Tahoe publisher arrested in DUI

The publisher of a South Lake Tahoe newspaper was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of drunken driving.

Gail Powell-Acosta, 40, publisher of the Tahoe Daily Tribune, was stopped at College Parkway and Nye Lane at 11:31 p.m. after a deputy allegedly spotted her driving 45 mph in a 35 mph zone.

According to the arrest report, when the deputy approached Powell-Acosta in the driver's seat, he could smell the odor of alcohol from inside the vehicle.

During the field sobriety test, Powell-Acosta "was unable to complete the walk and turn test" and "then failed the one-leg stand," the report states.

A preliminary breath test administered once at the scene and again at the jail allegedly indicated Powell-Acosta was over the legal limit of .08. A passenger and dog in the vehicle were allowed to walk from the scene and the vehicle was impounded.

Powell-Acosta was arrested on suspicion of first-offense drunken driving and speeding. She posted a $1,214 bail and was released from custody at 2:29 a.m.

The Tahoe Daily Tribune and Nevada Appeal are both part of the Sierra Nevada Media Group, which is owned by Swift Communications.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.