Tourism is a huge part of what makes Tahoe tick. But with lodging still closed statewide due to the coronavirus pandemic, the only realistic visitors are those within a day drive. Forecasted trends for the rest of 2020 are expected to drop as much as 50% in visitor revenues. Tune in as reporter Alex Hoeft shares the status of Tahoe’s tourism tap.

So we’re in stage two of reopening and life is supposed to gradually return to normal … but what does that actually mean on the day-to-day? Can I meet up with friends now? What’s the scoop for going to restaurants that are opening back up? Broadcast by Mayumi Elegado and Becca Loux, Placer County’s Dr. Aimee Sisson has the update.

Businesses around Tahoe are hanging on despite COVID-inspired closures and pullback services. Liz Bowling with the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association spoke to four local business leaders about their current realities. Story broadcast by Alex Hoeft and Mayumi Elegado.

North Tahoe area counties were among the first approved by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to enter further into “Stage 2” of reopening of what were originally dubbed nonessential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Story by Juliana Demarest, broadcast by Becca Loux.

If history is trying to repeat itself, it did a good job in Truckee between the “Spanish Flu” of 1918 and the coronavirus pandemic of 2019-2020: News reporter Alex Hoeft brings you the story of how the world’s largest pandemic hit Truckee “like a runaway train,” and how masks and social distancing played a role a century ago.

A look into our other new project: Tahoe Talks, community conversations on important topics during the pandemic hosted by Moonshine over Zoom. Plus, by popular demand, another installment of the corona-inspired funnies. Brought to you by news reporter Alex Hoeft.

Dog-lovers unite, take a deep breath, and learn to practice “dog mindfulness,” a meditation and mindfulness tactic you can do as a team with your dog that focuses on the senses from the mind of psychologist Dr. Cathy Reimers. Broadcast by news reporter Alex Hoeft.

If COVID doesn’t take you out … Can I? Today’s Minutes brings a little needed coronavirus-related humor to your day, then gets serious with critical updates on testing capacity and triage at the new Kings Beach facility, broadcast by editor/reporter Becca Loux.

Today we examine the “phased reopening” officials announced we are entering into, and delve into the new Kings Beach COVID-19 testing site, part of a commitment from Gov. Gavin Newsom to implement 80 testing sites across the state in underserved areas. Learn, too, about our Community Corkboard and how you can get your message heard, and what to do with food waste from our print edition. Broadcast by reporters Alex Hoeft and Becca Loux.

Local counties eye an exit from coronavirus hibernation. At the same time, increased local capacity for testing is coming online, but the white whale of robust contact tracing is still being chased. Co-authors Becca Loux and Alex Hoeft have the story.