Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of the tunnel on Taylor Road in Newcastle was taken by @ca.love.fornia on Instagram. 

Featured story

Human traffickers sentenced to prison

A traffic stop in Placer County led to the rescue of two 15-year-old girls and the successful prosecution of the men who trafficked them, highlighting the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts.

After deputies stopped a speeding vehicle on Interstate 80, investigators recognized signs of human trafficking and launched a joint investigation involving the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.

Specialized forensic interviews and extensive follow-up work uncovered that the girls had been recruited online and exploited across multiple cities. As a result, both traffickers were convicted of felony human trafficking of a minor and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

During Human Trafficking Awareness Month, this case serves as a powerful reminder that vigilance, partnership and community awareness can turn a single traffic stop into a lifesaving intervention. Learn more about protecting children from online grooming. Guard Against the Groom(ing)

Housing

Board grants final approval for Hope Way project, votes down funding

On Monday, our Board of Supervisors granted final approval for the 240-unit Hope Way Apartments affordable housing project in Penryn near Interstate 80, and in a separate action, voted against a $10.8 million funding agreement.
Read more

Tax season

Placer County offers free tax help for eligible community members

Placer County Health and Human Services is once again offering free tax preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for those earning $69,000 or less. Help is available online or in person. Learn more

Health & wellness

Placer County marks Cancer Prevention Day with new campaign, prevention webinar

Following the Placer County Board of Supervisors’ recent designation of Feb. 4, 2026 as Cancer Prevention Day, the Public Health division is launching a week-long campaign and a free virtual skin cancer prevention webinar.
Learn more

Health and safety

Sheriff’s Office to hold Community Awareness Academy

Residents can register until Feb. 2 for the Sheriff’s Community Awareness Academy, which begins in March. The academy will provide a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement operations, responsibilities and decision-making. Register here

In other news

Tonight: Join Placer County Office of Education’s in-person expert panel on child sexual exploitation and human trafficking

Join the next Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting in Tahoe, Feb. 3, at Granlibakken

This Friday, attend a special Olympic Valley Design Review Committee meeting to discuss the Village of Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan

New legislation introduced to support Lake Tahoe conservation efforts, adding funding with no new costs to taxpayers

Placer County Sheriff’s Office releases new strategic plan for 2026-2028

This week in Placer County history

On Feb. 1, 1939, this art deco moderne building opened on Lincoln Way in Auburn to serve as a new post office for the community. It was one of hundreds of post offices built during the 1930s as part of the federal government’s New Deal, which focused on funding public projects during the Great Depression.

The sleek new 11,000-square-foot reinforced concrete building replaced a nearby 1902 post office in downtown Auburn. It cost the U.S. Treasury Department about $81,000, including $30,000 in furniture and state-of-the-art equipment.

The 1930s were a period of transformation in Auburn, with several other publicly funded landmarks built during the era. Among them were the city hall and firehouse building, the Placer Union High School (later, “Earl Crabbe”) gymnasium, sidewalks, sewer upgrades and several rock walls throughout town. The fairgrounds served as Camp Flint, a labor camp for the Works Progress Administration and the State Relief Agency, where several buildings and improvements were also made.

The 1939 post office is now hidden in plain sight at 905 Lincoln Way in Auburn. It was replaced in the 1980s by the Nevada Street post office and today, it operates as a bank.

Photo: New Auburn post office nears completion, Nov. 28, 1938. Placer County Museums collection.

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Cemetery Tahoe District

• Central Municipal Advisory Council

• Colfax Cemetery District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission

• Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council

• Housing Development Advisory Taskforce

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Municipal Advisory Council - Granite Bay

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - Sheridan

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Tahoe Basin Design Review Committee (DRC)

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Walking in Our Moccs: Perspectives From Indigenous Artists – Closing Exhibition Reception, Sweet Surprises Gift Card Hunt

Rocklin: Game Plan: Get Home Safe - Impaired Driving Awareness Event
Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market 
Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market
North Lake Tahoe: Smore’s O’clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series, KT Bass Bar Music Series, Throwback Thursdays

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

Board of Supervisors meeting - Tahoe, Feb. 2, 9 a.m. Information
Foresthill town hall, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. Information
Board of Supervisors meeting - Tahoe, Feb. 3, 9 a.m. Information
Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition, Feb 3, 5:30 p.m. Information
Placer West Fire Safe Council, Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m. Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

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