to spay or neuter your pet for world spay day. /// < welcome to a brighter morning, this is 8 newsnow with kirsten joyce, sherry swensk, demetria obilor and brian loftus > ((kirsten joyce)) > thanks for joining us, i'm kirsten joyce. ((brian loftus)) and i'm brian loftus. another republican candidate has dropped out of the race... following south carolina's republican primary. ((kirsten joyce)) jeb bush is out and donald trump took the win. tomorrow is the republican nevada caucus. danielle nottingham has the latest from the campaign trail. donald trump is on a roll after picking up 50 delegates in his south carolina victory. but trump isn't underestimating his republican rivals. (sot: donald trump, republican presidential candidate) i'm dealing with very talented people, smart people, good people.i think they'll be competing. we still have competition. its shaping up to be a three man race between trump and senators marco rubio and ted cruz heading into tuesdays caucuses in nevada. rubio picked up the endorsement

it could be key in his effort to become the choice of establishment republicans. (sot: senator marco rubio) "the democrats don't want to run against me, but i want to run against them" (danielle nottingham, cbs news, pahrump, nv) "cruz is hitting the ground hard here in nevada after a disappointing third place finish in south carolina, where he lost the evangelical vote to trump" (sot: ted cruz, republican presidential candidate) it is becoming clearer and clearer that we are the one campaign that can beat donald trump. infact we're the only campaign that has beaten donald trump his supporters agree. (katreen romanoff, cruz supporters) he will do the best to save our country. more than that he's going to save the constitution. we're going back to the constitution. senator bernie sanders was also looking to rebound from a tough loss in nevada to hillary clinton. he attended church services in south carolina sunday trying to court black voters. the democrats have their next contest saturday in the palmetto state. danielle nottingham, cbs new, pahrump, nevada ((kirsten joyce)) overall,

ted cruz has 11 while marco rubio has 10 delegates. /// ((brian loftus)) > we will continue our local caucus coverage tomorrow for the republican caucus. we will have reporters at all the front- runners camps.. and the counting headquarters... starting with the kick-off of the caucus in our 5 p-m newscast. and stay tuned for special editions of politics now at 7:30 and 11 o'clock as the results start coming in. /// let's get to sherry with a look at today's weather.

the stars and the full moon are out early on this monday morning. temps are in the mild 50s right now after hitting the mid 70s sunday afternoon. ............ the north winds will pick up as the day goes on and will be even stronger tomorrow. ............ sunny skies will stay with us until the end of the week... then some clouds, but a drop in temps tomorrow after the northerly winds blow through./ ..

((brian loftus)) ((kirsten joyce))

< > < > > that's a look at the roads... back to you./// ((kirsten joyce)) > two people are behind bars... in two separate child abuse cases in north las vegas. cynthia lavender is accused of murder. police say she was watching a good friend's five month old boy....and admitted to throwing and later dropping the baby. that infant did not survive. and..... alejandra robles is accused of child abuse and neglect. police say she was working at an unlicensed daycare... and admitted to throwing a seven month old child.. who will have injuries for the rest of his life.

authorities.. if you see anything that is cause for concern. /// ((brian loftus)) > tomorrow is world spay day... and the animal foundation is offering more than 400 free spay or neuter appointments. you can go down to the animal foundation in person... between 10-am and six... or give them a call to book your free appointment. /// ((brian loftus)) > new projects keep coming on the strip... but the progress of resorts world is at a stand still. ((kirsten joyce)) so when will construction start back up? we take a look at the company who's responsible for the new strip property. ((brian loftus)) > plus -- nasa received a record breaking amount of applications... to become an astronaut. /// anchors

((kirsten joyce)) > those who keep an eye on the las vegas economy are beginning to wonder when the massive resorts world project will ever get off the ground. ((brian loftus)) a malaysian company purchased the stalled "echelon" project on the 87 acres... at las vegas boulevard and convention center drive in early 2013. they promised construction would begin in 2014... but since then, progress has been slow, to non- existent. ((kirsten joyce)) paul joncich discovered the company has a

slowly and mysteriously on major developments. ((paul joncich)) when genting purchased the former echelon site from boyd gaming, they were quick to trumpet plans for a 4 billion dollar asian themed resort casino. they rolled out colorful artist renderings that included a giant panda exhibit, waterpark, and more than 65- hundred rooms. they said they would begin construction in late 2014. but it didn't happen. a few months later, the executive in charge of the project left the company. (( )) after a may 2015 ground breaking ceremony where dignitaries spoke glowingly of the project, the site, and the company has remained strangely (( the property... occasionally you may see a crew or two working on the parking garage, but that's it. at this pace, delivering on the 2018 opening date....is a long shot. we've repeatedly reached out for information.... but emails to company contacts

and the only update on the 4 billion dollar project....is an occasional facebook post. the last one: october 26th. ((paul joncich)) so what's the hurry? it'll eventually be built right? but when? this project was projected to generate more than 30- thousand construction jobs. more than 8,000 permanent jobs. and $155 million in annual tax revenue. that would be a shot in the arm the las vegas economy could use right now)) )) the city of miami was hoping for a similar shot in the arm in 2011, when genting announced plans to build resorts world miami. the company purchased 14 acres of prime real estate on biscayne bay, and rolled out spectacular artist renderings of a casino resort the ceo said would "change the face of miami." the promise of thousands of new jobs was intoxicating. ((nat of the site today-paul's permanent video)) but five years later, there's been no development, and the site....remains idle.

gambling legalized, genting is sitting on the property. there is speculation they may flip it. the company parted ways with legal and p.r. reps. and reporters attempting to get updates are met with radio silence...(fade to almost black??) maybe the most encouraging sign with resorts world las vegas is that the company continues filing for the necessary permits to move forward. the county has given the go- ahead...so what gives? exactly when they intend to go full throttle on construction is anyone's guess. one things for sure, thousands of las vegans who need jobs will be watching. ((paul joncich)) representative s from the company emailed late today saying a couple things. 1st. they say expect a construction ramp up sometime this summer. they're still shooting for a 2018 opening. and plans still call for a $ 4 billion dollar development. meanwhile, just south of resorts world is the alon site. where there are plans to build an 11-hundred room hotel/casino. a spokesperson told me a few weeks ago they're hoping to break ground sometime in late

((kirsten joyce)) > a big change is coming to california's high speed rail system. ((brian loftus)) how far back construction is being pushed... and which cities will be affected as the new plans get underway. ///

landfall in fiji this weekend. it's recorded as the strongest system on record for the area. the storm had wind speeds of up to 177 miles per hour... destroying hundreds of homes and shredding crops. the storm is responsible for at least three deaths. the government has declared a national state of disaster... effective for the next 30 days. /// ((sherry swensk)) > and do you think you have what it takes to be an astronaut? well, nasa received a record 18- thousand applications for its astronaut candidate training program.

of the thousands who applied... between eight and 14 people will be picked. once the candidates are chosen, they'll undergo two years of candidates are chosen, they'll undergo two years of basic training... like spacewalking and learning how to speak russian. /// let's get to sherry with a look

sherry swensk we're rocking around just a little out there this morning... but winds will get breezier as our monday goes on and even stronger winds expected into tuesday as a weak system slides by the area. ..............

and winds are below 10 mph, but that should increase to 15 or even 20 by the afternoon. ............ let's check temps around the country. not too cold... but definitely cooler to the north. warm and moist air across the deep south will feed into thunderstorms and possibly severe weather today. ....... the west will keep storms to the northwest... with this little disturbance sliding by to the east and north. ............ bigger winds tomorrow to maybe 30 mph or higher... and strong along the river. temps drop at least ten degrees. <

((brian loftus)) > she's 106- years-old... but she feels like she's still her 21-year-old self. ((kirsten joyce)) we're talking about virginia mclaurin. who visited the president and first lady... dancing her way, into the white house. the obamas were just as excited to see her, as she was... to be there. : (( : president obama: "slow down now, don't go too quick... she's 106?" michelle obama: "no you are not!" michelle obama: "i wanna be like you when i grow up." virginia: "you can..." president: she's dancing, come on.

dancing at 106? michelle obama: "just keep movin... we're so happy to have you here." )) ((kirsten joyce)) virginia made a visit to the white house... in honor of black history month. /// ((brian loftus)) ((kirsten joyce))

< > > that's a look at the roads... look at the roads... back to you./// ((kirsten joyce)) > clearing up > clearing up confusion...on your colds and congestion. ((brian loftus)) the types of coughs you should watch out for... which could be a sign of something more serious. that story and more, coming up

for a multi- billion-dollar high-speed rail project in california is starting to change. ((kirsten joyce)) as david bienick explains.. the california high-speed rail authority released a 101- page draft report... updating its business plan. (nats) as workers continue building a bridge for high- speed rail near fresno... planners of the project have now changed their minds about where the first trains will run. (jeff morales/ceo, california high- speed rail authority): "it's a very significant advance for the program." jeff morales -- head of the high- speed rail authority -- released an updated business plan this week. instead of starting passenger service between merced and the san fernando valley... the new plan calls for running the first trns from san jose to near bakersfield. (jeff morales/ceo, california high- speed rail authority): "this is really just a math issue. we know we have, in round numbers, 20-billion dollars. we can build the north with that." morales says the southern

cut through the tehachapi mountains -- will come a few years later... after the project proves itself, he says, and attracts private investors. (jeff morales/ceo, california high- speed rail authority): "we're going to build the entire system. it's a question of which piece goes first." the new plan also pushes back the start of passenger service from 2022 to 2025... and it lowers the price-tag for the overall san francisco to los angeles line from 68-billion to 64- billion dollars. (george runner/california board of equalization): "to me, this is just an issue of where the high-speed rail authority wants to get something done." george runner -- a member of the state board of equalization and long-time high- speed rail critic -- is supporting a ballot initiative that would redirect some of the project's funding to building dams and reservoirs. (george runner/high-speed rail critic): "we think it's an easy sell, and that's why we believe it should be on the ballot. i mean, what's more important to people, trains or water." ((kirsten joyce)) that was david bienick reporting. the updated plan also lowers ridership estimates... but still predicts it will turn

since 1961, pearle vision has provided the neighborhood with expert eye care. that was dr. stanley pearle's vision and we still proudly carry on his legacy. today, doctors like lisa hamilton perform

because we care for you... and your eyes. this is genuine eye care, in your neighborhood. this is pearle vision. > ((michael stevens is live with more on the democratic caucus)) ((brian loftus)) > several people killed... in what police are calling a random shooting by an uber driver. what we're learning about the suspect this morning. plus ...

> you might be hearing a chorus of coughs at your workplace this time of year... we break down what several different types of coughs mean... so you know what's wrong...and when to go to the doctor. /// < welcome to a brighter morning, this is 8 newsnow with kirsten joyce, sherry swensk, demetria obilor and brian loftus > ((brian loftus)) > good morning and thanks for joining us. i'm brian loftus. ((kirsten joyce)) and i'm kirsten joyce. another big political week.. here in the valley. ((brian loftus)) the democratic caucus was saturday.. and tomorrow.. republicans will head to the polls. boxes 8 news now reporter michael stevens joins us now live... michael... it was a tight race here over the weekend. ((michael stevens)) brian, kirsten... it really was... now the g-o-p candidates are setting their sights on nevada ahead of tomorrow's caucus...