South Placer panel nixes Lincoln Bypass funding fix - Auburn Journal
Caltrans has failed in a bid for an $8 million transfusion of local funds to stave off a construction halt on the Lincoln Bypass. A work stoppage on the $325 million project could now take place within days, Executive Director Celia McAdam told South Placer Regional Transportation Authority board members Tuesday.

New planning director finds hope for city in revitalization - Colfax Record
Gary W. Price was hired as Colfax's new planning director in October.  After about five years of developing and implementing La Quinta's general plan, Price took on city planning duties in San Luis Obispo on the Central California coast. A key element of the planning strategy was to tie growth to employment development, he said. This is a philosophy he intends to bring to Colfax.

Lincoln budget shortfall leads to talks - Lincoln News Messenger
With the city of Lincoln facing a $1-million budget deficit, city officials are working with employee bargaining units to find ways to make budget cuts and avoid mass layoffs.

Jack Day Guest column: Time for local control of our local schools - Loomis News
The 12 year veteran of the Loomis Union School District argues against consolidating local K-8 school districts with te PLacer Union High School District.

Sierra Warming: Later snow, earlier melt: High anxiety - Sac Bee
But in the late arrival of this year's snow season - and increasingly early spring snowmelt from the mountains - scientists and state officials are finding more than the signature of a natural drought. They believe they detect the fingerprint of climate change.

Lincoln library usage shows big increase - Lincoln News Messenger
In the past year, the Lincoln Public Library has seen a major rise in circulation, which is the number of items checked out by patrons, and individuals using its services.

Live shows to return to State Theater - Auburn Journal
Two options - establishing a smaller theater on one of the screening rooms, or a more costlier wall teardown to create a larger space - are under consideration.

Skier dies at Squaw Valley. Two others missing at Mt. Rose Christmas day - AP via Sierra Sun
Heavy snow snarled holiday travel in the Sierra on Christmas Day and turned deadly for one California man who died in an avalanche at a Lake Tahoe ski resort.

Winter storm blankets Lake Tahoe region, West with snow, heading east - Sierra Sun and Union of Grass Valley
In the Sierra Nevada, heavy snow and whiteout conditions led police to shut down an 80-mile stretch of Interstate 80 for several hours on Christmas between the California-Nevada line and Applegate, Calif.

Lincoln youth soccer team wins district cup - Lincoln News Messenger
Congrats to the Lincoln FC U-14 boys select team, which won the "B" flight of the District Cup.  My son's team, which I coach, the Lincoln Chivas (U-12 Boys select) finished second place in the "A" flight of U-12 Boys District Cup and qualified for the Nor Cal Association Cup Championship tournament.