SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017
Partisan fight brewing over education savings accounts SETH A. RICHARDSON
SRICHARDSON@RGJ.COM
While Gov. Brian Sandoval’s State of the State address painted a rosy picture of Nevada and the legislative session to come, at least one partisan fight is fermenting in Carson City: the impending battle over education savings accounts. Education savings accounts, or ESAs, would give $5,100 in public money to parents whose children transfer out of public schools after 100 days enrollment. Republicans passed the program in 2015 as a “school choice” initiative and more than 8,000 families applied, but a Supreme Court ruling found that while the function of ESAs was constitutional, they needed a dedicated funding source. The decision halted the ESA program from moving forward. See ESA, Page 8A
Governor pumps $115 million more into higher ed budget SIOBHAN MCANDREW
SMCANDREW@RGJ.COM
University of Nevada, Reno President Marc Johnson got one piece of criticism after highlighting Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget proposals for higher education to a room full of faculty on Thursday. “You aren’t raising your hands up,” said Bruce Shively, UNR’s vice president of planning budget and analysis. In Shively’s estimation, the news deserved hands-in-the-air celebration: Sandoval had promised a $115 million budget increase for the state’s colleges. “Holy cow,” Shively said, reacting to what was great news for UNR and Truckee Meadows Community College. Shively and others are still applauding what is being called a focus on higher education at the 2017 Legislature. See SPENDING, Page 8A
Legislative Commission’s Budget Subcommittee When: 8 a.m. Wednesday What: Nevada System of Higher Education officials will talk about the funding formula
Only in the Sunday RGJ
Three young tech entrepreneurs helping to create a new Reno RENO Magazine sat down with co-founders from a trio of Reno tech firms. Two of the businesses are transplants, one is homegrown, and all started within the last three years. The trio is helping to transform the perception of Reno and the city’s economic future. Business, 11A
OPINION
Wolf Pack swept away The 19th-largest crowd in Lawlor Events Center’s history saw the Nevada basketball team fall short of exacting revenge on Fresno State. Sports, 1C
I AM AN AMERICAN: Seeing a loss of civility after the presidential election, a pastor in North Carolina organized a service to foster reconciliation between divided citizens. 4E
Inside today VOL. 38, NO. 22
$3 Retail Home delivery pricing inside 2017 Printed on recycled paper
Local.............................2-8A Lottery ............................2A Business ...................11-16A Tech Review.................12A Jobs/Classifieds.............11F USA Today ......................1B
Sports..........................1-12C Our Nevada ..............1-18D Obituaries...............5D, 7D Voices............................1-4E USA Life Color Comics
Weather High 36 Low 26 Forecast, page 16A
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