July 26 as the north node enters Aquarius and the south node enters Leo. This new nodal cycle will be playing out for 18 months and encourages us to participate more consciously in worldly happenings.
Leo-season energies amplify on July 29 when Jupiter conjoins the sun during a full moon in Aquarius. With Pluto in conjunction to the full moon, this lunation brings expansive emotional and subconscious transformation. Pay attention to what needs to be released as well as what’s coming up that needs to be celebrated.
Venus enters Libra on August 6. This will bring balance, a focus on beauty, and an inclination to socialize. August 7 and 8 may feel more reactive, with the Gemini moon transiting first Uranus and then Mars. To give yourself time to take in the full picture, endeavor to pause before responding to things.
On August 12, we have a powerful solar eclipse. The Leo new moon also joins the south node, with Jupiter and Mercury also in Leo. This day will illuminate old stories of identities and patterns that may surface for review.
NATURAL MAGIC
There are many transits happening in this time that relate to collective change and how that is personally significant, highlighted by the nodal shift into the signs of Aquarius and Leo exactly on July 26; consider setting aside twenty minutes a day between July 19 and August 2 to honor both the transition and your own evolutionary growth. Begin with ten minutes of heart-centered meditation. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly, breathing slowly as you imagine your awareness dropping from your head to your heart.
Then spend ten minutes reflecting and journaling. Consider these prompts: When I shift perception from my head to my heart, what changes within me?What is my unique gift to the world? How can I use my creativity in service to something larger than myself?
