CARSON CITY – A legal firm retained by the state Department of Transportation to defend against a contractor dispute over construction of a section of the Carson City bypass has racked up $6 million in fees so far and the costs could still go higher.

Gov. Brian Sandoval today expressed concern about the amount of legal fees in the case involving a $40 million claim by Utah-based Ames Construction, which built the first phase of the U.S. 395 bypass in the capital that opened in February of 2006.

For those Carson Now readers who have been here before, you probably notice some strange things about how the site looks this morning. We have been doing some work overnight to fix some minor problems, and we aren't quite finished. We should have this cleared up very soon. Meanwhile, the news of the day is still right here. Thanks.

Barbara Broyles passed away on January 3, 2012. She is survived by her parents Jack and Marge Broyles, her sister Janet (Doug) Ohlson and her children Paul Felesina and Katie Felesina. Barbara...

Dolores 'Dee' Bowman, passed away in Reno on December 28, 2011 at the age of 78. Dee was born at home on March 21, 1933 in Virginia City, Nevada, the daughter of Dorothy Haffey who was born in Gol...

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.

Wonders Soccer Academy from Carson City is collecting old cell phones and ink cartridges through January 30, 2012 for the purpose of team fundraising and help meet the needs of the players. Wonders Soccer will receive money for each item collected during the fundraiser. The items will be turned in to a company that specializes in recycling and refurbishing used technology.

Carson City Sheriff's deputies arrested a 67-year-old Carson City woman at around noon Thursday at the 900 block of Beverly Drive.

During the lunch hour at the Carson City Senior Citizen's Center, a patron allegedly became annoyed with a fellow patron who was playing the piano and began yelling at him. Another patron stood to defend the piano player and was assaulted, being struck on the back and having her hair pulled. The defendant then assaulted the piano player as well. The arresting officer stated that he felt the defendant was intoxicated.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board released its Nevada Gaming Abstract for 2011 today, which shows profits for Nevada casinos rose 16.4 percent. But even with the increase, overall casinos were almost $4 billion in the red.

For the Carson Valley area that includes Carson City, profits rose 222.4 percent.

Read the report below:

Delorous R. Barber, 100, passed away December 30, 2011 at her residence in Carson City, NV. Delorous retired from the Los Angeles Police Dept. in 1967 after 21 years of service. She is survived by...

The Homewood Mountain Resort project, which cleared the strictest of environmental hurdles at Lake Tahoe, is now being sued by a consortium of groups including the Sierra Club who, among other things, wish to stop promised environmental improvements, job creation and economic revitalization to the ailing west shore Sierra community.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which oversees development and environmental protection at Lake Tahoe, was told it was being sued on Thursday because of its recent approval of the Homewood Mountain Resort Ski Area Master Plan project.
EarthJustice, on behalf of the Sierra Club and Friends of the West Shore, lists both TRPA and Placer County as defendants in the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court of Eastern California. Absent from the suit is the League to Save Lake Tahoe, which implied that it likely wouldn't sue when the project was unanimously approved last month by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Governing Board.

CARSON CITY – Fifteen people, eight from within Nevada and seven from out of the state, have applied for the job of state superintendent of public instruction.

Three of the 15 did candidates that applied by a Dec. 30 deadline not meet the statutory requirements for the position, such as having a master’s degree in education or school administration, the Sandoval administration said in an update on the search process.

CARSON CITY – Nevada is one of several states that will not make a Jan. 30 federal deadline to implement a newly mandated safety rule to ensure truck drivers have proof they are medically safe to drive, potentially putting federal highway dollars at risk.

The new rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCS) requires state motor vehicle departments across the country to create a new database that will be linked nationally to keep track of the proof truck drivers need to show they are safe to drive.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will kick-off the 12th Annual Kinder Kup Race Series at Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Shore Lake Tahoe, on Sunday, January 22, from 8am to 2pm. Open to all skiers and snowboarders age six and under, the Kinder Kup series is designed to introduce young athletes to competition in a friendly environment. No previous race experience necessary and all abilities are welcome. Entry is $20 and includes a World Cup only competitor lift ticket if needed.

Rachel Barrett, 30, was sentenced up to 15 years in prison for her attempt to rob the Nevada State Bank on South Carson Street in October. Armed with a BB pistol, she handed the teller a note and made off with $643 in cash. She was found a short time later at her apartment a few blocks away. District Judge Todd Russell sentenced her to 26-120 months for the robbery, plus a consecutive 24-60 months for a crime against a senior citizen, since the teller was 72 years old. She also received a concurrent 16-72 months sentence for burglary.

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Jorge Dominguez-Gomez was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for molesting two 11-year-old girls. Dominguez-Gomez, 37, confessed to the crimes, and will not be eligible for parole for at least 20 years.

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According to Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi, the cause of last Friday's Larel Fire will go down as undetermined. Giomi said their investigation didn't turn up evidence off what started the 318 acre fire east of Deer Run Road. The blaze initially threatened about 20 homes before wind gusts up to 60 mph pushed the flame away, into the dry brush in Brunswick Canyon.

When Carson City children are removed from the home due to abuse or neglect and placed in state custody the Carson City Juvenile Court appoints a trained community member to serve as guardian ad litem for the child.

Ordinary people with good communication skills, caring, patience and writing ability advocate for the best interests of the child while they are in state care.

Find out more about becoming a CASA volunteer...

Patricia M. Barrett passed away on December 31, 2011. She was born in Mason, Nevada to George and Lila McCutcheon on November 24, 1919. She is survived by her husband, Ralph Barrett; sons, George ...

The Carson City Council of the United States Navy League will hold its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Gold Dust West Hotel and Casino, 2171 Hwy 50E, Carson City. The social hour is at 5:30 PM followed by a buffet dinner at 6:30 PM. Our speaker will be Colonel Phillip W. Chandler, USMC, Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC). For Reservations, please call Bob Prater, 888-2050 or Dennis Johnson at 841-3825 or you may email Bob at: Robert_Prater@sbcglobal.net. The price is $25 per person.

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.

Inspection reports for Carson City restaurants:

A Carson City Sheriff's deputy arrested Cameron Matthew Haffey, 20, a stocker from Carson City, just before 3 a.m. Wednesday at the 1800 block of North Carson Street. Around 11 p.m. Tuesday officers were dispatched to a north Carson pharmacy on a report of a broken window. Camera footage showed a suspect in dark pants and a dark coat. Later on the same deputy was passing the pharmacy and spotted a suspect that matched that description.

On behalf of the Sierra Lutheran High School faculty and staff, I would like to cordially invite you to attend a special Information Night for prospective families on Thursday, January 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Sierra Lutheran, northern Nevada's only Lutheran high school and the only Christian high school in the greater Carson City / Carson Valley area, will offer attendees a comprehensive look at the many programs and opportunities that have allowed SLHS to become one of the state's top high schools, as supported by the school's 99-percent college matriculation rate.

Enjoy an afternoon of wine, art and music in the Brewery Arts Center’s Artisans Store Saturday, January 7th from Noon to 5:00pm. Resident artists and teachers will demonstrate their crafts as part of the Downtown Carson City Wine Walk. Sip wine and nibble hors d’oeuvres while watching the artisans create new works of art. Plus, accomplished Dulcimer musicians will provide music throughout the afternoon. You don’t need to take part in the Wine Walk to join in.

The Carson City Symphony conducted by David Bugli will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, January 11, at 7:00 p.m., in the Carson High School band room, 1111 N. Saliman Road in Carson City, for a February concert, "Russian Treasures."

Carson City Symphony is a volunteer, community organization, and auditions are not required. Registration, however, is necessary. Current openings are for strings. For information, call the Symphony at 775-883-4154.

It’s the very first part of January and this is a good time for all of us to make some personal resolutions for the year 2012. Most importantly, remember that if you do make any resolutions, be sure to follow through with what you resolve to do in this new year. I have a number of things I would like to accomplish this year, so without any further ado, here are my resolutions: