President Bush will land in Las Vegas around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. He will stop in town to talk about the war on terror and also raise some money for the republican party. The Federal Aviation Administration is clearing the skies ahead of his visit.

The restriction applies mostly to private aircraft. Commercial flight arrivals and departures are not expected to be affected.

The president will be meeting with party faithful and talking about the global war on terror, but then attention turns to a pricey fundraiser nearby. And one of those may be more important than the other.

After weeks of hearing and seeing potential presidents — at last a chance to meet the real thing right here in Nevada.

“The state's becoming a player,” said Sig Rogich. He was a campaign strategist for the first Bush administration, and he sees the arrival of the current president as part of the continued coming out party for the Silver State.

“And the President's visit is one more indication Nevada is a state that'll be listened to in the years ahead,” said Rogich.

Yet the luxurious estates of Queensridge and Tournament Hills will be host to a speech about the war and later, the president will hold a fundraising lunch.

“He's not here to do big public campaign appearances,” said UNLV political science professor, David Fott. He says the president doesn't need to do meet and greets. The republican party needs money after being out-raised two to one by democrats.

“I suspect that the republican fundraiser comes first,” said Dr. Fott.

“I'm not surprised that a professor at the university would make that kind of comment,” said Rogich.

Rogich clearly disagrees, saying this isn't about country club politics — instead a chance to thank long-time supporters. Either way, that not-so-subtle art of fundraising may be center stage this time a politician comes to town.

The much-talked about fundraiser will be taking place at the home of Sheldon Adelson. He is the head of the Sands Corporation behind the Venetian and Palazzo.

The republican party would not disclose how much you have to pay or donate to have lunch with the president.

A wounded soldier and his family are getting some much needed help adjusting back to normal life. Thanks to some members of the Las Vegas community, the young family has a roof over their head minus the cost.

That soldier is specialist Enrique Pineda. He and his family are settling into a home in northwest Las Vegas. Pineda was shot in the neck while serving in Iraq one year ago.

At the time, he wasn't sure what the future held. Now he says, with help from the Las Vegas community, the possibilities are endless.

Looking at pictures isn't easy for specialist Enrique Pineda. It's a reminder of the way life used to be, before he was shot by a sniper in Iraq. Now he lives with his left arm in a sling, only able to slightly move his fingers and shoulder.

“I wish I could hold my daughter with two hands and hold my wife and hug her with two hands,” he said.

Shortly after being shot, specialist Pineda and his wife Jessica started worrying about the future, wondering how they were going to support their little girl, Avianna.

“How bad are his injuries? Am I going to have to take care of him and be the bread winner and take care of my daughter? There were a lot of things going through my mind,” said Jessica.

But those worries were soon laid to rest after specialist Pineda won a scholarship from Sentinels of Freedom. Through the program, the wounded soldier gets a rent-free house for four years, a car, furniture, a job and money to go back to school.

“There's no more I can ask for. I need the help. It's making me a better person — thrive for my career,” he said.

The goal is to help wounded servicemen and women assimilate back into civilian life. Sentinels of Freedom provides all the money but then it's left up to people from the community.

Joan Kuptz of REMAX Advantage is the team leader for Sentinels of Freedom here in Las Vegas. She helped find the house for the family.

“I think anybody who makes a sacrifice like that, we owe it to them,” said Kuptz.

Now with their new home, the worries that once hovered overhead are gone. Even with a disability, specialist Pineda has been given a second chance to support his family.

“I'm overwhelmed. I've got so many things going for me right now. Just taking things day by day, step by step.”

This scholarship ends after four years. By then, the wounded soldiers will hopefully be able to support themselves.

Eyewitness News was told recipients are selected on their attitude and on how hard they are willing to work to assimilate back into the community.

Email your comments to Reporter Melissa Duran.

Preserving the history of southern Nevada sometimes takes a backseat to land development. But there is one patch of land receiving added protection against the bulldozers.

Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, in northwest Las Vegas, is today what it's been for decades — an oasis in the desert and a place to relax by the water.

To explore the area's antiquity, you would have to decide how far back you want to go. After all, signs of early man and ancient animals have been found here. But preservationists are captivated by the park's more recent timeline — connecting Las Vegas with its colorful 20th century past.

“We do know that Howard Hughes in the 50's, when he started coming out here on a regular basis, housed Terri Moore — his supposed wife or lover or girlfriend, depending on which of those two people you believe,” said park preservationist Don White.

White is a member of the Citizens Action Committee of Tule Springs, or CACTUS. He's among those with aspirations of keeping the park from becoming just another neighborhood. And CACTUS can breathe a little easier, for now. The Las Vegas City Council has added the park to the city's historic register.

“By accepting the whole 680 acres of historic park land into their historic register, that is a real viable means to protect all of those acres of the park,” said White.

Tules are aquatic plants that still flourish here. A gushing supply of fresh water made this place a popular stop for dusty travelers in the 1800's.

The water supply at Tule Springs was also a big draw for bootleggers, who set up shop there in the 1920's.

Moving ahead to the 1940's, Prosper Jacob Goumond, Or PJ, bought the land from a local sheriff. He closed on the deal on December 7, 1941. A few years later, PJ got the party started at Tule Springs.

“All of the people coming back from the war were ready to see the USA in their Chevrolet and decided it was a great idea to follow the Hollywood movement towards dude ranches. So he established a dude ranch. And because of Nevada's very liberal divorce laws, he decided it would be a great idea to play up that aspect too,” said White.

The new historic designation means that any future projects here have to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. So the Tules may still be here, wavering in the breeze for the next generation.

Email your comments to Producer Rick Andrews

Las Vegas Fire Dept. is reporting that sprinklers put out a fire at a high-rise building in Summerlin. The fire was in a maintenance area on the bottom floor. No word yet on what started the fire.

Parents are worried about letting their children walk to school in the northwest part of the valley. Twice in just two weeks, girls have been approached by a man. One was sexually assaulted.

But Thursday morning, two girls say they were flashed as they tried to make it to school. Now police may be searching for a pedophile targeting a specific neighborhood in the area of Grand Teton and Buffalo. 

Sara Eggert worries her daughter is only the latest victim of a man targeting young girls in their neighborhood.

“I am kind of scared for all the kids around here because both of my kids, and all the kids I know in the neighborhood, have to walk that way to go to school,” she said.

Thursday morning, her daughter and a friend were on their way to school when they say a man started walking near them.

“I thought he lost his dog or something,” said one of the teens.

The girls didn't think to worry until he stopped in front of them.

“He gets in front of us and he stops and then he unzips his pants and he exposes himself to us,” adds the teen. “It was pretty scary. I didn't know what he was going to do next.”

The girls called their parents and then police but both are still shaken.

“It's the worst thing that you can think that is going to happen to one of your kids — that somebody exploits them, takes them, does something to them. That is the worst possible thing that I can think of that can happen to my kids,” said Eggert.

The girls say they always look out for strange people, but the man looked harmless, so they didn't think to worry. Now they want other kids to be warned.

“Be careful, watch what you are doing, watch everything around you and just make sure that you stay together,” said the teen.

The girl's mothers say they both talked with them after this man attacked a girl last week and told them to be extra careful. They want parents to be extra vigilant about talking to their kids and make sure they look out for people around them.

Email your comments to Reporter Amanda Hernandez

A sexual assault suspect has been caught and now police are looking for potential victims.

Twenty-six-year-old Edward Adams has been arrested and charged with first degree kidnapping, sexual assault of a victim of under 14, battery and open and gross lewdness.

The alleged rape involved a 13-year-old girl who was walking home from school near Buffalo and Alta when she was approached by Adams. The girl told police that Adams grabbed her by the neck and claimed he had a gun. Police say she was taken to a vacant apartment and sexually assaulted by Adams.

Police believe Adams could have other victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Adams lived on west Sahara.

Anyone with information about Edward Adams is asked to call Crimestoppers 385-5555. 

Las Vegas police are asking public help to find a man who they say grabbed a 15-year-old girl on her way to high school last week.

The girl got away from the man after police say he grabbed her from behind and rubbed her leg about 7 a.m. Thursday near Buffalo and Grand Teton drives. The girl ran to Arbor View High School for help.

The man is described as white, in his late 20s, about 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police think he might have driven a small red vehicle.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning Monday in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada in support of Hillary Clinton.

President Clinton has spent the day speaking to very different groups. Monday morning he spoke to students at Green Valley High School, then to parents and retirees at the Centennial Hills YMCA in the northwest and now a group of all three at the Doolittle Community Center. But each time he's been talking up Hillary Clinton's experience and track record.

Jan. 14 Poll Shows Dems Neck-and-Neck

The former president hammered the point home that his wife has established a history of catering to Nevada's needs in health care, education and her stance against the war in Iraq.

In 2000 and 2004, President Clinton had been seen as a liability to many running for office, but the crowds in 2008 love what he has to say. Monday, some supporters rekindled the talk of a co-presidency, thanks to the the Clinton family attitude toward the rest of the world.

“From now on, we will practice vigorous, persistent diplomacy with friend and foe alike and use military force and only use military force only as a last resort — not the other way around,” said President Bill Clinton.

“I'm sure that she'll ask him for his input but I really think the decision will be hers even though, like they claim, you'll get two for one,” said Marlene Mobley, a Clinton supporter.

Clinton also mentioned his wife's long time opposition to Yucca Mountain and how that fight still continues. He said Clinton knows the science and voted against the project — even though New Yorkers wanted to ship waste here to Nevada.

The growth of Southern Nevada is creating a higher demand for medical services. Soon, a new hospital will open in the northwest part of the valley providing easier access to the snowballing population of that area.

The $100 million Centennial Hills Hospital and Medical Center, located off U.S. 95 at Durango — will provide a full range of services in the rapidly-expanding northwest.

The hospital's chief executive officer, Kevin Stockton says area residents are looking forward to a hospital closer to home.

“We've got 250,000 people in a 5-to-6 mile radius of our hospital that have had to drive to all different parts of town for care,” said Stockton.

The 165 bed facility is equipped with the latest medical technology, including advanced imaging devices ranging from nuclear medicine to digital mammography.

Among the unique hi-tech features is a remote imaging system that will allow doctors to view critical tests from anywhere in the city. But staffing the new eight story hospital with its 400 employees has not been easy. Recruitment within the medical community has become highly competitive.

“It is a challenge to hire and recruit the right people to provide the best care. We've been fortunate that we've had a very high level of interest from the health care community in working here, not only from our staff positions, but also physicians,” said Stockton.

Chief nursing officer, Carol Butler, has also been busy filling positions from the ground up in the midst of a nursing shortage.

There are more than six specialty areas that must be fully staffed with nurses including intensive care, women's services, surgery and cardiology. Butler says fortunately, there's an upside to being new.

“There are nurses that are coming to Centennial Hills from other hospitals in Las Vegas. But we're also drawing nurses from all over the United States. This is a real exciting opportunity for a nurse to be able to go to work in a brand new facility and not an opportunity that comes along everyday. So we've had good luck in recruiting,” said Butler.

An opening date for Centennial Hills Hospital has not been announced. Although, in the adjacent medical building, some physicians will begin seeing patients this week. The new hospital has an extra 52,000 square feet that will be used for future expansion.

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The search is over for a mountain lion that has eluded officials for most of the day in the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley.

The mountain lion was first spotted Wednesday morning eating food that someone left in their car. It ran away, taking officers on a search that ended at the Silverstone Golf Club near Buffalo and Grand Teton.

But not before the mountain lion took Metro on a cat and mouse chase through three different gated communities. News of the wandering mountain lion spread quickly and neighbors fled the work desk heading home to lock up their pets and make sure their kids were safe.

Donna Collins, a resident said, ”It was a little bit troubling. We're not that used to the wild, wild west coming down to our front doors so that was a little worrying.”

The mountain lion, estimated to be around 100 pounds, was found near a home on the golf course and wildlife officials were able to tranquilize and capture it. But after it was examined, it was determined that the mountain lion was malnourished. Adding to that, the animal showed no fear of humans. Authorities felt if released, the mountain lion would do the same thing so they euthanized it.