The Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces 8-4 on Friday before a sell-out crowd in its season home opener. This is the Cats' 11th season in Sacramento. The game began with a tribute and moment of silence for Art Savage, who died in November of lung cancer. Savage, who was the first president of the San Jose Sharks, is credited with bringing the River Cats to Sacramento and the construction of Raley Field. Jersey No. 1 was retired Friday and will hang on the outfield wall in his honor. The crowd cheered and performed the wave, as the game began. Fans followed every pitch count and on-field play. "The crowd is always intense and excited," said Steve Sepulveda, a longtime season ticket

Just just off the campus of Sacramento State, across from the arboretum, lies a nature trail that is being repaired. Under the guidance of Prof. Michael Baad, students are trying to repair the trail and fix the ecosystem. They plan on planting plants native to California and improving the existing eucalyptus grove. "Our goal is to have this area used as a real teaching tool," said student Nick Macias. "Hopefully, we can connect the trail to existing Sac State trails." Macias works in conjunction with Baad on the weekends to improve the trail. Macias' goal is to improve the entrance and make it more accessible. Donations are being sought for rail ties, gravel, wood planks, shovels. Volunt

Artistic Differences theater company opened a monthlong run of the hit musical "Reefer Madness" Friday evening. According to director Christine Nicholson, the company's largest cast ever is putting on this Capitol Stage musical production about a 1936 murder trial. "The subject is also especially worth exploring, considering the upcoming California ballot," she added. The story is based on the original musical appeared Off-Broadway in 2001, which in turn was based on the B-movie cult classic. Nicholson said she thinks this is the area's first performance of "Reefer Madness." The musical features many of the same characters as the film: Mae, Sally, Ralph and Jack. Mary Lane and Jimmy are

The question has been asked since the beginning: Is wrestling real or fake? World Wrestling Entertainment blew into Arco Arena Sunday night for a taping of its hit show WWE Friday Night SmackDown. Fans were treated to hard-hitting superstars as they prepared for Wrestlemania XXVI in Phoenix this Sunday. I wondered the question myself as I sat in the dark, the smell of fake smoke surrounding me from Undertaker's entrance. Children and adults in their matching favorite superstar's T-shirt screamed and clapped to the rhythm of the match. Daughters and sons sat in their fathers' laps as they bonded under the scoreboard. Children who saved their allowance money or who raked neighbor's leaves

They are athletes with a difference. They compete at the same level as their peers, but disabled athletes must train harder and push their limits further. That level of dedication was exemplified on March 20, a sunny afternoon near Yosemite Hall at Sac State, by about 30 kids and adults participating in activities sponsored by Access Leisure and Paralympic Sport Sacramento. The participants came from all over Northern California for a day of quad rugby, sled hockey, hand cycling and more. They were invited to try every activity with equipment loaned by the group. Volunteers came from different paralympic sport backgrounds, including champion hand cyclists and a quad rugby coach. "We wan