Tahoe TAP

Tahoe Talk - 8/24/20

Local News:
- Details of red flag warning for the Tahoe Basin
- High speed chase ending on Kingsbury Grade
- Northstar California (Vail) lawsuit settled
- Local woman swims lake’s distance
- Washoe Co. to hear from Incline Village about STRs this week

Quick Hits:
- 2nd & 3rd largest wildfires in CA state history burning approx. 1M acres total so far
- North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has fallen into a coma, a former South Korean official is claiming on the heels of reports that the northern leader has ceded over some of his power to his younger sister.
- Greenland lost a record amount of ice during 2019; the melt is massive enough to cover California in more than 4 feet of water, a new study said.
- Get excited, Mariah Carey fans – new music is on the way.
- Mei Xiang, a 22-year-old giant panda at the Smithsonian zoo in Washington, D.C., is the oldest panda to give birth in the United States, officials said.

Deeper Dives:
- After falling two weeks in a row, the number of laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week; American employers are still cutting record numbers of jobs. According to the jobs site Indeed.com, listings are down by about 20% compared to this time last year. Data released today says the IRS expects there to be almost 40 million fewer employee-classified jobs in 2021 — a condition that might persist to at least 2027 — based on W-2 forms.
- A coronavirus loophole:  Capital Christian High School opens, saying it’s day care. Capital Christian in Sacramento County is offering on-campus study areas for students grades 6-12 to learn online in spatially distant “pod” groups as a way to slow the spread of coronavirus
- Political contributions toward the presidential race so far are closing in on $3 billion. The Republican National Committee reports that it raised $55 million in the month of July. That is a new record, which kind of seems to be the case almost every time we talk about campaign fundraising during this election cycle

Fact Check:
-  Michelle Obama: “In one of the states that determined the outcome” of the 2016 presidential race, “the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precinct, two votes.” -TRUE!

National Day:
-  Wed. 8/26 National Dog Day

Tahoe Talk - 8/17/20

Quick Hits:
- Death Valley records highest temperature reading in over a century on Sunday… 130 degrees!
- Burning Man goes digital this year
- NBA playoffs start today
- New Zealand delays general elections due to another C19 outbreak
- California: “Take a Friend Fishing Month” and Sat. Sept. 5th is Free Fishing Day
- Stephenie Meyer says more books are coming in the "Twilight" saga
- AMC will throwback pricing for a day at more than 100 cinemas on Aug. 20 — about a sixth of its locations nationwide… 15 cents per movie!
- Amazon will spend $10B on a constellation of internet-beaming satellites — it just got the federal 'OK' to launch.
- Airbnb's quarterly sales plunged 67% but showed signs of recovery — bookings were down just 30% in June compared to 70% in May.

Local Links:
- Loyalton fire update
- Echo bridge construction road closure coming up
- Invasive species turned into dog treats?
- Road Rage leads to stabbing in SLT
- City Council candidate summary for Truckee and SLT
- Heat wave throughout the region

Deeper Dives:
- The U.S. on Wednesday last week reported the most COVID-19-related deaths in one day since May, but the nation's most populous state, California, showed signs of improvement Thursday
- Three consecutive months of increased spending at retailers and restaurants. Purchases notched up by 1.2% in the past month, having increased in June (by 7.5%) and in May (by nearly 18%). How?? We’re asking the same question. People have cut back on their visits to restaurants and bars. They’re spending less on clothing. But, yes, they’re still shopping. Sales at home and garden stores are up by almost 15% compared to last year, while sales at stores that sell musical instruments, books and sporting goods are up almost 18%. Online shopping, overall, is up a whopping 25%.
- According to a study from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, Rising seas are likely to swallow as much as $10 billion of California property in the next 30 years and could erase up to two-thirds of Southern California’s shoreline by 2100
- Chinese company Xiaomi recently revealed a transparent TV! 55” for $7,200 which, when turned off, looks like a piece of glass. Check out photos online… (only available in China right now)

Fact Check:
- “Kamala Harris refused to be sworn in with the Bible” - False

Natl Day:
- Wed. 8/19 = National Bacon Lovers Day

Tahoe Talk - 8/10/20

Quick Hits:
- Trump signs four executive orders over the weekend
- A magnitude 5.1 earthquake along North Carolina's border with Virginia on Sunday - strongest to rock the region since a magnitude 5.2 quake in 1916
- 12,000+ crew members are still on cruise ships in US waters months after shutdowns
 - Mulan premieres on Disney+  Sept. 4th for $30 (in addition to $6.99 monthly subscription)
- Global spending on cloud services hit a record $35B in the 2nd quarter, surging 30% as companies shifted biz apps online for WFH.
- Samsung unveils its 5G Galaxy Note 20 phone at a lowered price tag of $1K
- Perseids meteor shower is set to peek this week 

Deeper Dives:
- The U.S. surpassed 5m confirmed coronavirus cases Sunday — one-quarter of all cases reported worldwide . The staggering milestone comes just 17 days after reaching 4 million cases and as the U.S. reports more than 165k deaths. Brazil is now the second country with 3m cases and also the second country to report 100k deaths. All this as the world nears passes 20m cases, a number experts widely believe is underreported due to insufficient OR inaccurate testing.
- San Quentin State Prison is now home to the nation’s worst coronavirus outbreak after its case levels last week passed those at an Ohio prison (2,470 cases and 22 deaths as of last week since the May transfer of inmates from a Chino facility hard-hit by the virus)
- California corporate boards would no longer be allowed to have only white members if a bill currently under consideration in the Legislature passes. The bill, would require publicly held companies to have at least one person of color on their corporate boards by 2021 or face a $100,000 fine… this follows on the heels of a controversial 2018 law that mandated women in corporate boardrooms

Local News: 
- Minden protests conclude with no vandalism or injuries
- Campfires banned on all state and U.S. lands in Nevada
- City Council SLT and other filing deadlines 
- NLT town hall for small business on Thursday
- Bats test positive for rabbles in Douglas Co.

Fact Check: 
Trump: “Children are virtually immune from this disease.” False. 97,000 children test positive in the last two weeks of July

Final Note:
National Relaxation Day: Sat. Aug. 15th

Tahoe Talk - 8/3/20

Quick Hits:
- Third Hurricane in 2 weeks to threaten the US - Isaas hit Bahamas over the weekend and making landfall today
- Astronauts Bob and Doug safely splash down after two months aboard ISS
- Mystery seeds from China identified as cabbage, hibiscus, lavender, and mint
- Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. bout slated for Sept 12th
- Apple Fire in LA started by arsonist spreads to 20k acres, 5% contained (10 active wildfires in CA)
- London has a fix for its public transit woes: Use open-air tour buses
- Apple announces release of iPhone 12 will be Oct. 2nd

In Other News:
- You no longer have to wait 90 days after a film’s theatrical release to catch it on a streaming service. A new agreement between AMC and Universal shortened the window to 17 days
- World’s largest tech trade show, CES, will be all-digital in January 2021 - Will return to Vegas 2022!
- The mystery origin of the largest stones used to build Stonehenge has been solved once and for all
- Attention mustard lovers! Available beginning August 1st, mustard brand French's is releasing a beer concocted in collaboration with craft beer brewery Oskar Blues

 

Local News:
- 13-year old becomes youngest to complete Lake Tahoe’s ‘Godfather’ swim
- Tahoe East Shore Trail to temporarily close next week
- NDOT finishing project near Spooner Summit, travel delays expected on US 50
- Best of Tahoe & Truckee nominations are now open!

 

Celebrate:
- Fri. Aug. 7 = International Beer Day!

 

Fact Check:
- Viral social posts claims C19 has infected far fewer people than 2009 H1N1 Swine flu… Not True!

Tahoe Talk - 7/27/20

C19 Totals: 
16.4m cases, 653k deaths (US = 4.3m, 150k)

Quick Hits:
- CARES 2 Act decision expected in congress today for $1t stimulus package
- Fox Sports virtual fans create love and hate among baseball 
- Chick-fil-A offers free food voucher for coins amid shortage
- Hawaii braces for rare Hurricane Douglas, Hurricane Hanna devolved into a tropical depression
- Kim Jong Un finally admits COVID is in N. Korea
- Trump’s national security adviser test positive for COVID, the most senior White House official to be tested positive
- Vaccine testing starting this week for 30k volunteers… Moderna and Pfizer leading the pack

Global News:
-  US and Europe launching rover to Mars on Thurs. 7/30 at 4:50am PST from Cape Canaveral - 3rd launch to the red planet this month, Atlas 5… same rocket that took “Curiosity” to Mars
-  “Beyond the Bag” Initiative The world’s biggest retailers are trying to replace the plastic shopping bag.
Target Corp., Walmart Inc. and CVS Health Corp. unveiled a $15 million joint initiative on Tuesday to replace plastic bags with something else over the next three years. The companies, which each contributed $5 million, aim to create a global competition to find a way to change plastic bags or make them unneeded
- Serena Williams' 2-year-old daughter is now the youngest owner in pro sports
Of National Women's Soccer League’s new expansion team in Los Angeles, known as "Angel City."
- Japan’s nightclubs are open again and health officials are asking customers to obey proper “kiss etiquette,” which means no deep kisses, no sharing plates, and conversation should be at right angles to avoid droplet contamination
- Tues, 7/30 = Nat’l Hamburger Day, Wed 7/29 = Nat’l Chicken Wing Day

Local News: 
- Schools districts close to or already decided on plans for next school year
- Fall HS sports delayed until January and competitive sports reduced to 6 weeks total
- PGA Barracuda Championship kicks off this week at Old Greenway in Truckee
- Red Flag warning around the Tahoe Basin  

Tahoe Talk - 7/20/20

C19 Totals: 
14.6m cases, 609k deaths (US = 3.9m cases, 143k deaths)

 

Quick hits:
- Another bison encounter in Yellowstone
- Chaos in Portland continues… viral photo
- Tyra Banks announced as the new Dancing With The Stars host

Global News:
- Opening day for MLB on Thursday and Friday! Rule changes to watch for: Universal DH, three-batter minimum for pitchers, and extra innings start with a runner on second base
- 3 missions to Mars this month while Earth is closest to the red planet (Dubai’s launch attempt, twice postponed due to weather, successful yesterday! China’s launch is Thursday and US/Europe collaborative launch is Thurs. 7/30 with a rover designed to touch down Feb. 2021 and bring back samples in 2025
- New Zoom tablet with multiple cams and mics! $599 gets you 3 smart webcams, 8 noise reducing mics and is slated to ship in August

Local News: 
- New Tahoe Rim Trail “Unsupported” Record Time (41 hours 9 mins)
- Nevada Legislature special session comes to an end
- Renegade Rave on Spooner Summit gets dispersed
- Sample the Sierra goes virtual and America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride canceled for 2020
- Hog Fire Update: Mon @ 9am = 5,400 acres, 5% containmen sending smoke into Tahoe/Reno

Tahoe Talk: July, 2020 - #2

From around the globe to out your backdoor, here are the topics to keep you relevant and up-to-date!

 

GLOBAL:
- C19 Global Totals: 13m cases, 572k deaths (3.4m, 137k in the US)
... It took the U.S. a little more than three months to hit 1 million cases on April 28.
….. about half that time, 44 days, to get to 2 million on June 11.
……. merely 26 days to reach 3 million on July 8
(Trump retweeted a post accusing the CDC of lying about the coronavirus to prevent his reelection)
(With 15,300 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, Florida reported more new infections in a single day than any state since the pandemic began… perfect spot to have NBA and MLS bubbles and Disney World opened Saturday)
- CDC says congestion, runny nose, nausea and diarrhea are the four most recent COVID-19 symptoms
- Big 10 cancels non-conference games, SEC meeting today, ACC decision by end of July, Ivy League has canceled fall sports
- Fans return to baseball stadiums in Japan (5,000 people max, no loud noises/cheering, jumping up and down, etc.)
- Washington’s NFL team drops “Redskins” name after 87 years bowing to recent pressure from sponsors and decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans. New name not decided on yet
- Tax deadline is Wednesday, 7/15
- Tuesday: National Mac & Cheese Day
- Low to mid 80s all week, afternoon thunderstorm possibilities and high fire danger Wed/Thurs/Fri this week

LOCAL:

- Special El Dorado Co. Supervisors meeting wrap-up
- Positive case in NV legislator doesn't divert normal operations
- Tahoe South Event Center breaking ground on new arena
- Mardy Fish wins the American Century "Celebrity Golf" Championshi

Tahoe Talk - 7/6/2020

From around the globe to out your backdoor, here are the topics to keep you relevant and up-to-date!

Global:
- C19 Totals: 11.5m cases, 537k deaths - USA at 3m cases, 9 states hit record numbers, positivity rate = 7.6% compared to 4.5% on June 7
- Kayne West announces that he’s running for President
- Uber acquires food delivery giant Postmates for $2.65b
- Some NBA and MLB seasons back in question again after positive COVID results
- Walmart to host drive-in movie premieres starting in August
- Oil prices went negative for the 1st time ever in April. Now they’re back around $40 per barrel, but oil giants are losing hope and the massive Chesapeake Energy company just filed for bankruptcy
- Tribal leaders and activists are calling for the removal of Mt. Rushmore
- Black Lives Matter street mural on Fifth Avenue directly in front of Trump Tower (order by Mayor Bill de Blasio)

Local:
- Red Flag warning (Mt. Rose fire update)
- Hard Rock no-mask arrest
- Tahoe Rim Trail Rescue
- Lime Scooters are back
- Great Reno Balloon Race cancellation
- ACC and Celeb Tourney: Tribune & Sun exclusive coverage

Tahoe Talk - Mon. 6/29/20

From around the globe to out your backdoor, here’s what you missed over the weekend if you unplugged from the news or social along with what’s coming up so you can stay in tune!

Global News:
- C19 Global Totals: 10.2m cases, 500m deceased (quarter of those in the U.S,)
- Yelp reports that 41% of the businesses listed on its platform have closed for good since the pandemic. Not just restaurant I might add (Perspective: 11,774 in LA, nearly 2k in Vegas alone have shuttered permanently)
- Disney announces last week they will not reopen, Yosemite postpones opening campgrounds through July
- NASA needs help figuring out how to poop in space for a $35k reward. Project Artemis will see the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024
- Lebron James raises $100m for a new media company, SpringHill Co., that aims to uplift Black creators
- Cam Newton signs one year deal with Patriots
- Tesla autopilot confuses Burger King sign for a stop sign - BK capitalizes and turns it into a commercial.
- Wednesday, July 1st = International Chicken Wing Day

Local News:
- Labor Union filing complaint against Sisolak
- Ballot measure for 2% TOT in Truckee in the works
- Squaw Valley name change could happen sooner than later
- Boat inspections will look different this year
- No Fireworks in the Tahoe Basin

Tahoe Talk - Mon. 6/22/20

From around the globe to out your backdoor, here’s what you missed over the weekend if you unplugged from the news or social along with what’s coming up so you can stay in tune!

What went down:
- Global C19 Totals: 9M cases, 471K deaths - WHO reports largest single-day increase. 12 states set daily record. Major spikes in Florida, Texas, Arizona.
- Odds favorite “Tiz The Law” wins Belmont Stakes
- MLBPA postpones vote on the MLB’s 60 game proposal
- Trump “very upset” will Tulsa rally turnout - 6,200 attendance (outdoor setup was broken down before it ever began)

What’s coming up:
- 5 states hold primaries on Tuesday (Kentucky, NY, NC, VA, MI)
- President Trump is expected to sign an executive order suspending temporary work visas through the end of the year
- Carnival Cruise Line extends its sailing suspension in North America through the end of September
- Friday, 6/25 = National Take Your Dog to Work Day