Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 1

SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE TODAY'lEGENDS RENOxTAHOE OPEN RENO TOURNAMENT 10 YEARS STRONG The 10 most memorable moments in event's history 5.4 QUAKE ROCKS S. CALIFORNIA IB OURNA Online at RGJ.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 50 cents YOU CAN MAKE IT EASY This week, Jennifer Bushman shows you how to make a tasty ice cream roll cake FOOD DRINK, ID, AND RCJ.COMMAKEITEASY A RENO GAZETTE TODAY'S OK Hi DECISION '08 I Presidential campaigns McCain defends conservative record rara 5sra may tar suite Developers might be planning joint venture yS i i I A N. Sl. LONGEST SERVING GOP SENATOR INDICTED U.S. Sen.

Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was indicted on seven felony counts of concealing more than a quarter of a million dollars in house renovations and gifts from a powerful oil contractor that lobbied him for government aid. NATION, 2B STATE TAXABLE SALES CONTINUE TO SLIDE Taxable sales, the largest revenue source for the state, fell for the 14th straight month in Washoe County as rising costs put a chill on auto sales and other discretionary spending. BUSINESS, 8A YOSEMITE-AREA FIRE BURNS 25 HOMES The blaze near Yosemite National Park was largely out of control, and it has shrouded one of California's most popular destinations in smoke, and risks marring business at the height of the park's busiest season. NATION WORLD, IB SCHOOL BOARD DELAYS MCQUEEN DRUG TESTS The Washoe County school board postponed for a week action on a request from McQueen High officials to start random drug testing of football players for 15 weeks during the upcoming season. LOCAL REGION, 3A BY RAY HAGAR rhagarigj.com Reno's Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Northern Nevada's largest gaming property, is negotiating with the group bringing Triple-A baseball to Reno to either INSIDE sell the resort property or enter ATLANTIS: into a joint venture for future de- Parent velopment, according to a staff company report from the Reno Redevel- reports lower opment Agency.

earnings. 6A The negotiations surrounding the Grand Sierra appear to be a sale and not a joint venture with Nevada Land II LLC, the group building the baseball stadium in downtown Reno, according to the redevelopment agency's July 16 report. The report listed no selling price and was unclear on whether the sale involved the entire property or surrounding land. "Although the purchase is not complete, Nevada Land II LLC has been working on the acquisition of the Grand Sierra site," the report said. SEE GRAND SIERRA ON 6A LISA J.

TOLDARENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain, holds a town hall meeting before a packed house Tuesday inside the gymnasium at Reed High School in Sparks. Republican candidate speaks -to packed house in Sparks visit ONRGJ.COM ELECTIONS ANJE ANETTE DAMON INTERVIEWS MCCAIN Visit reporter Anjeanette Damon's blog, "Inside Nevada Politics," to read an exclusive interview with the presumptive Republican candidate. You can log on to RGJ.cominp WATCH VIDEO OF MCCAIN'S APPEARANCE You can watch the entirety of mm mm mm ma mt Mm mm mm ml cided Democratic voters and even a disaffected supporter or two of U.S.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid. McCain's swing through Northern Nevada was his third trip to the state since becoming the presumptive Republican nominee. He attended a private fundraiser at an Incline Village home Tuesday evening before leaving for Colorado. Identifying Nevada as one of his top swing states in the November election, McCain positioned himself as a fellow Westerner who isn't afraid to go against Washington politics.

sit MCCAIN on 7A THE PROTESTERS BY AN JE ANETTE DAMON adamonrgj.com In his first campaign appearance in Sparks, U.S. Sen. John McCain spent an hour Tuesday fielding questions from Nevada voters on immigration, the national debt, taxes and stem cell research, before defending his conservative credentials to a voter who said he is more excited about "voting against Barack Obama" than voting for McCain. The crowd of more than 1,200 drew skeptics and supporters alike, from worried conservatives anxious that McCain choose a solid running mate, to unde- THE CROWD A A McCains town hall meeting at Reed High School. GET THE LATEST CAMPAIGN UPDATES Compare candidates, read biographies and find out more at our interactive elections site.

THE PHOTOS TODAY IN ARTOWN 13 LIZ MARGERUMRENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The Belvedere condo tower, formerly the Sundowner Hotel Casino, burns Tuesday in downtown Reno. Flames burn part of former Sundowner A 1 4 Log on to RGJ.com to see photos of RGJ staff during McCain's visit. Also, send us your photos from the visit. Hundreds of people showed up early and stood in line for hours to attend McCain's town hall meeting in Sparks. Many expressed confidence in the Republican and wanted him to campaign more aggressively.

7A A group of about 50 demonstrators from the Washoe County Democratic Party and other groups gathered outside Reed High School during McCain's appearance there to protest against the candidate's positions. 7A The Reno Jazz Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. at Wingfield Park as part of the Food for the Soul World Music Series. Admission is free, but Artown suggests a donation of $10 or 10 cans of food. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Details: 331-3663. Artown runs through Thursday. For a complete-list of today's events, visit RGJ.comartown TODAY'S WEATHER High 93 Low 58 Complete forecast, page 6B LOG ON TO RGJ.COM FOR UPDATES, ROAD CONDITIONS. INSIDE TODAY Local 1-7A FoodLiving 1D 2A 7D Business 8-1 OA TVMovies 8D Crossword 9D Lottery 6B DearAbby 90 1-6C Sports 1-6E Events 2C Daily Fix 2E Obituaries. 3C.6C Scoreboard 5E Voices 4-5C Classifieds 1 -6F ANNUAL SCHOOLS REPORT BY TAMMY KRIKORIAN tkrikorianrgj.com i Reno firefighters stopped a fire at a downtown condominium project Tuesday afternoon in less than an hour after it produced thick, heavy clouds of black smoke and forcing nearby evacuations.

The fire at The Belvedere, the former Sundowner Hotel Casino being developed into luxury condominiums, was reported just before 5 p.m. on a mid-level roof over the office and porte-cochere and crawled up the north wall of the south tower. The cause remained under investigation. Reno fire spokesman Steve Frady said most of the damage was to the exterior of the south building. Fire-resistant construction helped prevent the fire from spreading to the interior, where there was some water and smoke damage.

Some light smoke was reported in the north tower, but no fire. SEE FLAMES ON 6A 47 Washoe schools fall below federal standards STAFF REPORT educators since its inception. The results pf No Child Left Behind testing left Libby Booth, Rita Cannan, Echo Loder and Veteran's Memorial elementary schools and Fred Traner Middle School listed as needing improvement for the fourth straight year. "(NCLB) is flawed and has been flawed from the onset," Superintendent Paul Dugan said. "It holds everyone to the same standard and that's not reasonable." See full story on page 1C.

Forty-seven Washoe County schools failed to meet standards in 2007-08, while 53 were designated adequate, high or exemplary under a federal law that has been criticized by For convenient home delivery: (rtUA miiiiiiiiiiiii mi bxfi i KJj IsiL m'WqFin I i iiii iliSllssiSQ .0 9 'n CmS K'iUSSW 2008 Printed on recycled paper I rfitf ui toVimSkiin ikm iWfaf I PAID ADVERTISEMENT.