By Chris Neklason
Published May 13, 2024

People are nearby to throw you a line if you feel you are sinking. Image credit: CoolR Shutterstock/standard

May is Mental Health Month

This week, we note that May is Mental Health Month. If you live in one of the 10 counties in our coverage area, we include links to groups focusing on supporting your health and well-being below. If not, know that your community has resources available to assist you with information a web search away.

Most importantly, if you or someone in your family is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, call the California Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.

California's Mental Health History

A harrowing number of young people report living in despair, while we witness thousands of our neighbors suffering in the streets. Jon Vankin on the unintended consequenses of a misguided health-care reform effort.

UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here

The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.

How the California mental health crisis emerged out of the state’s history of deinstitutionalization and laws designed to protect the mentally ill, as well as the communities around them.

A Visitation from the Northern Lights

A mega-storm on the sun and earth's magenetic field collabroated on a show over the weekend.

Aurora Borealis in the Santa Cruz Mountains

The Northern Lights appeared in Northern and Central California Saturday night.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.

Chilled asparagus soup an elegantly cool dish

Serve the soup chilled but not ice-cold for best flavor. Top with crème fraîche, chopped chives and a blanched asparagus top.

New! Spring asparagus blends well with green garlic

From Our Media Allies

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	How to Use This Guide
	The Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide is available in digital format for free at YourTahoeGuide.com/fire. You can download it, fill out the checklists, and post the resources section on your refrigerator.

	PHOTOS: Northern Lights Over Lake Tahoe
	A gallery of photographs of the aurora shining over Lake Tahoe.

	Auburn Hammond House Placed on Placer Historic Register
	One of the historic Hammond houses was placed on Placer County’s Register of Cultural and Historic Resources during the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.

	Folsom’s Penelope Oliver Makes List of Presidential Scholars
	The United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has announced the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars and Folsom resident Penelope Oliver is amongst the list of 161 high school seniors being recognized for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career …

	Map Update to Existing Fire Ordinance Turns Into Wider Discussion of Fuels Reduction Efficacy
	City Council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance designating Very High Fire Severity Zones within city limits provided by CalFire. South Tahoe Fire Chief Jim Drennan explained, "This really is just a revision of the map for an …

	TahoeAlerts: Stay Informed About Emergencies Throughout the Lake Tahoe Region
	In collaboration with surrounding cities and counties, Placer County announced the launch of TahoeAlerts, an emergency notification system locator.

	New Playground Coming to Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
	Plywood currently blocks off the entrance to the now nonexistent slide that used to carry kids down the Al Tahoe playground since it was built in the late 1990s.

	RUSD Sued by the State Over Parent Notification Policy
	Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) was sued by the state over its LGBTQ-related parent notification policy.

	Lake Tahoe Expected to Fill for First Time Since 2019
	For the first time in nearly five years, Lake Tahoe is expected to fill this spring. Although the water year continues through September, the Natural Resources Conservation Service is already confident about this year's positive outlook.

	Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation to Accept Workforce Scholarship Applications
	Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation will accept applications for Workforce Scholarships. Applications are open to young adults pursuing in-demand careers that benefit our region.

	Mid-Town Area Plan Kicks Off at City Council
	The city of South Lake Tahoe's Mid-Town Area Plan process is now underway.

	Nearly 2.7 Million in Tourism-Generated Funding Approved for Four Projects in North Lake Tahoe
	Four investment projects in eastern Placer County amounting to nearly 2.7 million were approved Tuesday by the Placer County Board of Supervisors to advance regional goals including improved transportation and recreation.

	Placer County CEO Retires
	After more than three decades of service with a number of local government agencies spanning the West Coast, Jane Christenson announced her retirement from Placer County effective May 4, 2024.

	Truckee Donner PUD Approves Electric Bill Credit for Customers
	At Truckee Donner Public Utility District's May board of directors meeting, the board approved an electric bill credit, approved a crucial water infrastructure maintenance project in Tahoe Donner, and held a workshop to review TDPUD's new Emergency Operations Plan.

	All American Speedway Now Looks to June 1 for Opener
	The scheduled 70th season opener for NASCAR weekly racing at All American Speedway in Roseville was postponed due to wet weather.

	Auburn Business Associations Hold Joint Meeting
	Squashing ancient rumors and sharing successes and struggles, three of Auburn’s business associations came together last week.

	Colfax Council Approves Committee for Caboose Relocation
	The Colfax City Council on April 24 assigned two of its members to serve on the Caboose Relocation Ad-Hoc Committee.

	1 Pill Can Kill Placer Campaign Reports Continued Commitment to Combating the Fentanyl Crisis
	Today, May 7, on National Fentanyl Awareness Day, the Placer County 1 Pill Can Kill Placer campaign released its annual update reaffirming the county's collective commitment to fighting the fentanyl crisis.

	Tips on Ticks for Lyme Disease Awareness Month
	Partly due to global warming and the proliferation of ticks, Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the US. Here’s how to protect yourself.

	Placer County Launches New Campaign to Promote Perinatal Substance Use Services
	This year, Mother's Day (May 12) happens to also be the first day of National Prevention Week, which promotes substance misuse prevention and positive mental health.

	Objections to Olympic Valley Rate Hikes Taken Until May 28 Hearing
	Olympic Valley Public Service District board of directors formally introduced an ordinance to adopt water, sewer, and garbage rate hikes, and revised district codes.

Recent Local News

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• El Dorado County Seeks Updated Vacation Rental Home Ordinance

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors heard from a 13 member citizen advisory group and other residents about updates to the vacation rental home ordinance.

(05/14/2024) → South Tahoe Now

• Volunteers Gather Water Quality Data

On May 11, 100 volunteers sampled water from 34 streams, ponds and lakes to gather water quality data for the Truckee River watershed and Lake Tahoe as part of the 24th annual Snapshot Day.

(05/14/2024) → South Tahoe Now

• Alpenglow Sports Sponsors Community Book Initiative

The month-long event will highlight 21 titles, with proceeds benefitting local nonprofit Clean Up the Lake.

(05/09/2024) → South Tahoe Now

• Rattlesnake Season is Back

Expert advice on staying safe during rattlesnake season.

(05/07/2024) → YubaNet

Government Announcements

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	United States (05/10/2024) Healthwest Minerals Inc. DBA Mt Capra Products Recalls Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit and Warns Consumers Against the Use of Product as Infant Formula
Healthwest Minerals, Inc. d/b/a Mt. Capra Products of Chehalis, Washington, is recalling 1,506 boxes of Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit on the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and advises consumers to immediately discontinue use of the product as infant formula. The FDA is conc

	United States (05/10/2024) Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. Recalls Yogurt Covered Pretzels Because of Possible Health Risk
Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. of Ontario, CA is recalling Yogurt Covered Pretzels, because the yogurt coating has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with wea

	United States (05/10/2024) Voluntary Recall of Select Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds Due to The Possible Presence of Salmonella
Natural Sourcing International is initiating a voluntary recall of one lot of Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds 32 oz. due to the potential presence of Salmonella that may be in some of the finished products. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or

	United States (05/08/2024) Texas Pecan Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts (Not Named Individually), Soy, Dairy(Milk), Sesame and Wheat Not Named in Product
Texas Pecan of Dallas TX is recalling 1 Lb and 8 oz products because it may contain an undeclared allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to (tree nuts, peanuts, almonds, brazils, cashews, filberts, macadamias, pistachios, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, soy, dairy (milk), sesame and

	United States (05/08/2024) DaVinci Laboratories Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Shellfish Allergen in Amyloid Complete Product Lot 549853001
DaVinci Laboratories, a division of FoodScience, LLC of Williston, Vermont is recalling 72 bottles of Amyloid Complete because it may contain undeclared shellfish (Shrimp and Crab). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to shellfish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic rea

	United States (05/06/2024) Recall_Supplier Recalls Impact Two Hy-Vee Products Third-Party Manufacturers Alert Retailer of Potential for Contamination; No Illnesses Reported
Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling two varieties of its Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella. Additionally, Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling its bulk-packaged Cookies & Cream Mix out of an

	United States (05/05/2024) Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu

	United States (05/03/2024) Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts
May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio

	United States (05/03/2024) Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk
Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria

	United States (05/02/2024) FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products...