Coming in this week’s Las Vegas Business Press

LIGHTS OFF, NOBODY THERE: The economic recession has left local retail in agony. Business advisory firm Applied Analysis showed valley retail vacancy climbed from 4 percent in 2005 to slightly above 10 percent at the end of last year.

BARRE SCENE: At Pure Barre, exercise moves come from ballet, but instead of doing pliés and chassés to classical music, class participants will do hardcore workouts to modern pop or hip-hop.

THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS PRESS POLL QUESTION

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval called for major budget cuts during his State of the State address. Much of his proposed cuts involve education, including a 7 percent cut in state support for higher-education spending. Combined with decreases in funding because of the loss of new federal stimulus money, Nevada higher education funding could be 17.6 percent to 25 percent lower next year.

Do you worry that Nevada's plans to diversify its economy could be hurt if education funding is cut as much as Sandoval proposes?

Answer at www.lvbusinesspress.com/poll

Polling closes at noon Feb. 2.