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CARSON CITY – Several major events in Las Vegas, including the final table at the World Series of Poker, combined with a healthy baccarat win, pushed Nevada gaming revenues up 7.1 percent in November, the Gaming Control Board reported today.

The "found footage" film (whatever that means) "The Devil Inside" now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere, is another exorcist adventure of sorts — mostly disparate parts.

A quick warning: if you suffer from motion sickness that is one good reason to skip this movie. Most of it was shot by handheld cameras, resulting in nausea in some cases, like mine. There are other good reasons to see "Hugo" or even Desi and Luci reruns instead.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s major casinos saw total revenues increase to $22 billion last fiscal year, but the 256 properties reported a net loss of just under $4 billion, the Gaming Control Board reported today.

It was the third year of losses in a row. The only other loss since records have been kept came in 2002.

The report, called the Nevada Gaming Abstract, analyzes those casino properties grossing $1 million or more in gaming revenue for the year ending June 30, 2011.

CARSON CITY – Republican state Senator Michael Roberson said today he expects the GOP to retake control of the Senate in the 2012 general election, citing the quality of candidates recruited for two key Clark County races.

His optimism was countered by Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, who said he is confident Democrats will maintain control of the Senate come Nov. 7.

Direcor-producer Steven Spielberg's film "War Horse," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere, is fine movie making, with a splendid cast. If it sinks into sentimentality at times, bear with it because the story, from a British children's book of 1982.

In pre-WWI Britain, Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine, well cast) is out to buy a plow horse for his father's farm but winds up with a stallion of beauty and intelligence. Albert teaches the horse, named Joey by Albert, to comae when he hoots a signal.

The 2012 line-up of entertainment is guaranteed to Blue ‘em away at Lake Tahoe South’s MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa. The New Year’s festivities and beyond continue the trend of popular contemporary artists including: The Cataracs, NOFX, Lucinda Williams, The Expendables, Whitney Cummings, 311 and Wayne Brady. The combo of entertainment, amenities and nightlife has established MontBleu on the virtual map among revelers.

2011 Ends on a High Note…

The state's Interim Finance Committee questioned Corrections Director Greg Cox over contradictory plans for running the license plate shop at the Nevada State Prison once the facility closes down. The original plan was for the shop to stay where it is and be run by minimum security inmates. But Cox had also been looking at moving the plant to either the Northern Nevada Correctional Center on the south side of Carson City, or to High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas. He said they didn't currently have the money to make that move.

The IFC also got the final $521,904 bill for the special election to fill Nevada's Second Congressional District seat after Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed Dean Heller to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Ensign.

The IFC also approved funding for 20 of the 30 new positions for the Department of Motor Vehicles approved by the 2011 Legislature. The new positions are supposed to help cut the wait time at DMV offices, which have increased since 85 positions were eliminated due to budget cuts.

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A coalition of organizations is urging the Attorney General's office to reject a multi-state settlement with the banking industry over allegations of widespread falsifying loan documents and other wrongdoing in the wake of the mortgage foreclosure crisis. New York and California have already signaled that they will not sign onto the agreement, and the Attorneys General of Nevada and California recently announced that they will work together to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by the banks.

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The Carson City Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the Nevada Small Business Development Center at UNR to work together to operate the city's Business Resource Innovation Center, under the leadership of its new director Michael Salogga.

Sometimes watching a dreck movie and enjoying it can be embarrassing. Such is the case with "New Year's Eve," a multifaceted comedy of sorts playing at the Fandango Galaxy cinema in Carson City. The cast is all-star, from Hilary Swank to Robert De Niro. And while the film is pure twaddle, director Gary Marshall keeps all the balls in the air. And he should be able to; he made the same movie last year on a Valentine's Day theme.

"The Sitter," billed as a black comedy and currently flickering at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is mercifully only 81 minutes long, but that's long enough to spell disaster to any discriminating movie goer.

It stars comic actor Jonah Hill as college failure Noah forced into baby sitting three of the most repellent child actors in living memory. He is also pursuing a blonde who is suggesting intimacy that night.

Michael Kukonu, 65, of Carson City, passed away November 25, 2011. Autumn Funerals & Cremations. 775-888-6800Ronald D. Tipton, 67, of Gardnerville, passed away November 23, 2011. Autumn Funerals & ...

Glory be, what's going on in Hollywood? First there was Scorsese's "Hugo," an excellent non-Christmas homage to a French motion picture innovator. Now there's "Arthur's Christmas," in 3D that actually uses that medium to enhance a fine animation updating of the Yule story. It's playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and well worth your visit.

The motion picture "Hugo," now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a holiday movie that kids and adults can enjoy. It's Martin Scorsese's homage to film pioneer Georges Méliès, a French innovator who created much of the library of movie techniques back before World War I only to be forgotten amid the strife on combat in France. His films were largely destroyed to make such things as guitar picks.

The community is invited once again this Thursday to attend the Carson Nugget's annual free Thanksgiving dinner, and Chef Michael Karsky has been busy planning for and preparing the feast for weeks.

Officers made several arrests this weekend.

Just after midnight on Saturday, officers, arrested Michael Hutchinson, 18, a Carson City resident, on a felony suspicion of using false identification to avoid prosecution and a felony parole violation hold from Lyon County. He was also cited for resisting arrested and minor consumption. Hutchinson allegedly gave the name of an older relative in an attempt not to be arrested. Total bail was set at $10,400, but no bail was issued for the Lyon County hold.

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The latest take on the popular teen-aimed "Twilight" sci-fi-fantasy-horror film series is in town and it's playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex.

It's called 'Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn Part 1," and it brings back most of the cast of the earlier movies, although this is P-13 stuff with a lot of eroticism as well as all those fanged wolves. A teen film it is not, but you can bet a lot of teens are going to see it.

Officials say a wind-whipped wildfire in Reno has destroyed 20 homes, injured several people and forced evacuations.Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez tells the Reno Gazette-Journal (http://on.rgj.c...

Update 11:53 a.m.: Congressmen Mark Amodei (NV-2) and Joe Heck (NV-3) released the following joint statement regarding the Caughlin Ranch fire:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this disaster. We are in contact with the Governor’s office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. to offer guidance and assistance in providing resources to address the emergency. We are coordinating efforts to ensure the Prepositioned Equipment Program (PEP) located in Las Vegas is prepared to deploy and assist with controlling the fire if needed. Anyone wishing to make financial contributions to help the victims of this disaster may do so through the Red Cross."

Update 10 a.m: The State of Nevada, Washoe County and the City of Reno have declared a state of emergency. More than 9,500 people have been evacuated, according to City of Reno spokesman Chris Good. The 400-plus-acre fire is still zero percent contained. As of now, Galena High School is the evacuation point. If that fills up, Damonte Ranch High School will be the next evacuation point. Go here for the latest from UNR's Nevada Sagebrush and here from MyNews4.com.

Update 8:15: Fire now officially named Caughlin Fire.

Update 7:11 a.m.: KRNV is on the air talking with Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez who is saying they have lost about 20 homes so far, and the strong winds are a big problem. He also said the winds are so strong that there is no way to get air attacks on this fire.

An Emergency 211 number is being set up to provide better information for Reno residents.

A wind-driven wildfire has burned more than 400 acres and has consumed at least six homes in the Caughlin Ranch area in southwest Reno this morning. The Pine Haven fire broke out around 12:30 this morning and thousands have been told to evacuate. Residents are being evacuated to Reno High School, the designated area for evacuations. Fire agencies from the Carson City and Carson Valley areas are responding as are from the Lake Tahoe area. Power is out to at least 1,000 homes in the area, according to NV Energy.
Flames are threatening homes near Manzanita Lane and Dant Boulevard, and police officers were going to residences to evacuate residents. An officer went to the house of a panicking Kathy Harrah. The officer told her to take a deep breath and said "you are fairly safe," as she and her two sons, John and Kody, grabbed items and put them into their truck. "I have been watching the fire all night. I didn't know it was going to get this bad," she told the Reno Gazette-Journal before ordering her son to rip a computer out of a wall. The area was thick with smoke that hung over over Manzanita. Flames in the canyon below Manzanita shot up dozens of feet in the air as they hit brush. Go here and here for story.

Videos of the fire

Map of fire area

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A scientist who was the star defense witness in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor was sanctioned Wednesday by the trial judge and fined $250 for violating a court order durin...

Carson City Sheriff's Deputies made several arrests throughout Monday. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Richard McKinley Brumette, 45, of Carson City, was arrested early this morning for felony home invasion and misdemeanor malicious destruction of property.

According to the arrest report, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy responded to the 1300 block of Como Street, where he saw the door to the victim's apartment kicked in. The victim told the deputy that her brother was intoxicated and had kicked in the door. She also said she is not close to her brother, and he does not live in that apartment.

Marc Michael Bauman, 46, died mid-October in Chicago after a sudden, unexpected illness. Marc was the son of Edith Bauman of Chicago and Sam Bauman of Carson City. In the 1990s, Marc lived in C...

LOS ANGELES - Jail time is not the only problem looming for the doctor convicted in Michael Jackson's death. Lawsuits, medical licensing issues and possible payments to Jackson's family await.Some ...

Maryann, 73, passed away on November 5, 2011. She was born in Berkley, CA., to Earl and Dorothy Soward. She worked in the medical field several years and Walmart. She had one son, Michael Lepai, w...

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's doctor was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death for supplying an insomnia-plagued Jackson with a powerful operating-room anesthetic t...

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's doctor was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death for supplying an insomnia-plagued Jackson with a powerful operating-room anesthetic t...

I missed the first two films in the "Harold and Kumar" series, but if they were as goofy and off-the-wall funny and nonsensical as "A Very Merry Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas," I've got some catching up to do.

The newest in the franchise is playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and watching it is like seeing all the possible gags from Hollywood over the years with a lot of stuff only the drug-using 21st Century could think up.

The comedy caper movie "Tower Heist" playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City has an all-star cast, a decent script and solid direction that keeps the bull wheels turning and the laughs coming. Ben Stiller as Josh Kovacs shares the lead with Eddie Murphy as a professional crook Slide.

The movie "The Rum Diary," currently housed at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, Stars Johnny Depp an roving journalist. It's based on the book of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson, a '60s star of the gonzo brand of journalism. To a large extent the film is a tribute to Thompson and is so noted at the end.

Film opens with Depp as Paul Kemp recovering from a hangover in what turns out to be a hotel room in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He's unshaven, bleery-eyed and is at once nasty to the bellman who brings his breakfast to the room.

In his new book, "Suicide of a Superpower," Pat Buchanan writes that the politics of race, culture and tribalism will be the largest problem civilization will face.This item on foxnews.com proves h...

The Mountain Magic 13th annual Swing, Hustle and Night Club Two Step Convention and Championships will be held at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa Nov. 3-6 2011.
Special features: Free workshops – hospitality room – welcome party – 3 ballrooms – dancing – competitions –Cabaret Sunday after party.
New this Year: Mini intensive w/Michael Kiehm; Latin Dance Party (Salsa, Bachata & Cumbia) w/BB and KiKi of Salsa Reno.