Spending

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval said today he will propose to extend a package of taxes now set to expire in June 2013 into the next budget to avoid further cuts to education, which he said cannot withstand further reductions.

To maintain a basically flat spending plan for the two-year budget that will begin on July 1, 2013, Sandoval said the modified business tax that was maintained at a higher rate for large businesses in the 2011 legislative session, along with a small increase in the sales tax, must be continued.

CARSON CITY – There are a few withdrawals in vacation destinations like New Orleans and Hawaii. There are a few from such tourist locations as Angel Stadium in Anaheim, SeaWorld San Diego and Pier 39 in San Francisco.

There are about 1,600 withdrawals in more than 35 states and the territory of Guam. And there are about 100 withdrawals at liquor stores and quite a few at Nevada casinos or slot parlors.

CARSON CITY – A conservative Nevada think tank today published a guide for policymakers and the public on issues ranging from the state spending to public education to tax policy.

The 88-page sourcebook, called “Solutions 2013” is a compilation of research and policy recommendations from the Nevada Policy Research Institute addressing 39 different subject areas.

Sochi, Russia is next on the list for orthopedic surgeon, Terrence Orr's medical volunteerism. As a physician with Tahoe Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, he will be previewing the future site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games as part of his role as Head Team Physician for the United States Men's Alpine Ski Team — a position he has held since 1999.

CARSON CITY – The state of Nevada’s tough financial situation is holding up two separate interim studies approved by the Legislature because of the requirement for alternative funding sources to assist in conducting the reviews.

What could be better than spending Valentines at Bella Fiore Wines? We will be tasting 6 Champagnes (TBA) to celebrate the sweetest day of the year, Valentines Day. …And of course our delectable chocolate fountain with tons of goodies to dunk.

So don't miss Valentines Day at Bella Fiore Wines. Only $35 per tasting for all that. The fun starts at 6pm.

The Bella Family
224 So. Carson St ,Suite #8
Corner of 3rd & Curry Sts, Carson City
775-888-9463 (WINE)
bellafiorewines@yahoo.com
www.bellafiorewinesbar.com

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency received a positive ruling in the opening stages of the lawsuit challenging the Homewood Mountain Ski Area Master Plan that was filed by the Sierra Club and the Friends of the West Shore, a Lake Tahoe environmental group.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s casinos brought in $855.7 million in gaming revenue in December 2011 for a 2.1 percent gain over the same month in 2010, the state Gaming Control Board reported today.

The Las Vegas Strip saw a 3.6 percent gain, bringing in $518.4 million.

CARSON CITY – A panel of lawmakers today began a review of the state’s 45-year-old formula for funding public education with an eye towards addressing the needs of the state’s urban districts as they work to educate special education students, English-language learners and children in poverty.

The panel is still searching for funding for a study to help in the review, however. The failure to find private funding for a study could jeopardize any meaningful review in this interim, lawmakers were told.

CARSON CITY – Nearly 250 capital city Democrats took time out today to participate in the party caucus, supporting President Barack Obama in a process that held no surprises for the party faithful.

The caucus at the Carson City Middle School was one of 118 held around Nevada today as the state Democrat Party gears up for the 2012 election.

South Shore native Darcie Goodman-Collins has been named the new executive director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, officials announced today. She replaces Rochelle Nason who resigned last September.

CARSON CITY – Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said today he opposes the earmark process used to fund various projects around the country, advocating instead that state priorities for federal support go through a regular budget review.

“The problem with earmarks, when you look at them, it’s symbolic largely, because it’s not that it’s a huge part of the federal budget,” he said. “But a lot of them appear at the end with absolutely no hearings and they are in bills.

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.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Dec. 28, 2011 through Jan. 3, 2012. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and southern Oregon.

Northstar California did up things well Tuesday (name change, used to be "at-Tahoe") by officially opening its new multimillion dollar Zephyr lodge at the top of Zephyr lift and a new chairlift, the Promised Land Express. The new quad chair services two new trails. This completes a spending program of $30 million on upgrades, trails and support activities at the Lake Tahoe resort.

To a packed house of observers, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board voted to approve Phase 1 of the Homewood Mountain Resort Ski Area Master Plan at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 14.

The holidays are happier if you are well and healthy to celebrate. Follow these tips to keep your season merry and bright!

1. Wash hands often to keep yourself from spreading germs and getting sick. The holiday season is one of socializing, parties, and spending time with loved ones – and of sharing germs and illness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative if you can’t get to a sink.

Some Nevadans are trying to start a new political party called the "DuoFreedomists" which they claim would serve moderates put off by the Republicans and Democrats. The group's policy goals to “freeze, shrink and shift” taxation and spending is very similar to those of the Tea Party.

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Artist Brent Sommerhauser will be showing his work "Brushing the Firmament" at the Nevada Arts Council's OXS Gallery, 716 N. Carson St., through Feb. 10.

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Carson High School teacher Erin Been's passion for fitness has made her a Healthy Schools Program Champion, a recognition awarded by Alliance for a Healthier Generation. She has worked to make CHS students and teachers make fitness more fun with programs like morning yoga classes, incorporating dance into phys-ed classes and offering after-school programs to promote nutrition and healthy cooking.

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Carson High football coach Blair Roman recognized the seniors on his team at the season-ending awards banquet Monday night. The team has won a share of the league title three straight years, including this season's 10-2 record.

Here is this week's fishing report, through Nov. 23, for Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon:

Bob Cook passed away and stepped off to his next adventure on October 1, 2011. Bob was born in Harlem, Montana in 1926 and graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1945. After spending a couple y...

Some things seem so obvious after they've been pointed out to you. I was pointed to a Web file from a Boston writer, Glenn MacDonald, a quantitative analyst using quantitative statistical methods, that has a fascinating study of Boston area public schools. After much study of Boston Magazine's ranking of 135 schools, he came up with a load of mistakes that no publication should ever make.

GRAY COURT, SC (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry proposed dramatic tax and spending changes Tuesday, saying he would let Americans choose between a 20 percent flat tax and the cur...

LAS VEGAS – President Obama will today announce he is expanding a federal aid program to allow more homeowners to refinance their mortgages at today’s low interest rates, said White House officials this morning.

By Li Terrell / South Tahoe Now
Reinvention: We're all in this together.
This is the vision of the proposed Edgewood Tahoe Lodge at Stateline.
The plan by Edgewood Companies is to create a unique world-class destination that delivers significant economic, environmental and community benefits to South Shore Lake Tahoe.  
“That is one of the things that investment can bring to the community, said Patrick Rhamey, vice president of Real Estate for Edgewood Companies. “We have continued to re-invest our property over the years and hope to be a pathway for others to follow.”

It was announced Monday that the Safeway supermarket on North Carson Street would be closing Nov. 23 after spending 38 years in their location at 2035 North Carson Street.

But what wasn't apparent at the time is that Safeway's closing would mean an end to the second-oldest continually operating business in Carson City, according to retired state archivist Guy Rocha.

(Editor's note 10/21: After further review, Rocha found one other business that has been in operation longer, the Carson Hot Springs Resort, which began as a business in 1879, operating under different names and owners. That would make Safeway the third-oldest business in Carson City.)

By Aimi Xistra-Rich
The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation has announced two new programs for the 2011 – 2012 winter season under the Freestyle umbrella. The Foundation will offer two Freeride program options, the One-Day Program and the Full-Time Competitive Program. These programs are open to intermediate to advanced level skiers aged ten to 18 who have a passion for slopestyle, skiercross and halfpipe training.

Two trends could make Halloween a treat for Nevada retailers this year.

Halloween vintage postcard (circa 1920)

The National Retail Federation (“NRF”) estimates 68.6 percent of Americans 18 years and older will celebrate Halloween this year, the most in the NRF’s survey history.  Additionally, those celebrating are expected to spend approximately $72.31 on decorations, costumes, candy and other holiday items, up $6.03 from the $66.28 reported last year.
Assuming national trends aren’t playing tricks on Nevada, 1.4 million residents 18 years and older will spend money on the spooky holiday this year. If each Nevadan celebrating the holiday spends the expected average of $72.31, total spending in the state will reach $99 million.
The current year estimate represents an increase of 17.3 percent compared to last year when an estimated 63.8 percent of the population celebrated the holiday, spending $66.28 on average.

Northstar California (Northstar-at-Tahoe, as the society pages would put it) is spending $30 million to lift the ski and ride resort up to the top tier of Tahoe destination resorts. Those who go ba...

The hardest bubble to see is the one you are in. We have survived the Internet bubble, later the housing bubble and the stock market, private debt and discretionary spending bubbles. You would thin...

The film "Real Steel" now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City is an action film starring Hugh Jackman as a down-and-out boxer past his prime as robots took over the boxing world.

In this case it's an attempt by films to muscle into the video game profits. Not that the movie is bad, that is, if the sight of giant robots flaying away at each other doesn't turn you off. It's actually technology not gone amok but just crass.