Anyone who has gotten off the charleston exit knows it can be nightmarish. Mauricio Marin ndot crews say when project neon is completedit should help reduce traffic by nearly 30percent. And with major Road Construction for project neon now startingndot folks are asking for drivers to be patient behind the wheel. Mauricio Marin the ramp is going to be shut down through tonight and sunday morning. So drivers will need to find other ways to get around. Reporting live. Mauricio marin. 8 news now. Christianne Klein mauricio. With only 36 hours to get the job done. Hows ndot making sure theyll get done on time . Mauricio Marin christianne. Nd ot says crews will be working around the clock to make sure they get the ramp back open as scheduled. Alsoa lot of the Big Equipment theyll need to get the job done is already onsite ready to go. Back to you. still moving along the corridor right now. That may not be the case this weekend. Traffic anchor Demetria Obilor takes a look at some alternate routes. The busiest ramp in the state is closing tonight at 10 pm and reopening 10am sunday. This is going to cause delays and confusion. So dont get caught up in it. You have some options. You in your back pocket, or you can take some that im going to suggest. You can exit early at valley view, south rancho or mlk and use those as alternates or take them to charleston to get to i15 south. You will need to leave earlier than usual. Signed detour which will direct you to take southbound 95 to the i15 north onramp, exit at d street, turn left under the overpass and get onto i15 south. The choice extra time. Thats my best advice. paul joncich metro police have identified the 19yearold driver who they say was on drugs impaired when he plowed into the back of a metro officer. The crash happened just after 4this morning near durango and tropicana. Thats when police say david motorcycle as he was waiting at a stop light. The officer was taken to umc trauma. 8 news now reporter Michael Stevens has an update on his condition. Metro police say the officer was on his motorcycle when he was hit. He suffered back, neck and leg injuries. And is being treated inside this hospital right now. Michael Stevens flashing police lights. Light up the intersection of tropicana and durango early friday morning. After an intoxicated driver rearends. At a highrate of speed. sgt. Richard strader metro police you need to be prepared to react to something. If youre not paying attention, this is the kind of stuff that happens. And yes, this is a motor cops worst nightmare. Michael Stevens police say the driver of the car stopped. And tried helping the officer thrown from his bike. sgt. Richard strader metro police in these types of collisions you see alot of back and neck injuries. Theres a chance that he may have some type of fractured vertabre or somthing wrong with his extremeties. Michael Stevens trauma. Where hes being treated for nonlife threatning injures. sgt. Richard strader metro police you cant tell but that motorcycle is totaled. Michael Stevens the driver of the car was arrested and charged with dui. And police say more charges could be added. sgt. Richard strader metro police you make the conseious decision to get behind the wheel impared, shame on you. Theres no reason for you to do it. And were very lucky that this isnt worse that he didnt strike a vehicle that was stopped. Had our officer been stopped on the side of the road. It wouldve again, it seems this officer is doing all right and should make a fullrecovery. paul joncich we want to make it clear that metro is saying the driver was not drunk but possibly on drugs. Christianne Klein we have an update for you on the mercury exposure at johnson junior high school. 8 news now has confirmed the one home deemed unsafe has been cleared. Youll remember last wednesday and faculty were screened for mercury poisoning after a teacher caught a group playing with the element. Epa officials tell us they cleared the home by pulling up some carpet and destroying other items. As for charges. Clark County School district tells us they hope to identify the person responsible and determine whether or not charges will be filed. Christianne Klein the Nevada Public Utilities Commission voted to restore cheaper rates for solar rooftop customers. The change will apply to customers who installed or requested a y year. They will be grandfathered into lower rates for the next 20 years. The puc increased rates this year. Saying it corrected a subsidy that non solar customers were paying. For those who had panels. Christianne Klein and of course many people sounding off on the topic on our Facebook Page. Most are saying its about time and wondering whether or not they will get a refund. Wed like to know what you think. You can join in on the conversation on our Facebook Page thats 8 news now. paul joncich from solar energy to the skies way back into valley as we inch closer to the century mark. Katie boer gives a look at just how long the warm up will last. Katie . katie boer good evening a really nice late summer day across Southern Nevada with clear sunny skies and nice warm, below average temperatures across the region. Lets take a look at your evening planner for tonight. By 7pm 88, by 9pm 83, low 80s for 11pm and looking ahead to saturday morning. Organization will hold the First International zika prevention meeting. The different ways the organization plans to unify all 48 countries fighting the virus. plus. Pipeline spill down south may have some residual affects on gas prices nationally. Those stories and more next on the valleys news leader. the new salami caprese panini from subway. Pressed and grilled to cinematic perfection and meld the flavors in melted cheese. Part of the new chefinspired panini collection from subway. Im Catherine Cortez masto and i come from a big family. A whole lot of people. A whole lot of love. And a whole lot of food. 60 years ago they met here in nevada and we grew as a family really grew as a family. Dad got his start parking cars at the dunes hotel. But he went on to be the head of tourism for las vegas and helped build the city we know today. Dad lived his life following three principles, work hard, be honest and respect everyone, thats what i tried to do as attorney general. Catherine took on the big banks when they preyed on homeowners. And forced them to pay one point nine billion dollars to nal leader in protecting children from sex traffickers. And passed laws to keep seniors safe from crooked scams. Im Catherine Cortez masto, i approve this message because ive spent my career solving problems, isnt that something this is 8 news now at four. paul joncich north and south america battling the zika virus the Pan American Health organization has now announced it will hold the First International zika prevention meeting next month. So far there have been 116 thousand zika cases confirned and another nearly 500 thousand suspected. The paho says next months meeting will be the first step to form a common and unified strategy as well as set up an Information Exchange website to determine a standard and widely accepted plan for prevention and zika prevention meeting will run october 20th through the 21st in havana cuba. paul joncich meanwhile. Those with a criminal past may now have a fair chance at going to college. The white house says over 80 colleges and universities have signed on to its fair chance for Higher Education pledge. Those schools will commit to adopting admissions practices that dont immediately disqualify applicants because of their criminal records. They also commit to making internships and job training available. The white house says about one in five americans have a criminal record. Crews are making progress in preparing a busted pipeline in alabama that could hike up the price of gas nationwide. Reports show up to 336 thousand gallons have leaked out of the pipeline in shelby county. The gasoline leak caused an interruption to line 1, which transports gasoline from refiners on the gulf coast to locations along the eastern seaboard which distrubution has since been halted leading experts to believe prices will drive up prices and even leave some probably going to see more of an increase than other areas. But i think fortunately here in al our proximity to the gulf and other methods of retaining gas are gonna help keep our increase minimal. Christianne Klein officials arent sure when the leak began but the hope to get the line repaired by next week. paul joncich wouldnt it be nice if when you were hungry. Something tasty would come down from the sky . Christianne Klein up next. Drones that deliv reality. And so is the technology that will bring you a chipotle burrito on demand. announcer youre look out for flying burritos near the Virginia Tech campus. As part of a test program, which the faa has approved, chipotle will deliver burritos to students and staff on campus by drone the company is partnering with a unit of google on the project. Were told burritos will be put together in a food truck and then loaded on the drones. Toss to weather greek fest katie boer good evening a really nice nevada with clear sunny skies across Southern Nevada with clear sunny skies and nice warm, region. Lets take a look at your evening planner for tonight. By 7pm 88, by 9pm 83, low 80s for 11pm and looking ahead to saturday morning low 70s by 8am tomorrow. Looking at Current Conditions today were below seasonal average with highs in the upper 80s some low 90s in our warmer neighborhoods. Weather headlines look for temps. Climbing into the weekend. Near 100s by sunday. A littlet possible for next week however. Slight chance of thunderstorms starting monday night into wednesday. Tonight and tomorrow should remain pretty comfortable. Look or lows in the upper 60s with mid 90s in store for your saturday afternoon. Look for lots of sunshine. 7day look for mid 90s tomorrow, but temps. Climb into the weekend. By sunday look for highs above average in the upper 90s. For next week monday well be 90s. With a slight chance of storms arriving late monday night through possibly wednesday. Tuesday dropping into the upper 80s. Wednesday right around 90 wednesday right around 90 degrees. Christianne Klein just into our newsroom. This cone zone isnt slowing you down, but you still want to know what crews are up to. So Demetria Obilor found out for you, in whats driving you crazy . Demetria Obilor j p wants to know, whats going on just off 215 and cheyenne . I reached out to the city of las vegas to find out wha the construction of the access road to summerlin village 26 reverence. The city says the access road comes off cliff shadows parkway and hugs the beltway until it enters into the community. Cox cable has also been in the area working with fiber cable on cliff shadows, just west of 215, as well. Hey whats driving you crazy . Send your traffic question to traffic eight at las vegas dot com. Christianne Klein just into our newsroom. There will be a Senate Debate right here on klas. paul joncich doctor joe heck will take part in a debate with his challenger. Catherine cortez masto. There is still no confirmed date. But. The heck Campaign Just sent out a saying he will be part of the debate with cortez masto. When we find out the date. We will let you know. Christianne Klein coming up on the valleys news leader. Helping kids get over their stage fright. paul joncich the talent show that was a confidence booster at one local school. In todays whats cool at school. announcer youre watching 8 news now at four. Woman here in nevada, those were the worst days of our lives, and congressman heck called it a blip. Narrator in 2008, joe heck called nevadas housing crisis a blip on the radar. Thats just how out of touch joe heck is. Narrator after heck sponsored a bill giving tax breaks to big banks, he took over 500,000 from wall street including banks who caused the housing crisis. Its clear what joe hecks priorities are, and families like mine get left behind. Narrator afscme people is responsible taking the stage for an annual talent show. paul joncich brian loftus has the story in todays whats cool at school. brian loftus two local Elementary Schools robert lake and ruby thomas teamed up for a talent show featuring the skills of their student find a love of performing. Joseph buck pta president robert e. Lake elem. Its more to let some of these kids get out of their shells, then strictly a talent show. brian loftus students showed courage and pride when taking the stage. Zakiyah was so apprehensive at first, she felt a little sick. But her teachers and teammates were by her side. Zakiyah green 5th grade on stage, since i have support. My friends support me, its fun, and my teacher, she supports me, and she makes it fun. brian loftus now she loves the chance to zakiyah green 5th grade dancing with everybody, at the end. brian loftus we caught the kids during a recent rehearsal. The payoff. Perform ing for friends, family, and the whole school nathaniel mahnesmith 6th grade honestly, my most favorite thing it to bring talent to make kids happy thats the main reason why. brian loftus these two schools often combine events carnivals, movie nights, and now for the second year in a row the talent show. With 22 acts and 2 closing numbers joseph buck pta president robert e. Lake elem. We have singing, we have acting, we have dancing. brian lofts feel the freedom and fun of trying something new, and maybe discover a love of the arts joseph buck pta president robert e. Lake elem. Its anything the want to do, its more of a variety show than anything else. Its just about letting them experience the arts in a way that theyre going to enjoy. brian loftus and thats whats cool at school paul joncich to vote for this program or if you know something thats cool at school just head to las vegas now dot com. Itll be under the Community Tab under sections. Cool at school at las vegas now dot com. The winner will receive 250 bucks for their program. Christianne Klein coming up on the valleys news leader. Another day, another dust up between the canidates. paul joncich Donald Trumps brief statement about president obama sets off a firestorm and Hillary Clinton is among those slamming the republican nominee. Christianne Klein although president obama including with nukes, yes including with nukes. I know more about isis than the generals do, believe me. Nuclear, just the power the devastation, is very important to me. I want to be unpredictable, unpredictable, unpredictable, unpredictable. Conversation. paul joncich as Craig Boswell explains. Donald trump flipfloped on the campaign trail and now Hillary Clintons camp has pounced. At his washington hotel, republican president ial nominee donald trump summed up several years of controversy that he helped promote in just a few words president barack obama was born in the united states, period. Trump blamed Hillary Clintons 2008 president ial campaign the first place. Earlier, clinton took a jab at trump from her Campaign Event across town hes lead the Birther Movement to delegitimize our first black president. Clinton later unleashed a tweetstorm, calling trumps actions a disgrace. President obama says hes confident about his birthplace. Im shocked that a question like that would come up at a time when we got so many other things to do. Craig Boswell, cbs Craig Boswell, cbs news, washington, dc while the president wasnt too bothered about the birther controversy, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are seething. rep. G. K. Butterfield dn. C. donald trump is a disgusting fraud rep. Hakeem jeffries, dn. Y donald trump is nothing more than a 2bit racial arsonist. Trump briefly stopped by rnc headquarters before heading to florida. And clinton is back in new york. A new poll shows the two are locked in a statistical tie when Third Party Candidates are included. News, washington. paul joncich the two thirdparty candidates did not meet the polling criteria to qualify for the first two president ial debates. paul joncich channel 8 is your local election headquarters throughout the campaign season. You can stay up to date right here on 8 news now. Or on our website. Las vegas now dot com. Christianne Klein the weather has really no rain. The weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny. paul joncich katie is in for tedd tonight. Spending some Time Outdoors at the greek food festival. katie boer good evening a really nice late summer day across Southern Nevada with clear sunny skies and and nevada with clear sunny skies and nice warm, belo