Flu season might be associated with winter, but it actually runs much longer than many people may realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season typically begins in October and lasts all the way to May.
The CDC estimates that the flu results in 14 to 24 million medical visits over the course of a typical flu season, with as many as 780,000 hospitalizations occurring due to flu in a given year. Such estimates underscore how serious a threat the flu can be, and it’s one reason why the CDC recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone six months and older. But what about children younger than six months old? Parents of babies younger than six months old can learn to spot the signs of flu and report those symptoms to their child’s pediatrician immediately.
Signs and symptoms of the flu in babies
The March of Dimes urges parents to contact their child’s health care provider immediately if a baby exhibits any of these signs and symptoms of the flu:
Being very tired or sleepy
Cough
A fever of 100 F or above, chills or body shakes: While fever is widely recognized as a hallmark of the flu, the March of Dimes notes not everyone who gets the flu develops a fever.
Headache, or muscle or body aches: Babies cannot tell their parents when they have a headache, but Kinsa Health notes that babies may hold their head while crying, withdraw from regular playing, feed poorly, or sleep more when they have a headache. The pediatric health system Children’s Minnesota notes that babies experiencing pain may cry more robustly, exhibit a quivering chin or a deeply wrinkled brow with eyes squeezed shut, and may tense up their muscles. Some babies also refuse to eat or have difficulty sleeping when experiencing pain.
Runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Vomiting or diarrhea
Signs a baby needs emergency medical care
The March of Dimes notes that some signs indicate a baby needs care at a hospital emergency room. Such signs include:
Being so fussy that the baby does not want to be held
Lips or face exhibit a bluish color
Fast breathing, trouble breathing, chest pain, or ribs pulling in with each breath
Severe muscle pain
Fever above 104 F, or fever with a rash: A baby younger than 12 weeks with a fever above 100 F requires emergency medical care.
Seizures
Not drinking enough fluids or not producing as much urine as the child normally does: A baby that does not make urine for 8 hours, has a dry mouth or fails to produce tears when crying could be dehydrated.
Not waking up or lack of alertness when the baby is awake • Vomiting that is severe or does not stop
Flu season is longer than many people recognize, and parents of babies must be aware that their children can develop the flu at any time. Learning to recognize signs of the flu in babies is vital to helping children combat this common but potentially harmful illness.
You may have come across this article because the title grabbed your attention, or maybe someone who cares about you dropped it onto your desk because they know you really need to read the information I am about to share. Either way, your “I don’t know where to begin” excuse has officially expired, and it’s time to do better.
I have been working in mental health for the last 23 years in settings ranging from psychiatric emergency services and drug and alcohol dependence to family and couples therapy, personal empowerment, and spiritual health. Over the length of my career, I have had my share of trial and error with the tools and advice I have given—not only to my clients, but to the many clinicians I have trained over the years. I am now sharing with you what I believe to be the most effective and important tools and advice I have gathered over the last two decades. If you follow through with the information in this article, I will have saved you months, maybe even years, of therapy and thousands of dollars in therapy fees. You’re welcome.
Before we begin, I would like to give you a few science-based brain hacks that will help you actually implement this information. These strategies will keep these concepts at the forefront of your mind, challenge your behavior, and embed them into your subconscious.
First, print or cut out this article and place it somewhere you can see it every day. Next, talk to as many people as you can about what you read here. Then, make a checklist each week to track which tools you were able to practice and which were the most challenging. Lastly, share your checklist with someone at the end of each week, because knowing that someone is holding you accountable can make a world of difference in your success. Do this for at least six weeks.
Some of these tools and pieces of advice may stand out to you more than others. Highlight the ones that will have the most impact on your life, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from a loved one or a professional. Here we go:
#1: Live by your highest values. Choose 3–5 and memorize them. Every decision you make throughout the day will be based on these values, even if it means disappointing someone.
#2: Your most important and highest value is always your health. Always. Without compromise or guilt—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
#3: The quality of your life is only as good as the quality of your relationships. Keep only those relationships that make you feel good about yourself and the world around you.
#4: Work on your emotional intelligence every day. It will change your life and the lives of the people you care about.
#5: Practice the 3/3 method 1–3 times a day. Three deep breaths, three things you are grateful for, and three things you are looking forward to. Your mind will automatically start to look for the good throughout the day.
#6: Do one form of physical movement every day for at least 15 minutes. Your body releases endorphins—or as I like to call them, “happy juices”—in as little as 10 to 20 minutes of walking, stretching, biking, swimming, dancing, etc.
#7: Using alcohol, or any other substance, on a regular basis (2–3 times a week) to alter your emotional state or escape reality is how dependence turns into addiction. Replace it with healthier alternatives and get professional support if you can’t do it on your own.
#8: Don’t say “I’m sorry.” Instead, take responsibility and talk about what you would do differently if the situation happened again. It’s more effective and heartfelt, and it teaches your brain to auto-correct before you say or do something damaging.
#9: Communication is 90% about your tone, facial expressions, and body language. It’s also the most challenging to be aware of and change. Focus on feeling light in your body, kind with your eyes, and gentle with your tone. Stick to it, and your brain will rewire itself, especially after you see the powerful effects it has on your relationships.
#10: Only make big decisions when you are in your highest state of mind. If you make decisions when you are tired, angry, or resentful, it’s usually not the best decision.
The journey to becoming the best versions of yourself is a lifelong adventure. As the famous Buddha said, “Each day we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
I am a witness that these practices can change lives in so many beautiful ways. You got this. I believe in you.
Washoe County electric and hybrid vehicle drivers who’ve avoided pain at the gas pumps could soon feel the squeeze on their wallets in a different way.
An advisory question on Washoe County ballots asking if electric and hybrid vehicle drivers should pay an annual road use fee to help fund the county’s road construction and repairs drew overwhelming support, with more than 65 percent of voters supporting it.
Because it was an advisory question, the question’s approval doesn’t implement any sort of fee. It does, however, allow Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to pursue legislation that could add fees during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in February.
The issue of how to fund road repairs in the face of rising costs, more efficient gas-powered vehicles and the increased popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles is a nationwide issue. While gas and diesel drivers pay federal, state and local fuel taxes at the pump that are used to fund road construction and repairs, electric and hybrid vehicle drivers don’t, or they pay reduced amounts.
Most states have taken approaches that range from one-time fees to charging drivers per mile driven. Nevada, however, doesn’t charge electric or hybrid vehicle drivers a dedicated surcharge, and because they don’t use gas — or as much gas — electric vehicle (EV) drivers pay no fuel taxes and hybrid drivers pay reduced fuel taxes.
And their numbers in Washoe County are increasing.
Between 2020 and 2024, EV and hybrid registrations grew from 2.2 percent to more than 5 percent of all vehicle registrations. Last year, that grew to a combined 6 percent of the roughly 500,000 vehicles registered in the county.
“While 6 percent doesn’t seem like a huge number, we know it’s going to continue to grow,” said Paul Nelson, government affairs officer for RTC.
RTC requested the advisory question be placed on the ballot as it looks to address a more than $1 billion road maintenance funding shortfall. During polling leading up to the ballot question, Nelson said that, “People that were supportive of it said it was a fairness question … That’s really what it came down to.”
Nelson said the commission will ask its board to approve moving forward with a bill for the upcoming session. RTC is allotted one bill draft request per legislative session.
Then, “it will be up to the Legislature,” Nelson said.
Highest fuel tax in the state
Last year, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities drafted a report analyzing revenue options as more drivers shift to electric vehicles and hybrids. According to the study, additional registration fees on EVs and hybrids “may be the best option for Washoe County due to its ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness, and revenue-generating potential.”
Regular hybrid vehicles recharge their own, small batteries through regenerative braking and power from the gas engine. They are not plugged into outlets and are not designed to drive on electricity.
Plug-in hybrids, however, connect to electrical outlets and can typically drive up to 50 miles on electricity. Once their electric range is depleted, they convert to gas and operate like a traditional hybrid.
The annual fees currently being considered — starting at $250 for EVs and $125 for hybrids — are still less than most gas drivers would pay annually in fuel tax. Those drivers pay an estimated $480 annually, according to Nelson.
The fee would extend to passenger cars only and include indexing. Each July 1, when the county’s fuel tax increases, the EV and hybrid fees would also increase.
Indexing fuel taxes to inflation has long been a way to solve transportation funding problems. In 2010, Washoe County’s fuel tax was aligned with the producer price index, which tracks changes in nonresidential construction costs, to align gas tax revenue with rising costs for road construction projects.
At less than 25 cents per gallon, Nevada’s state gas tax is 37th highest in the nation. The diesel tax of 27.75 cents per gallon is 34th in the nation.
But Washoe County drivers pay much more.
Drivers pay another more than 58 cents per gallon in local taxes on gas and diesel sold in Washoe County — higher even than Clark County. Critics claim that Washoe County’s fuel tax is the highest in the nation. Nelson said he isn’t sure how the county stacks up nationally, but did confirm Washoe County has the highest fuel tax in the state.
But to RTC, those funds are critical, serving as the largest source of funding for road construction and maintenance projects in Washoe County, covering roughly $420 million in road improvements over the last five years.
RTC estimates it is facing a roughly $1.4 billion funding shortfall for road repairs over the coming decade. It also estimates that the increase in electric and hybrid registrations between 2020 and 2025 led to roughly $15.6 million in lost fuel taxes.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – With early season snowfall already dusting Lake Tahoe area ski resorts, now is the time to get a free lift ticket to use this winter. California and Nevada drivers who purchase a new Lake Tahoe license plate through the “Plates for Powder” program will receive a free lift ticket to one of 15 participating Tahoe downhill or cross-country ski areas to be used during the 2026-27 winter season, while supplies last.
“Since 2011, the ‘Plates for Powder’ program has generated funds from plate sales and renewal fees that have come back to Lake Tahoe in the form of hiking and biking trails and watershed restoration projects,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “It’s a great way for California and Nevada drivers to show their love for Tahoe while also supporting important environmental projects.”
The nonprofit Tahoe Fund has organized the program since its inception, with the proceeds directed by the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands. Some of the projects supported by the program include the demolition of the former Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe to make way for wetland restoration and recreation improvements, grants to provide outdoor experiences in Tahoe for underserved communities, and the newly completed Tunnel Creek Singletrack Trail on Tahoe’s east shore.
“The generosity of the ski areas, skiers, and snowboarders that make this program possible is incredible,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “The funding that the Lake Tahoe license plates generates directly benefits our work to restore and enhance the natural and recreational resources in the Tahoe Basin for everyone to enjoy.”
New Tahoe license plate fees are $50 in California and $61 in Nevada. The annual renewal fee is $40 in California and $30 in Nevada. Personalized plates are also available for additional fees.
Participating ski areas include Boreal Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Homewood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Northstar California, Palisades Tahoe, Royal Gorge, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Soda Springs, Sugar Bowl Resort, Tahoe XC, Tahoe City Sports Park, and Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
Learn more about how to purchase a plate and redeem the complimentary lift ticket or trail pass at tahoeplates.com. Some restrictions apply.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – After winning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, 18-year-old Sicilia Salcedo’s photo was posted on Girl Scout’s national Instagram page. The caption praised her award-winning project focused on sharing ways to properly care for reptiles, but it was her ‘alternative’ style showcased in the photo that caught the eyes of thousands.
When Salcedo was in first grade, she joined Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada. Just a few short years later, she was promised a pet for Christmas.
As her and her mother took a tour of animals inside a pet store, she had no idea what a bearded dragon was. During the tour, the pet store employee named the reptile among those easiest to take care of. It was then that Salcedo decided to become the owner of Brittany Spikes.
“From that point on, Brittany and I have become very close,” Salcedo told the Tribune. “I’ve had her since she was a baby.”
Over the years, Salcedo racked up valuable knowledge and experience on how to care for bearded dragons, all while coming into her own and finding her confidence in the world. Throughout her time with Brittany, Salcedo also found a friend.
Salcedo on the day she brought Brittany Spikes home. Provided / Sicilia Salcedo
“I always felt judged by people, and I was excluded from a lot of spaces,” said Salcedo. “Brittany was always willing to hang out with me. Just having her as a companion really helped when I was going through rough patches in my youth.”
Being part of a Girl Scout troop also paved the way for Salcedo to feel safe and authentic. With troop leaders like Cheryl Schumacher who fostered a welcoming environment, Salcedo said she always felt like she was heard and seen.
Salcedo said that throughout her 11 years as a Girl Scout, a lot of her fellow troop members were like her – sharing unconventional interests, defying the ‘norm’ and overcoming obstacles.
“It’s just all about connecting and empowering each other, and being a leader. You don’t need to have all these prerequisites,” she said. “You don’t need to be an athlete. You don’t need to be popular. You just have to be open-minded and willing.”
Winning the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Girls Scout Gold Award is considered the highest and most prestigious achievement in Girl Scouting. Only 5.4% of eligible members earn the award which is designed for high school-aged Girl Scouts.
According to Girl Scouts of the USA, the award is given to an individual who plans and executes an independent, sustainable and measurable “Take Action” project that addresses the root cause of a local issue, creating long-term change.
Salcedo’s inspiration for her project was none other than Brittany Spikes, and her goal was to educate others in the proper care for reptiles through educational videos and presentations.
“I interviewed pet store owners and I interviewed vets, and a lot of them [expressed] that people don’t know that you need very specific lighting requirements for these lizards,” said Salcedo.
Salcedo explained that without the proper UVB lighting which they transform into calcium, reptiles like bearded dragons can get a disease called metabolic bone disease, causing their joints and muscles to fail. If a bearded dragon shows signs of sickness, owners will sometimes release them into the wild which can disrupt local food chains, introduce diseases and damage local ecosystems.
Through her project, she created a YouTube channel called “Bepis Valley” where she not only sheds light on proper lighting and care for owners, but also what bearded dragons eat and ways to communicate with them.
In turn, by teaching others, including younger Girl Scouts about responsible pet ownership, she reduced the likelihood of pet abandonment.
“I still remember the night that it happened. I was so happy and relieved to win it because it was just such a big goal that I had in mind.”
Salcedo and Brittany with their Girl Scout Gold Award.Provided / Sicilia Salcedo
Going viral with style
After winning the Girl Scout Gold Award, Salcedo’s image was featured on their national Instagram page as she dawned a spiked choker, black lipstick, teased hair and a straight face.
The post gained so much traction, that even brands like Hot Topic and Applebees took to the comments to share their praises.
One commenter wrote “As the mom of a 9yo Goth Scout who loves animals I cannot wait to show her her new role model.”
Another one wrote, “As a former girl scout who was the only goth in the troop, this is iconic and even advocating for proper reptile care is even more iconic.”
Many deemed her style ‘goth’ or ’emo’, but Salcedo told the Tribune that although she doesn’t mind being labeled that way, that’s not what she would say of her style choices.
“I am completely fine with people calling me [goth] because I take a lot of inspiration from the fashion sense and the subculture. I’m not in the music scene and because goth is a music subculture, I just don’t identify with it,” she said. “ The exact same goes for emo. You can call me emo and I don’t care. I just, personally, am not part of the emo subculture.”
Salcedo said she likes to identify her style under the umbrella term ‘alternative’, and as a big fan of Japanese visual kei, a Japanese music and fashion movement which emerged in the 1980s, she takes inspiration from its flamboyant and non-traditional visual style.
After Salcedo saw that the post went viral, she said she was shocked.
“When people think of a Girl Scout, they don’t picture people like me,” she said as she touched on her photo challenging conventional assumptions about what a Girl Scout should look like.
“I’m just really grateful to represent those people now and to show everyone that just because I dress a certain way doesn’t mean that I’m not dedicated to this organization.”
Leaving a mark
Now a creative writing student at Sonoma State, Salcedo has left the South Lake Tahoe nest but said she still visits home often.
“I do find myself missing Tahoe because it really is so different from the rest of California in a lot of ways. I grew up around casinos and a huge tourist culture,” Salcedo said. “I do miss home sometimes, but I think that learning how to get out of my dorm and explore Sonoma, and how beautiful it is, just in and of itself, has really helped with that.”
Recently, Salcedo self-published a 393-page poetry collection with core themes that explore love, mental health, exile and human connection.
The book, “Oxytocin” was inspired by the love hormone.
“There’s this overlapping theme of love that I talk about in the book – people that I’ve loved and things that I’ve loved, things I shouldn’t have loved.”
“Oxytocin” is authored under Salcedo’s alias, Naroi Hart, and is available through Amazon.
Although she’s got an entire future ahead of her, Salcedo will always be committed to and grateful for Girl Scouts.
“Finding ways to keep volunteering and staying involved with Girl Scouts is definitely one of my goals,” she added.
STATELINE, Nev. – Alpine action and western heritage will collide at a professional level March 5-7 when Pro Skijor comes to Lake Tahoe, bringing galloping horses, riders and skiers together as they navigate a snow course of gates, jumps, rings and other obstacles with split-second precision.
Rooted in Scandinavian history, skijoring began as a mode of transportation dating back hundreds of years, in which skiers were pulled by reindeer. It entered the North American scene in the early 1900s. As it moved west, it merged with western culture, developing into long-standing skijoring events and traditions in Colorado and Montana.
“Maybe both the western culture and the ski/snowboard culture share a passion for adrenaline, and there, Western skijoring is born,” Brian Gardner, co-founder of Pro Skijor, said. Gardner and his team aim to take the transportation-turned pastime to a larger stage with the professional competitive tour.
Pro Skijor grew out of a Utah competition that began in 2017 and became a national touring event, with its inaugural season in 2026. The tour has multiple divisions, including intermediate, elite, snowboard, women’s, and all-around, in which athletes switch roles and must both ride and ski.
2027 marks Pro Skijor’s second year and an expansion to more tour destinations, including Lake Tahoe.
The Lake Tahoe competition isn’t just any tour event; it is the culmination of the tour, with championship titles at stake.
Pro Skijor is advancing competitive skijoring across North America with six stops, including Lake Tahoe.Provided / Pro Skijor
“We wanted to have a really amazing location for the championship finals and identified the Lake Tahoe area as just a beautiful and incredible place,” Gardner said. Caesars Republic in Lake Tahoe will host the competition at its outdoor arena.
“I think similar to the spirit of the sport,” Gardner said, “the Tahoe area is obviously full of passionate skiers and snowboarders and that ski culture and mountain culture is very much alive.”
In addition to the thriving ski culture, Tahoe’s surrounding valleys are steeped in ranching and western culture.
“I think that it just naturally was a great fit for this,” Gardner said.
While teams will compete for cash prizes at each of the 2027 tour’s six stops, they will also earn points towards their tour standing and qualify them for the Tahoe championships.
Although Pro Skijor is taking the sport to the next level, Gardner said, “We also have a dedication to honoring the authenticity and the genuineness of the sport, honoring that Western culture, providing opportunities for those athletes and having some fun along the way.”
Professional teams earn points at each tour stop to qualify for the championships March 5-7 at Caesars Republic in Lake Tahoe.Provided / Pro Skijor
In addition to the races, the Pro Skijor event will host live music, local food and vendors.
To expand the sport’s visibility, Pro Skijor is offering a Community Day on the Friday of the Tahoe tour stop, where members of the public can learn the ropes and try it themselves.
“I think that skijoring is just so unique because I think that any walk of life can connect to it,” Garner said. “It doesn’t matter if you are into horses or if you’re into western culture, and it doesn’t really matter if you’re into skiing or snowboarding”
He explains that, on the skiing side, it’s very similar to alpine skiing, except a horse provides the momentum instead of gravity. “If you’ve skied before and especially anybody who has any sort of ski racing background or just anybody who’s a good all-around skier, the fundamentals are the same.”
The Community Day offers a variety of divisions, including beginner events, teen, 12 and under and a “century” division where the rider and skier have a combined age of 100 or more.
“At the end of the day,” Gardner said, “if they’re just getting pulled behind the horse, they’re getting the experience.”
For all tour dates, locations, more information and tickets, visit proskijor.com.
Tahoe TAP hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway sit down with Trent Poole, the new Vice President and General Manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, for a conversation about his arrival in Tahoe, his vision for the resort, and what’s ahead for one of the region’s most iconic mountains.
Poole stepped into the role in May, just ahead of Heavenly’s summer operations, bringing nearly two decades of experience with Vail Resorts. He joined the company in 2005, beginning his career in finance before moving into leadership positions at Mad River Mountain, Jack Frost Big Boulder, and most recently Hunter Mountain in New York.
At Hunter, Poole oversaw major lift upgrades, snowmaking investments, and guest-focused initiatives that resulted in the largest improvement in guest satisfaction in the resort’s history. His background in resort operations, infrastructure projects, and team development brings a wealth of experience to Heavenly as it looks toward the future.
A graduate of Ohio University, Poole is making the move west with his wife, Lisa, and their two children. Outside of the resort, the family enjoys camping and exploring national parks. Now, he’s focused on building on Heavenly’s legacy while strengthening the mountain’s relationship with the South Shore community.
The conversation also includes an exclusive announcement from Poole — a first look at news that hadn’t yet been shared through Heavenly’s official media channels.
Tune in for a new episode of Tahoe TAP, where the hosts explore the people, stories, and adventures that make Tahoe such a great place to live, work, and play.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A police chase starting in the Placerville area ended in South Lake Tahoe last week.
On November 6, 2026, Placerville Police Officers attempted to stop Scot Hiltabrand II on reasonable suspicion of stalking a female victim. Hiltabrand II struck a uniformed Placerville Police Officer with his vehicle, a silver Toyota Tacoma.
Placerville Police pursued Hiltabrand II eastbound on US-50 and requested help from the California Highway Patrol. CHP officers from the Placerville CHP Area took over the pursuit just west of Fresh Pond.
With the assistance of El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputies, South Lake Tahoe CHP Area Officers coordinated a traffic control plan to minimize risk to the public in Meyers, ensuring road construction crews were cleared out of the pursuit’s likely path of travel. South Lake Tahoe CHP Units and a CHP Supervisor joined the pursuit eastbound on US-50, just west of Strawberry, and the pursuit continued with El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputies successfully deploying spike strips at two locations along US-50.
Provided / CHP
While attempting to evade law enforcement, Hiltabrand II reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. Hiltabrand II continued driving on two flat tires, until reaching the City Limits of South Lake Tahoe, where he lost control of the Tacoma and rolled the car onto its roof.
CHP Officers, with the assistance of an El Dorado County Sheriff’s K9 Deputy, took Hiltabrand II into custody. Hiltabrand II was booked into El Dorado County Jail for Recklessly Evading Law Enforcement, Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer and Resisting an Officer.
CHP South Lake Tahoe and CHP Placerville will provide additional/supplemental reports to Placerville Police, who will be referring Hiltabrand II to the El Dorado County District Attorney for prosecution.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe is entering a new chapter with the appointment of Thomas Horvath as vice provost and dean and a five-year strategic plan to guide academic programs, research, community partnerships and campus investment.
Selected following a national search, Horvath began his appointment Nov. 1. He brings more than 18 years of higher education leadership experience advancing student success, faculty development, research and partnerships with government agencies and community organizations.
Thomas HorvathProvided
“Thomas brings a combination of academic leadership, scientific expertise and a commitment to student success that will serve our Lake Tahoe campus well,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Jeff Thompson. “His background in aquatic biology connects directly with the opportunities for learning and discovery in the Tahoe Basin. He understands how to bring faculty, students and community partners together, and we look forward to working with him to advance the campus’s academic mission.”
Horvath joins the University from California State University, Monterey Bay, where he served as dean of the College of Science. He previously served as interim dean of both the College of Science and the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. His work has focused on expanding educational access, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and connecting academic programs with workforce and community needs.
A biologist by training, Horvath earned his doctorate in aquatic biology from the University of Notre Dame and his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Indianapolis. His academic and leadership experience includes roles at the State University of New York at Oneonta and the University of Koblenz-Landau, now Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University, in Germany. His scientific background complements the Tahoe campus’s focus on freshwater ecosystems and environmental research.
The campus’s strategic plan, “Blue Skies, Bright Minds 2027-2031,” provides a framework for decisions about academic programs, partnerships, facilities and staffing, with an emphasis on opportunities shaped by Tahoe’s environment and communities.
Developed through listening sessions, surveys and conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and partners, the strategic plan establishes four goals.
The four goals are:
Elevating Lake Tahoe Communities: Amplify the culture and wellness of the region by advancing partnerships, programming and accessibility.
Convening Global Thinkers and Changemakers: Attract the world’s most important conversations to Tahoe by establishing a premier destination for summits, retreats and exchange.
Innovating for Sustainability: Discovery through research, innovation and collaboration that advances a more sustainable world.
Advancing Transformative Scholarship: Empower people through programs, experiences and infrastructure built for Lake Tahoe.
Community welcome reception Students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and partners are invited to welcome Horvath and learn about the strategic plan Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Prim Library at the University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe. Guests are asked to RSVP through Eventbrite by Monday, Nov. 9.
Crews are conducting final touchup and cleanup after completing the two-year repaving of 13 miles of Highway 50 at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Work from Stateline to Spooner Summit began April 2025 and required approximately 98,000 tons of new asphalt, the state announced on Friday morning.
Between Spooner Summit and Glenbrook, the double line median was expanded to two sets of double yellow lines with a four-foot separation between traffic directions to reduce potential head-on crashes and enhance safety.
Between Roundhill Pines and Glenbrook crews used a new, wider striping pattern along with centerline rumble to help reduce cross-over crashes.
Installed 13 miles, or more than 220,000 feet, of Intelligent Traffic Systems underground conduit line to further connect and power roadway cameras, road-weather information systems, traffic counters, traffic flow detectors, automated chain-snow tire control signage, and more.
Work included reinforcing more than 2,000 feet of existing culvert pipes, 52 new storm drain inlets, 1,300 feet of new storm sewer culvert pipe, and approx. 38,000 feet of new roadside curb and gutter installed, helping protect Lake Tahoe clarity by channeling stormwater into designated drainage systems.
Workers also upgraded the guardrail and barrier wall to enhance safety and installed drainage improvements to reduce roadway water ponding.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Bread & Broth seeks donations to support its annual Thanksgiving dinner and invites all community members to attend. The dinner will take place Monday, November 23, from 4-6 p.m. at Grace Hall, St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Avenue, South Lake Tahoe. Guests are welcome to enjoy a festive meal featuring traditional holiday dishes.
Guests will be treated to a classic Thanksgiving meal including turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, rolls and pie for dessert. In addition to the meal, dinner guests will be given food giveaway bags containing dairy products (such as eggs, butter, milk), fresh produce, bread, pastries, meat, and canned goods.
Bread & Broth served nearly 250 dinners to local residents last year and expects an even greater turnout this year. For many attendees, this Thanksgiving dinner might be their only holiday meal of the year. One guest described what the event meant to their family last year: “My family and I can’t afford Thanksgiving dinner this year, so this dinner is absolutely fantastic. Our family is so glad for this delicious meal and the time we can share it with family.”
Over 75 volunteers will contribute their time and energy to prepare and serve this special holiday meal, carrying on the tradition of service in the community. The preparations for this annual celebration will begin several days in advance, with Bread & Broth’s dedicated volunteer cooks working diligently to prepare and cook the meal. Bread & Broth volunteers and servers will transform Grace Hall with festive Fall decorations and homemade placemats, which will be crafted by children enrolled in St. Theresa’s Religious Education program.
A $25 contribution will provide a Thanksgiving meal for a family of four, while $100 will support four families. Bread & Broth welcomes donations of any amount to help purchase food for the Thanksgiving dinner. Community support is essential to funding these dinners.
Donate online at breadandbroth.org by selecting the “Thanksgiving Dinner Donation” button. For mailed donations, make your check payable to St. Theresa Bread & Broth and send it to: Bread & Broth Thanksgiving Dinner, c/o St. Theresa Church, 1041 Lyons Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Tipsy Putt Tahoe is celebrating Veterans Week by giving veterans and military service members a free annual membership, offering a full year of games, discounts and opportunities to connect with friends and family.
From November 9 through November 15, veterans and military service members ages 21 and older can stop by Tipsy Putt Tahoe, present a valid military ID and activate their complimentary one-year membership. No purchase is necessary.
The membership includes free unlimited mini golf and free 1-2 Putt®, Tipsy Putt’s tabletop golf game, plus discounts on select beverages and other member benefits. Those who choose to use the Tipsy Putt app for their membership experience can also access monthly coupons and buddy passes to bring friends or family along for the fun.
Located near the base of the Heavenly Gondola, Tipsy Putt Tahoe combines mini golf, interactive games, food and drinks in a lively gathering place for locals and visitors. The Veterans Week offer is designed to extend appreciation beyond a single holiday, giving veterans a place to return to and enjoy throughout the year.
How to redeem: Visit Tipsy Putt Tahoe November 9-15, show a valid military ID and ask the team to activate the free annual membership. Participants must be 21 or older. The app is optional but provides access to additional monthly offers and buddy passes.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The American Legion is calling on community members to roll up their sleeves and help clean up the grounds surrounding its local post during a volunteer clean-up event Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Sponsored by Keep California Beautiful (KCB) and co-sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, the two-hour event aims to bring local volunteers together to improve the area surrounding the American Legion post while supporting the organization’s efforts to remain open and serve the community.
As part of the sponsorship, Tito’s Vodka has pledged a $1,500 donation to the post if 25 local community volunteers participate in the clean-up effort.
The American Legion is expecting approximately 10 to 12 of its members to participate, along with volunteers from the California Conservation Corps. South Tahoe Refuse is also supporting the effort by donating a 25-yard dumpster for collected debris.
Organizers are encouraging anyone in the community to participate. Tasks will include general grounds maintenance and debris removal, including plenty of pine cone pickup. No experience is necessary, and even an hour of helping can make a difference.
The post has faced recent fundraising challenges as it works to keep its doors open, making community participation and the potential donation especially meaningful.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, rakes, shovels and brooms.
The busy holiday season is fast approaching! And while that means great food, fun, and happy memories, for many dog parents it might also represent their dog losing their mind every time the doorbell rings!
It’s one of the most common, yet untrained, K9 behaviors. Dogs overreacting to a ringing doorbell or someone knocking! So why do dogs everywhere lose their minds over doorbells or knocking?
It’s a complex combination of an initial trigger, protective instincts, excitement, anxiety, fear, or stress, and most importantly, learned responses from barking and the door opening! And to your dog, it’s mission accomplished!
Dogs and Doorbell Drama
· Strongly reacting to a ringing doorbell comes from a dog’s instinctual need to protect their territory and people.
· Once the trigger happens, dogs join in to alert their owners that something is happening. Much like a pack of wolves communicating and alerting other members through barking or howling.
· The sudden and startling doorbell sound also overwhelms a dog’s hypersensitive ears. Depending on the dog’s temperament, this often triggers an emotional response (depending on the dog’s temperament), such as:
o Fight-or-flight.
o Increased excitement, anxiety or stress; and
o A protective response.
· It’s also important to remember that your dog’s reaction to the doorbell is a learned response reinforced over time! Repeated exposure reinforces the dog’s automatic behavior. If the owner is excited, stressed, or overreacts, the dog learns even faster to overreact to the doorbell or knock.
Calming the Doorbell Drama!
The good news is that your dog can learn to stay calm! They can learn to associate positive experiences with the doorbell or knocking, rather than excitement or anxiety, through desensitization, counter-conditioning, and positive reinforcement, along with an owner’s calm behavior. Learn how to teach your dog to stay calm when the doorbell rings with the infographic below!
The hot news is, the Mediterranean diet is once again the latest buzz. A new study reveals 25 years of data is linked to a longer life! A blood-based marker of the Mediterranean diet may be the key to better health and more years to enjoy living…
That means the superfoods I’ve been writing about for years–olive oil, vegetables, legumes, fruit and fish–all key parts of the healthy Mediterranean diet and my Healing Powers series based on the top diet is super after all.
Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in November 2026, the study shows that people with higher scores on a Medi diet live longer. But note, the people who did better followed a Mediterranean diet were less likely to smoke or have type 2 diabetes. But there’s more!
Why the Mediterranean Diet Is Right for Tahoe The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest ways to eat because it combines plant-based foods, healthy fats, and a whole-food lifestyle that helps lower inflammation, is heart healthy, and cuts chronic disease risk like obesity.
Forget counting calories, since this diet provides a flexible eating style shared in European countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain. That means you can savor our store and restaurant vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains as daily staples.
Extra virgin olive oil as the main fat source (rich in monounsaturated fats. Think fish and seafood several times a week for omega-3 fatty acids, nuts and seeds in moderate amounts, moderate dairy (yogurt or cheese) and limited red meat. In a nutshell, eating fresh, seasonal, local ingredients are in and processed, sugary junk food is out!
It Works for Alpine Holistic Health Scientists believe this superfood diet can help lower chronic inflammation by reducing C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (you can get your number in a blood test), which are tied to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Lake Tahoe’s residents already enjoy fresh produce, seafood, and outdoor activity, which align well with the Mediterranean diet. Actually, I fell into this way of eating back in 2000 at Tahoe when I was completing The Healing Powers of Vinegar book, the first one of nine books in the collection. And the wholesome Mediterranean diet is a central theme in the series.
The diet’s flexibility for all ages means it can be adapted to local foods without strict restrictions. No crash diets here. Tahoe folks can adopt the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle by focusing on local, fresh, plant-rich meals, and regular activity— which boost long-term vitality.
Cal Orey, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from SFSU. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series and the new, revised 2nd ed. of The Healing Powers of Honey (Kensington Publishing, Penguin Random House) is here! Her website is http://www.calorey.com
TRUCKEE, Calif. — The California Public Utilities Commission has faced intense backlash over a staff proposal that could affect rural solar customers served by smaller investor-owned utilities, including Pacific Power, Bear Valley Electric Service and Liberty Utilities, which serves customers in the Truckee/Lake Tahoe area.
According to public CPUC documents, the proposal aims to reform how these utilities compensate customers for electricity exported to the grid, with the goal of making their programs more cost-effective and better aligned with California’s energy needs.
However, the proposal has drawn opposition from solar advocacy groups, including the Solar Rights Alliance, which argues that the changes would undermine existing agreements and set a troubling precedent for solar customers across California.
A change to existing agreements
California’s investor-owned utilities are required to enter into interconnection agreements with solar customers. These agreements establish the terms of net metering, which allows homeowners to receive credits for excess electricity their systems send to the grid.
Under existing rules, solar customers are guaranteed 20 years of net metering terms. The Solar Rights Alliance argues that the California Public Utilities Commission’s proposal would break that guarantee for customers of Liberty Utilities, Pacific Power and Bear Valley Electric Service. If approved, the proposal would shorten the grandfathering period for existing solar customers from 20 years to 15 years, potentially reducing the credits they receive for excess electricity exported to the grid.
The alliance warns that the change could cost affected homeowners tens of thousands of dollars in expected savings over the life of their systems.
Although the proposal currently applies only to customers of the three smaller utilities, the alliance argues that the same rules govern solar agreements across California, including those with Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric.
The alliance contends that weakening protections for rural customers could make it easier for regulators to revisit existing agreements with customers of the larger utilities in the future.
Rural customers at the center of the debate
The Solar Rights Alliance also argues that the proposal unfairly targets rural customers who invested in solar energy to reduce their electricity bills.
“Six times over the last decade, the State of California has told Californians that if they sign up for the state’s rooftop solar program, they can stay on the program for twenty years. Millions of consumers responded by making significant financial investments in solar panels, believing that the state would keep its word,” said Dave Rosenfeld, executive director of the Solar Rights Alliance. “It boggles the mind that the CPUC is now not only discussing breaking those contracts, but doing it just for people who live in rural communities. This is a targeted attack on rural residents by unelected San Francisco-based government bureaucrats.”
The debate follows previous efforts to change existing solar agreements statewide. Assembly Bill 942, introduced in 2025, sought to modify the terms of legacy solar contracts but was ultimately defeated and rewritten.
The group has also questioned why the CPUC is pursuing the change, noting that the three smaller utilities have not requested it.
“We call on elected officials from these affected communities to stand up for local consumers and demand that the state honor its commitments,” Rosenfeld said.
The Sierra Sun reached out to the CPUC for comment but received public documents outlining the proposal instead.
For Tahoe-area homeowners with rooftop solar, the outcome could determine whether the financial terms they relied on when installing their systems remain in place for the full 20-year period.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Six athletes in the Truckee/Tahoe and surrounding areas are preparing to take a ride on iconic mountain peaks in the upcoming six-stop 2027 Freeride World Tour.
Ross Tester. Placing third overall last tour, the Team Palisades Tahoe alum skier is entering the tour’s deepest field, competing against 23 other skiers in the men’s division. The 2017 North Tahoe High School grad was named Freeride World Tour Rookie of the Year in 2021. In this tour, he faces four former tour champions, including the reigning FWT Champion and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion, Ben Richards (NZL), Marcus Goguen (CAN, 2025), Max Hitzig (GER, 2024), and Maxime Chabloz (SUI, 2022).
Kai Morgan. The 21-year-old Palisades Tahoe skier won the 2026 Palisades Tahoe IFSA Qualifier. It was one of many podiums in the FWT Qualifier and Challenger series, earning his debut in the Freeride World Tour. The rookie enters the deep field of the ski men’s division alongside Tester.
Tyler Curle. Another regional men’s skier, Curle also joins Morgan as a rookie on the Freeride World Tour. The 28-year-old works at Moment Skis in Reno and rose through the Qualifier and Challenger divisions this year, earning his World Tour debut this upcoming season. His 2nd-place run at the 2026 Kicking Horse IFSA Challenger Stop solidified his spot in the pro tour. Curle grew up riding at Mt. Rose and considers it his home mountain. He also competed on the Palisades Tahoe freeride team.
Delila Quinn. A former Junior World Championships runner-up and Freeride World Tour skier in 2023, Quinn returns to the pro tour after setbacks and hard-fought persistence, working her way through the Challenger series. The Tahoe-born and raised skier also joined the Palisades Tahoe Freeride Team at an early age. The 23-year-old placed 1st at the 2026 Kirkwood IFSA Challenger Stop for her return to the pro tour. She will face reigning FWT Champion Lou Barin (FRA), two-time FWT Champion Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN, 2023 and 2025), and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion Zuzanna Witych (POL) in the women’s ski division.
Shayne Blue Sandblom. The Tahoe-based snowboarder returns to the pro tour after entering the finals in his rookie year last season. Sandblom also took second place at the Val Thorens Pro while still healing from a sprained MCL. The Incline Village resident revolves between Sugar Bowl, Palisades Tahoe and Diamond Peak. The 24-year-old rose to the pro tour after a dominant year in the Challenger series in 2025, where he took first place at both Kirkwood, California and Arapahoe Basin, Colorado.
Mia Jones. The 21-year-old North Tahoe snowboarder returns to the pro circuit as the reigning FWT Champion in the women’s snowboard category, also achieving Rookie of the Year and FIS Freeride World Champion in her inaugural year. She also won three events in one of the most dominant rookie seasons in tour history. In this year’s field, she’ll compete alongside three former champions Noémie Equy (FRA, 2025), Katie Anderson (CAN, 2023), and Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA, 2022).
Mia Jones holding her FWT Champion trophy. Provided / Bernat Andreu, Freeride World Tour
The regional athletes make up a significant portion of the 13 U.S. athletes on the upcoming tour’s roster in a total field of 53. Reigning champions are returning in all four categories, with a new generation of rookies joining this season.
The Tahoe region athletes were cut on the area’s renowned freeride terrain, evidenced by the multiple Freeride World Tour stops here, including at Kirkwood in 2011, 2013, and 2014 and Palisades Tahoe in 2009 and 2010.
Jones and Sandblom are featured in a five-part YouTube docu-series called Freeride: No Second Run. The series offers a behind-the-scenes look at top-level free-ride competition with personal stories and candid post-competition interviews. The first two episodes stream Nov. 8.
2027 tour destinations and dates have been released, beginning in January and running through March. Snowbird in Utah has been added as one of two finals. The competition is formatted so that all athletes compete in the first four stops, with their top three results counting toward finals qualification. The top 60% will advance to the finals, which are the last two stops at Snowbird and Verbier.
This #GivingTuesday Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation invites our community to support the Patient and Family Support Services at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.
Cancer care is much more than just medical treatment. From counseling and acupuncture to massage, exercise programs, transportation and lodging assistance, the Patient and Family Support Services provide compassionate resources throughout their cancer journey. These services are offered free of charge to Cancer Center patients and families, thanks entirely to community philanthropy.
Since the Cancer Center’s early days, the vision for supportive care has been central to its mission. The Cancer Advisory Council and dedicated community members helped establish a model of care that recognizes the needs of both patients and caregivers, setting our rural cancer care apart through a commitment to supporting the whole person.
Today, Pam Hobday and Rick Green invite you to help carry forward the legacy of compassionate cancer care. Thanks to their generosity, your gift can go twice as far! Pam, the original Chair of the Cancer Advisory Council, has contributed a $25,000 matching gift, joined by another $25,000 matching gift from longtime Cancer Center supporter Rick Green. Together, their gifts provide a combined $50,000 matching opportunity for Patient and Family Support Services.
“District Board Member, Randy Hill understood that caring for someone with cancer means caring for the entire family, including the caregivers who walk alongside them,” Rick Green, longtime Cancer Center supporter. “That commitment helped shape the compassionate approach to care at Tahoe Forest. I’m proud to continue supporting the Patient and Family Support Services and help ensure patients and their loved ones continue to receive the support they need throughout their journey, like my family received during treatment.”
“As the original Chair of the Cancer Advisory Council, I’m proud of the vision and community generosity that helped build the Cancer Center and its commitment to supporting patients and caregivers,” said Pam Hobday, the original chair of the Cancer Advisory Council. “Our Patient and Family Support Services differentiate our Cancer Center. These services have long been central to what makes cancer care at Tahoe Forest special, especially in a rural community. I’m honored to help carry this legacy forward so patients and families can continue receiving this compassionate care at no cost.”
Join Pam and Rick this Giving Tuesday to help meet the match and support the patients and families who benefit from these vital programs.
Make your gift to Patient and Family Support Services today!
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters dropped a hard-fought battle against the Kansas City Mavericks by a final score of 2-1.
In the first period, after failing to score last night, Tahoe found the back of the net first as captain Jake McGrew scored his fourth goal of the season to give Tahoe a 1-0 lead. With the goal, McGrew has now recorded a point in seven of the last eight games for the Knight Monsters.
Later in the first period, Kansas City forward Owen Lindmark would score his first goal of the year off an awkward puck bounce to tie the game at 1 heading into the locker room.
In the second period, Andrei Loshko put the Mavericks in front with his third goal of the year. With great goaltending from Tahoe’s Alex Tracy and Kansas City’s Logan Terness, the score remained 2-1 going into the final period.
Although Tahoe had offensive zone time late in the game with an empty net and an extra attacker on the ice, they couldn’t push one past Terness, and the Mavericks took home a 2-1 victory and claimed the regular-season series from Tahoe.
The Knight Monsters will continue their road trip as they head to Rapid City to take on the Rush. The series starts on Wednesday, November 11, with puck drop at 6:05 pm PT.
The Knight Monsters return to Tahoe Blue Event Center on Thursday, November 19, as they take on the New Mexico Goatheads for School Day presented by Richard Harris Law Firm. Puck drop is set for 10:30 am PT. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
(The Center Square) – Xavier Becerra was elected governor of California Tuesday.
With 75.8% of precincts partially reporting, Becerra has 4,446,976 votes or 64.6%, compared to Republican Steve Hilton’s 2,440,639 votes or 35.4%.
The numbers came at 11:30 p.m. Pacific time from the Secretary of State’s Office, which showed Democrats also won other executive branch races, including attorney general.
Becerra claimed victory, putting out messages on social media saying “Xavier Becerra Elected Governor of California.” Another messagesays “Gracias, California.”
Speaking to supporters Tuesday evening, Becerra, who is succeeding termed-out Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, said the last two years of the Trump administration have been difficult.
“Higher prices, more wars, corruption and lawlessness, but we hung in there and fought back,” said Becerra. “It felt like ‘Mission Impossible.’ We knew it was Mission Necessary. And tonight, sisters and brothers, because of your tireless work, we can proudly utter the inspiring battle cry of our beloved and departed sister and warrior, Dolores Huerta: ‘¡Sí se puede!’ Yes, we can.”
Becerra is a former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, California attorney general and U.S. House member.
On the campaign trail and in debates, Becerra pointed to President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Hilton as bad for California, adding that Hilton would do the president’s bidding on issues such as taxes and immigration.
Hilton said years of Democratic rule in Sacramento have made life difficult for people in the Golden State. Hilton also accused Becerra of “hiding” from voters.
In a speech to his supporters, Hilton thanked people for their votes.
“It looks like we didn’t win this time,” said Hilton. “People in this state are crying out for change, and it is our responsibility to fight like never before to bring that change for people who really need us now more than ever, so change may be delayed, but change is coming.”
Attorney general
In the race for California attorney general, Rob Bonta defeated Michael Gates.
With 44.5% of precincts partially reporting, Bonta has 4,375,479 votes or 64.3% compared to 2,427,162 or 35.7% for Gates. Again, that was at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday with 75.8% of precincts partially reporting.
Bonta, the Democratic incumbent, has campaigned on being a law-and-order attorney general, pointing to many fraud busts since he was elected in November 2022. He has also sued the Trump administration 100 times since President Trump re-entered office in January 2025. Bonta has portrayed himself as being a consumer-friendly attorney general, with lawsuits against big companies including Paramount Skydance for its plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount settled out of court, something Bonta and other attorneys general involved say they helped get for the people of their states.
Bonta’s campaign did not respond to The Center Square’s requests for interviews or comments.
A lifelong resident of California, Gates is a former deputy U.S. attorney. He is also a former city attorney for Huntington Beach. While there, Gates said he was tough on crime.
“I’ve made Huntington Beach one of the top 10 safest cities in the entire state of California out of nearly 500 cities,” Gates told The Center Square in May 2026. “We’re in the top 1% of safest cities in the state of California because of my tough-on-crime stance and my prosecution efforts here in the city, basically not putting up with anything and enforcing the law to the fullest extent.”
Other executive branch races
Down the ballot, Democrat Eleni Kounalakis was leading Republican Jennifer Hawks for state treasurer.
With 48.9% of precincts partially reporting, Kounalakis, the current lieutenant governor, had 3,724,917 or 64.6% of the vote compared to 2,040,807 or 35.4% for Hawks.
Kounalakis has a background in housing and finance. Hawks is a retired business executive.
In the race for controller, Democrat Malia Cohen has 3,713,242 or 64.4% of the vote compared to 2,054,399 or 35.6% for Republican Herb Morgan.
This is with 48.9% of precincts partially reporting.
For secretary of state, Democratic incumbent Shirley Weber was ahead with 3,779,730 or 65.3% of the vote while Republican Donald Wagner has 34.7%. This is with 48.9% of precincts partially reporting.
Lastly, the race for insurance commissioner featured an all-Democratic, neck-to-neck matchup between candidates Ben Allen and Jane Kim. With 48.9% of precincts partially reporting, Kim has 2,575,323 or 51.5% of the vote. Ben Allen has 2,428,296 or 48.5%.
The Latest Renovations and Venues at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore
From fresh dishes to new accommodations, from extra activities to advanced meeting spaces, South Lake Tahoe is constantly innovating. The only elements we strive to leave unchanged are the natural ones. In fact, you can marvel at the stunning peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the strikingly blue waters of our eponymous lake right from your room, game, meeting, table, trail, or entertainment venue. That’s because everything you need is within walking distance on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Add 365 days of outdoor recreation and 24/7 entertainment to the mix, and you have an equation that can’t miss.
Activities
Go ahead; play like it’s your job. Our fresh mountain air can stir up inspiration like nothing else. And you can easily incorporate this new batch of activities into any event itinerary, or try our ever-popular horseback rides, guided nature walks, hot air balloon excursions, and lakeside yoga sessions.
Get a front row seat to colorful granite stones and pristine waters beneath your kayak while taking in picturesque mountains that frame the shoreline all around you. The Summit Shores tour from Clearly Tahoe is a 1.5 to 2-hour guided paddle that’s designed for all skill levels. Expert local guides provide a smooth journey and share about the geology that formed the Tahoe Basin as well as the local flora and fauna.
Heavenly Mountain Resort aims to keep you connected. In addition to offering skiing and snowboarding lessons, restaurant options, lodging properties, and event space, this local resort now provides a bike haul program. Mountain bikers and Class 1 e-bike riders can upload their bikes to the mid-station for access to our community network of trail systems. So your group can keep calm and roll on.
The latest offering from Lagree South Lake, this low-impact yet high-intensity strength workout is intense on muscles but gentle on bones and joints. With plenty of group options, these trained teachers redefine team-building exercises.
Accommodations
If you like options, upgrades, and renovations, you’ve come to the right place. South Shore hotels, resorts, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and campsites are updating their amenities left and right.
With its cozy fires and bubbling hot tubs, The Iceberg Tahoe is anything but cold. Fully renovated in 2025, this hotel is the ideal combination of a remote, tucked-away feel with close proximity to shops, trails, restaurants, and ski slopes.
Sure, your group could cluster inside a conference room, but wouldn’t you rather be sipping cocktails poolside in a cabana? Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe now features The High Dive Pool + Lounge, a venue that claims to be Lake Tahoe’s second greatest body of water. It looks promising, but we’ll let you be the judge.
With in-room gas fireplaces, private terraces or balconies, and separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs, Edgewood Resort just completed a comprehensive redesign of its lodge rooms and suites. Edgewood also added a 5,600-square-foot lakefront ballroom that can host up to 250 guests for receptions and corporate events, a 2,100-square-foot heated deck for outdoor ceremonies and gatherings, and a lakefront private dining space for up to 40 guests.
After a $45 million comprehensive renovation, Gurney’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Spa plans to open its doors in 2027. The 7.6-acre lakefront resort also includes a cafe, pizzeria, restaurant, and dessert shop alongside a health and wellness spa, meeting spaces, and private beach access.
Restaurants & Bars
The following establishments have just joined our lineup of delectable South Shore provisions. Hot tip: JWB Prime Steak and Seafood released an updated menu. Even hotter tip: We developed a group dining guide for planners so you can spend less time organizing and more time tasting.
Japanese A5 Wagyu. Bread with Black Truffle Butter. White Cheddar Lobster Mac & Cheese. Those are just some of the dishes you can order at the latest restaurant within Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe. Might as well pair it with one of their award-winning wines. Cheers.
This is not your grandmother’s afternoon tea. Edgewood Tahoe recently launched a modern tea experience with thoughtfully curated sips and small plates. Hosted inside the resort’s fine dining restaurant, your tea and cakes come with sweeping panoramic views. Who knows, you might just brew up your next big idea.
Building on the momentum of the resort’s rebrand and summer 2025 debut, Caesars Entertainment has launched pool enhancements, meeting and convention spaces, and a bar and lounge area with live music seven nights a week—right at the center of the casino floor.
Find your untapped potential at the newest taproom and cafe. Select from indoor and outdoor spaces with firepits, a stage—even a whimsical garden tucked beneath the pines where winding brick pathways, soft market lighting, and atmospheric landscaping create a charming, almost secret-garden feel. Paddle House specializes in private events, and the food is just as good as the brews. Their blueberry mascarpone cake is a local delicacy.
Try chef-led culinary experiences that pair tastings at handpicked local restaurants with the history, hidden stories, and neighborhoods that make the South Shore unique. From progressive dinners to private sightseeing and food tours, it’s a memorable way to bring a team or client group together over great food and a deeper taste of Tahoe’s local character.
Transcend Your Agenda
All of these exciting transformations happening in South Lake Tahoe combined with our existing offerings means that the only thing missing is you. Browse venues for events, meetings, and conventions of all sizes, or book your group accommodations to secure the choicest spot for your crew. Your guests will feel so invigorated, they might just push back their return flight (which is a great time to mention that we’re only a short drive away from Reno-Tahoe International Airport). Ready to make a move? We’d love to see your RFP.
Sure, we’re a little biased, but there’s never a bad time to visit Lake Tahoe. Pick a season, any season. Celebrate summer in the Sierra with a hike to Emerald Bay State Park or make a splash at Pope Beach. Discover why Tahoe winters are legendary for skiing and holiday fun at the Heavenly Village and Ski Resort. If you want to avoid the high season crowds, visit Lake Tahoe in the spring to hit the slopes in sunglasses and a t-shirt, or come in the fall when the mountains are painted in autumn colors and hiking is at its best. Regardless of when you visit, there’s plenty of Lake Tahoe things to do.
TL;DR: South Lake Tahoe has been named Expedia’s #1 Trending Destination for 2027, following a 195% surge in travel searches. Discover why this year-round mountain destination is capturing travelers’ attention worldwide.
The secret is out! South Lake Tahoe is capturing the attention of travelers worldwide, and Expedia’s latest travel trends report confirms it.
According to Expedia’s Unpack ’27 travel trends report, South Lake Tahoe saw a remarkable 195% year-over-year increase in travel searches, earning the top spot among trending destinations worldwide.
And it’s easy to see why. From sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches to breathtaking alpine scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers something unforgettable in every season. Visitors can hit the slopes at world-class ski resorts, explore scenic hiking and biking trails, cruise across the lake, or simply relax and take in the mountain views. Add exciting entertainment, delicious dining, and a wide variety of places to stay, and you’ve got a destination worth discovering again and again.
Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, a romantic mountain escape, or a memorable family vacation, South Lake Tahoe delivers an experience unlike anywhere else.
Who doesn’t love that cozy autumn feeling of walking to your mailbox, or a drop box, or an in-person voting center to cast your vote for local, state, and national leadership?
2026 is a midterm year, meaning no voting for the U.S. president and vice president. With that spotlight off, local races receive more, much-deserved attention. Ideal, since that’s where voters have the most power to effect change. But without presidential candidates on the ballot, there tends to be considerably less participation. In 2022’s midterm election, 36% of California’s voting age population cast a ballot compared to 53% in 2024’s general. In Nevada for those same years, 41% bumped up to 58%.
The irony isn’t difficult to spot: Rules and codes over local development, utility rates, transportation options — these and hundreds more decisions happen in your neck of the woods and are made by the people you vote into office. But it doesn’t have the same drama or them-versus-us vibe, so it might not feel as critical to participate.
We hope reviewing the answers provided by candidates in the following pages adds a reason to your pros and cons list about voting on or before Nov. 3. There are very real issues at hand and critical decisions being made, and who you vote for could turn the tide one way or the other.
For our election coverage in our October edition, we took a methodical approach to the jurisdictions and special districts featured: Those we questioned in person as part of the Truckee Candidate Forum on Oct. 8 — Truckee Town Council, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, and Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District — were not included in print. (You can re-watch those forums, which took place Oct. 6 and 8, at ttm.ompnetwork.org.
A North Shore Election Forum took place Oct. 6, where state candidates participated in a Q&A. Find the recording at firsttuesdaybreakfastclub.com.
Incline Village Crystal Bay Business Association is hosting an IV-CB Community Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Duffield Theater at Incline High School. It will be broadcast live and available afterward at youtube.com/@iv-cbcommunityforum9730.
We also touch on Measure P, which goes before all voters within the TTUSD boundaries.
You’ll find three district-specific questions asked of the candidates, who were allowed no more than 125 words in response per answer. Please sit with their answers and mull over who you believe would best fill an empty seat on a board, then responsibly fill out your ballot and cast your vote by Nov. 3. A healthy democracy depends on participation.
For uncontested races and other information, view our 2026 Election Tracker at tinyurl.com/5f4w5j4c.
Residents must register to vote by Oct. 19. Same-day voter registration is possible, but must be done at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations.
Residents must have registered to vote in person or by mail by Oct. 6. Same-day voter registration is possible and must be done in person at a polling location. Visit tinyurl.com/mrfcsc7p for a list of early voting locations.
Two years ago, the Incline Village General Improvement District was in a precarious spot. Fraud allegations, financial issues, failed recalls, and a general manager spot that couldn’t seem to be kept filled — interim GM Bobby Magee, who resigned after three months, followed by Kent Walrack, who lasted a similar length of time before being terminated by a new board. That same month, January 2025, the still-current GM, Bob Harrison, was put in place.
Earlier this summer, Trustee Mick Homan wrote a piece for Moonshine saying that at long last, things are looking up. “With key hires in HR and finance to supplement the existing team, focus shifted to three priorities,” he wrote. “Improving organizational health, restoring financial discipline, and advancing long-term capital planning.”
The shape of that progress looks different to different people. There are three candidates running for two seats on the IVGID Board of Trustees, with only one incumbent running for reelection: David Noble. That means there’ll be at least one newcomer, either Harry Swenson, who ran in 2024, or Ryan “RB” Brooks. The candidates touch on cost discipline, transportation, and utility management.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Public transportation has been identified as a critical option to reduce traffic, lower pollution, expand mobility, and more. December 2025’s cancellation of TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) Connect’s microtransit services and the Aug. 1, 2026, discontinuance of IVGID’s Senior Transportation Program have created a gap in public transportation needs across Incline Village/Crystal Bay. What do you see as the most critical way(s) IVGID can support or encourage expanded public transportation options?
Brooks: The end of these programs left us without on-demand transit for the residents who depend on it most: seniors, workers, and people without a car. As I see it, IVGID’s most critical role is to restore service quickly and on solid legal footing. IVGID’s counsel has advised that [Nevada Revised Statute] 318 doesn’t allow the district to operate transportation directly. Rather, we should let a local 501(c)(3) run the service and receive state and federal funding directly, including [Nevada Department of Transportation’s] [Federal Transit Administration] Section 5310 and Older Americans Act funds and Washoe County senior service contracts. IVGID’s role would be to convene partners and help prepare grant applications. Any direct financial support would be reviewed by legal counsel first, so we don’t trade one lawsuit risk for another.
Editor’s note: Words in brackets were added by editors and do not count against word count.
Noble: IVGID representatives have been in discussions with county representatives since April to strongly encourage restarting/funding TART, which would assist all residents, including seniors. Those discussions have included the use of at least some of the taxes generated from STRs in unincorporated Washoe County (over 90% of those revenues come from STRs in Incline Village and Crystal Bay), which currently go to the county, Travel North Tahoe Nevada (formerly the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau), and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Unfortunately, IVGID is prohibited from providing public transportation service, unless it is tied to at least one of IVGID’s recreation venues.
Swenson: I would work with the board and amend the long-standing contract with Washoe County to ensure senior transportation services are fully funded by the county and are consistent with services offered in other towns/districts of the county. For instance, the county provides discounted Lyft rides and taxi services for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. We need to ensure our community is aware of the services available.
IVGID has the responsibility of providing transportation according to the contract with Washoe County; therefore, the elimination of services was wrong. The problem appears to be budgetary and due to the services provided by IVGID going beyond what the county provides in other communities. Services should have been reviewed and refined rather than eliminated.
2. IVGID provides essential utilities while also operating an extensive recreation system. How would you determine which responsibilities should take priority when the district faces competing financial, infrastructure, and community needs?
Swenson: Maintaining and updating our water and sewer infrastructure is critical. Much of it is still original and in state of disrepair. We’ve had too many water main and line breaks. We need to budget and execute on a plan to get it upgraded and properly maintained. At the same time, we need to make the maintenance of our existing facilities, such as the recreation center, a priority. We should budget for these things first and then determine what additional projects can be accomplished. Only projects that can be delivered should be contained in the budget that results in your beach and recreation fees. This would resolve the over-collection of fees from our community while keeping our facilities in good repair.
Brooks: Tier 1 – Public health, safety, and legal obligations. Water, sewer, and effluent systems come first because they protect residents and the lake, and regulations aren’t optional.
Tier 2 – Taking care of what we already have. Before paying for anything new, IVGID should fully fund the repair and replacement of its existing pipes, pumps, facilities, and equipment.
Tier 3 – Core recreation at the heart of our community. Each IVGID facility should be evaluated on cost, usage, and how close it comes to covering its expenses. But keep a holistic approach.
Tier 4 – Wants. New amenities, expansions, and nice-to-haves come last.
Three rules would guide me in how I apply this:
Keep the money where it belongs.
Plan on a five- to 10-year horizon.
Show our work.
Noble: Water and sewer services take priority over all recreation venues because those services are essential to daily life. IVGID recently completed the effluent export pipeline project under Highway 28 — a $62 million-plus project finished a year ahead of schedule and $13 million-plus under budget. Looking forward, I believe reinvestment in IVGID’s water service and ski area should be priority. Wildfire preparedness measures (pipe replacement, backup generators, etc.) need to be accelerated for our water delivery system to be better prepared for future wildfire events. Diamond Peak is the only venue that generates a profit for the community ($1 to $5 million/year), yet no meaningful investments have been made in nearly 20 years — lodge, lift, and snowmaking upgrades are long overdue to address declining skier visits.
3. The past few years have seen ups and downs in the facility fee amounts district property owners pay annually. For example, in the fiscal year ending 2023, residents paid $780. In 2024, that amount dropped to $455. In 2026, due to impacted district finances, the annual fee went up to $1,375. The current IVGID board said the latest increase will help ensure district financial stability and the ability to manage current and future capital facilities. Do you think the board and staff have handled the financial instability well? How would you seek to maintain or improve district financial management moving forward?
Noble: The facility fee was kept flat from 2010 to 2023, while construction, labor, and food prices rose considerably over that period. The fee went up to $1,375 to begin addressing years of deferred maintenance and capital projects that languished due to analysis paralysis. I led the effort in early 2025 to hire IVGID’s new GM, who has rebuilt the finance department. We now have the right personnel in place for IVGID to comply with all applicable fiscal and accounting protocols, resulting in a clean (no exceptions or disclaimers) [Fiscal Year] 2025 audit. IVGID will be removed from the state’s fiscal watch list once the anticipated clean audit for FY 2026 is filed in November, which will enable IVGID to access additional financing tools for future projects.
Swenson: IVGID is collecting money for projects without the ability to complete in the budgeted year for many years; it’s resulted in excessive cash reserves. The excessive cash build-ups have also allowed your money to be used where it wasn’t intended or budgeted. The lower-fee years were during a time when the board linked the fees to the ability to deliver projects and services; they didn’t over-collect but collected for what was achievable. Last year’s capital improvement plan was for $30 million of projects and barely executed on $6 million. Now, with the tripling of fees, they’ve collected another $40 million out of your pockets. The board needs to budget and collect only for projects and services it can deliver, nothing more. Apply proper fiscal management!
Brooks: The current board and staff faced the problem honestly. They built a long-term capital plan, ranked the most critical projects, and stabilized the general fund. The effluent pipeline replacement finished a year early and under budget. That’s real progress.
Going forward, I would:
Instead of raising fees, pursue cost savings and revenue generating opportunities. For example, we have a $400,000 line item for the replacement of golf carts. Let’s solicit sponsors like Titleist or Nike to brand and sponsor the golf carts.
Index the fee to construction costs every year with a published formula.
Autumn Color Reflected in the Twilight
Caples Lake, Calif.
Fall is here, and for photographers, it’s the most exciting time of the year. Grab your gear and head to the mountains. Great images may seem easy, but capturing world-class ones is not as simple as it appears. I have five key elements that I look for in a single image:
1. Color: The sky and landscape should be bursting with color. Brilliant blue skies, glowing sunsets, and vibrant fall foliage make images pop.
2. Water: I prefer a one to three-second exposure to soften the water into a creamy flow of motion. Reflections double the foliage and sky color, creating beautiful, mirrored compositions.
3. Strong Compositions: Find a solid center point, such as an is
olated tree or a splash of color. Your eye should wander around without being led out of the frame. S-curves and diagonals make images more dynamic.
4. Old Things: Ghost towns, dilapidated buildings or barns, and remnants of bygone eras are not only enjoyable to discover, but they are often weathered, rusted, or in disrepair, captivating viewers.
5. Weather: Clouds, snow, and rain can all enhance an image. Cloudy days reduce the contrast of shadows. The first snowfall of the year is a must-see, and a gentle rain to wash away dust is always welcome.
I haven’t yet captured a photo that incorporates all five elements, but I’ll keep trying!
