Clark County Today News

WSDOT has released holiday travel charts for Memorial Day weekend, flagging peak congestion windows on I-5, I-90, US 2, and the I-5/Canada border crossing. Most highway construction is suspended May 22–25, but lane shifts and work zone staging may remain. Chinook and Cayuse passes reopen May 22, and the I-90 Vantage Bridge will have all lanes open for the holiday. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/plan-ahead-for-memorial-day-travel-expect-delays-on-washingtons-busiest-routes/ #MemorialDay #Travel #WSDOT #I5 #WashingtonState #HolidayTraffic #Transportation #PacificNorthwest

Peter Bracchi obtained over 5,000 Vancouver police photos through public records showing cleanup notices, tents, tarps, and garbage around the Men's Share House — and the same conditions returning again and again. Bracchi argues the city's own documentation proves a pattern of unequal enforcement at public expense. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-when-the-city-of-vancouvers-own-photos-prove-the-problem/ #MensShareHouse #Vancouver #PublicRecords #HomelessPolicy #ClarkCounty #FOIA #PublicHealth #WashingtonState #Opinion

A 24x8-foot mural by local artist Travis London now graces the carriage house of Two Rivers Heritage Museum, featuring nearly a dozen historic images of early Camas and Washougal. The free dedication ceremony is May 30 at 10 a.m. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/new-historic-mural-to-be-dedicated-at-two-rivers-heritage-museum/ #TwoRiversHeritageMuseum #Washougal #Camas #ClarkCounty #PublicArt #LocalHistory #WashingtonState #CommunityNews #TravisLondon #MuralArt ---

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has added up to six additional spring Chinook retention days on the mainstem Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point upstream to the Washington/Oregon border. Dates, zones, and vessel restrictions vary by location from May 15 through May 25. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/columbia-river-to-open-for-additional-spring-chinook-retention-days/ #SpringChinook #ColumbiaRiver #SalmonFishing #WashingtonFishing #WDFW #FishingRegulations #ClarkCounty #PacificNorthwest #Washington

The Parkersville Heritage Fair returns July 31 at Parker's Landing Historical Park in Washougal, with a living history mystery hunt, interactive stations from the Clark County Historical Museum and Two Rivers Heritage Museum, and live entertainment. This year's "Shared Roots & Legacy" theme ties directly into the nationwide America 250 commemoration. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/shared-roots-and-living-history-parkersville-heritage-fair-returns-july-31/ #ParkersvillHeritageFair #Washougal #ClarkCounty #America250 #ParkerLanding #LivingHistory #CamasWashougal #FamilyFriendly #CommunityEvents ---

Clark County's Teens For Tomorrow peer education program is recruiting youth ages 12–18 for the 2026–2027 year, with a May 20 application deadline. Members lead trainings, advise lawmakers, build prevention campaigns, and develop leadership skills — all while tackling youth addiction and mental health. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/youth/youth-drug-prevention-team-seeks-new-members-ages-12-18-years/ #TeensForTomorrow #ClarkCounty #YouthLeadership #DrugPrevention #MentalHealth #Vancouver #WashingtonState

A tire detached from a northbound semi-truck struck a southbound minivan on I-5 just north of Mill Plain Boulevard around 7:40 a.m. The minivan driver sustained moderate injuries and was transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital. Washington State Patrol is investigating. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-fire-responds-to-injury-crash-on-i-5-near-mill-plain/ #I5 #VancouverWA #TrafficAlert #PublicSafety #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #VancouverFire #MorningCommute #CrashInvestigation

Washington Policy Center's Ryan Frost asks a pointed question: what evidence would actually convince state leaders that high earners and businesses are leaving? With net migration down 7,500, capital gains collections off more than 50%, and 24% of employers considering relocation, Frost argues the data is already there — and being ignored. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-what-would-it-take-for-elected-officials-to-believe-high-earners-are-leaving-washington/ #WashingtonState #CapitalFlight #IncomeTax #TaxPolicy #WashingtonPolicyCenter #BusinessRelocation #StateBudget #Opinion #PacificNorthwest #ClarkCounty

Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore reflect on how shifting roles — from athletic director to associate principal, from sports reporter to newsroom generalist — haven't dimmed their love for the game. Spring playoffs are underway, and Vancouver's In-N-Out Burger makes a surprise cameo. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/the-study-of-sports-podcast-may-13-2026-the-playoffs-have-started-for-washington-high-school-sports-plus-how-the-three-of-us-have-adapted-to-new-roles-in-our-careers/ #StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #WashingtonSports #ClarkCounty #SpringPlayoffs #PaulValencia #Podcast #SportsAdmin #Evergreen #FortVancouver

Lars Larson argues the IBR tolling plan would drive 50,000 daily I-5 commuters onto I-205, while a $15 billion price tag leaves $10 billion unaccounted for. Five hundred million dollars spent over 21 years — and no shovels in the ground. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-ibr-creates-50000-road-refugees/ #IBR #I5Bridge #ColumbiaRiver #Tolling #Transportation #PacificNorthwest #ClarkCounty #Opinion #Infrastructure #Politics

Nearly ten months after 18-year-old Nicholas Ortiz died in a single-vehicle crash on NE Reilly Road, 19-year-old Matthew Kenne was booked for Vehicular Homicide and Minor in Possession of Alcohol. Toxicology confirmed a BAC above 0.08 and electronic vehicle data showed speeds of 67–72 mph before Kenne failed to negotiate a curve and struck a tree. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/arrest-made-in-2025-fern-prairie-fatal-collision/ #VehicularHomicide #ClarkCounty #FernPrairie #PublicSafety #ClarkCountySheriff #ImpairedDriving #CamasWA #WashingtonState ---

Sound Transit's ST3 rail program is $35 billion short — $10,294 for every person in its district. Bob Pishue of Mountain States Policy Center breaks down the taxes, broken promises, and "strategic misrepresentation" that could soon hit Southwest Washington taxpayers funding TriMet's light rail extension into Clark County. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-its-time-to-save-taxpayers-from-sound-transits-strategic-misrepresentation/ #SoundTransit #LightRail #ClarkCounty #Transportation #Taxpayers #WashingtonState #Opinion #PublicTransit #IBR

Nancy Churchill argues Washington's Climate Commitment Act functions as a hidden surcharge — adding over 52 cents per gallon on gas — while independent audits show the state spends $395 per metric ton of CO₂ reduced against its own $40 claim. She calls for full repeal. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-a-tax-scam-based-on-a-climate-lie/ #ClimateCommitmentAct #CCARepeal #WashingtonState #CarbonTax #NancyChurchill #DangerousRhetoric #Opinion #WashingtonPolitics #EnergyPrices

Seven C-TRAN board members voted down an amendment that would have shielded taxpayers from extra costs — potentially approaching $1 billion — tied to extending light rail from the Waterfront to Library Square. The 7-2 vote exposed a new board dynamic critics warned about. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/c-tran-board-asks-ibr-to-bring-light-rail-to-library-square-with-no-protection-for-taxpayers/ #CTRAN #IBR #LightRail #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Transportation #IBRbridge #PublicTransit #WashingtonState #ClarkCountyToday

With gas prices topping $5.60 a gallon in Washington, Jonathan Hines argues decades of Iran sanctions relief funded IRGC aggression — and that Olympia's $0.554/gallon fuel tax is quietly profiting from the pain Southwest Washington families are absorbing at the pump. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-why-washington-state-families-are-paying-for-local-foreign-policy-failures-at-the-pump/ #Opinion #WashingtonState #GasPrices #FuelTax #ForeignPolicy #Iran #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Affordability #Politics ---

Lewisville Regional Park reopens Wednesday after a fire destroyed the Central picnic shelter in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 12. The shelter, built between 1936 and 1940 under the Works Progress Administration, was one of six original structures in a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is investigating. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/lewisville-regional-park-will-reopen-wednesday-may-13/ #LewisvilleRegionalPark #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #WashingtonState #ParkFire #ClarkCountySheriff #HistoricPreservation #WPA #PublicSafety

Clark County taxpayers are on the hook for $237,000 after the council approved nearly $1.2 million for three electric vehicles — including a $400,000 backhoe that runs just four hours per charge. Rob Anderson of Reform Clark County argues no council member questioned the three-to-one cost premium over diesel equivalents. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-clark-county-council-is-giddy-about-wasting-your-money-on-electric-vehicles/ #ClarkCounty #ElectricVehicles #TaxpayerMoney #FiscalAccountability #ClarkCountyCouncil #WAZIPProgram #ClimateCommitmentAct #ReformClarkCounty #LocalGovernment #WashingtonState

On May 15, Washington's Professional Educator Standards Board votes on rules that could suspend or end a superintendent's career for notifying parents about their child's gender transition at school. Vicki Murray of the Washington Policy Center breaks down HB 1296, the two-track enforcement system, and the court challenges already underway. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-washington-state-is-moving-to-punish-superintendents-who-tell-parents-the-truth-about-their-own-children/ #PESB #HB1296 #ParentalRights #WashingtonState #EducationPolicy #Opinion #ClarkCounty #Superintendents #ParentsRights #WAPolitics ---

Summer St. John, daughter of Firmly Planted Family Homeschool Resource Center founders Heidi and Jay St. John, wrote an original stage production featuring pirates, a villain, and a faith-centered adventure for the whole family. Performances run May 15, 16, and 17 in Vancouver. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/tickets-available-for-this-weekends-performances-of-the-escapades-of-denston-thomas/ #FirmlyPlanted #VancouverWA #HomeschoolTheater #FamilyFun #ClarkCounty #CenterStage #YouthTheater #DenstonThomas ---

Furry Friends cat shelter in Vancouver is in the final phase of its capital campaign to open a dedicated medical building this summer. A $100,000 matching gift from Virginia Huang means every donation is doubled dollar-for-dollar. The facility will expand spay/neuter services, TNR programs, and affordable veterinary care for Clark County cats. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/help-open-the-furry-friends-medical-building-this-summer-early-fall/ #FurryFriends #CatRescue #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #AnimalWelfare #SpayNeuter #TNR #NonProfit #CatShelter #CommunityNews

A natural gas line ruptured near 2610 Kauffman Avenue at 10:47 a.m., prompting Vancouver Fire to evacuate two residential buildings and one commercial building — 30 people total. NW Natural mitigated the leak and all orders have been lifted. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vfd-lifts-evacuation-and-shelter-in-place-orders-following-gas-leak/ #VancouverFire #GasLeak #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #PublicSafety #NWNatural #KauffmanAvenue #EmergencyResponse ---

The IMPACT CW Summer Food Drive returns for its 12th year, aiming to assemble 200 food boxes — each packed with nutritious staples and a grocery gift card — for Camas-Washougal families when school meals pause. Organizers need $24,000 and hands-on volunteers by June 14. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/community-invited-to-give-volunteer-for-12th-annual-impact-cw-summer-food-drive/ #ImpactCW #SummerFoodDrive #CamasWashougal #FoodInsecurity #CommunityNews #Volunteers #ClarkCounty #FamiliesInNeed

WSDOT is closing the right lane on northbound I-5 near Ridgefield May 12 and southbound I-5 near Kelso May 14, both from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for annual weigh-in-motion scale inspections. The scales track truck weights to protect highway infrastructure. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/expect-daytime-delays-on-i-5-in-clark-and-cowlitz-counties-for-weigh-in-motion-scale-inspections-may-12-and-14/ #I5 #ClarkCounty #WSDOT #LaneClosure #WashingtonState #Transportation #Ridgefield #CowlitzCounty #TravelAlert #HighwayMaintenance

A suspicious structure fire destroyed the Grand Shelter at Lewisville Regional Park at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Crews from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, Fire District 3, and Fire District 10 extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported, but the park is closed until further notice. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/lewisville-regional-park-closed-until-further-notice-due-to-fire/ #LewisvilleRegionalPark #ClarkCounty #StructureFire #ClarkCowlitzFireRescue #PublicSafety #WashingtonState #FireDistrict3 #FireDistrict10 #ParkClosure

Rose Ugbinada and MJ Westmoreland grew up bowling in Vancouver, competed for rival high schools, and ended up teammates at Alabama A&M — one of 107 HBCUs in the U.S. — where they helped the Bulldogs win a conference title and reach the NCAA championships. Their story is about bowling, belonging, and building a future far from home. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/vancouver-bowlers-make-their-marks-at-hbcu-alabama-am/ #AlabamAAM #HBCU #CollegeBowling #VancouverWA #ClarkCounty #SWACChampionship #NCAA #FortVancouver #HudsonsBay #WashingtonState

Camas resident Douglas Tweet argues the IBR I-5 bridge design allocates roughly half its width to modes used by just 2.3% of travelers, while squeezing vehicles, freight trucks, and emergency responders into the remaining space. He also flags that bridge construction costs ballooned from $7.5 billion to $17.7 billion — figures concealed until public records requests forced disclosure in January 2026. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-ibr-i-5-bridge-space-allocation-grossly-unfair-2/ #IBR #I5Bridge #Interstate BridgeReplacement #ClarkCounty #Transportation #Opinion #Vancouver #WashingtonState #Freight #Tolls

Vancouver resident Bob Zak says WSP cited budget shortfalls as the reason for thin traffic enforcement on I-5 and I-205 — and he wants unmarked aggressive-driving patrols restored in Southwest Washington. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-we-need-more-wsp-visibility-and-aggressive-driving-patrols/ #WSP #TrafficSafety #I5 #I205 #ClarkCounty #AggressiveDriving #WashingtonState #Opinion #LettersToTheEditor

State Rep. John Ley has filed for re-election in Washington's 18th District, citing opposition to the I-5 Bridge Replacement Program, a new 9.9% state income tax, and a $4 billion LEOFF1 pension transfer as central issues. He's also pushing to open the Brockmann Residential Treatment Facility in Vancouver through public-private partnerships. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/state-representative-john-ley-files-for-re-election-to-washington-house-district-18-position-2/ #JohnLey #WaLeg #District18 #IBR #I5Bridge #WashingtonPolitics #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #TaxRelief #MentalHealth

Clark County's Commission on Aging hosts professionals from Bridge Meadows and Cathedral Park CoHousing on May 18 to examine intergenerational living as an affordable housing solution. The public meeting is open in-person at the Public Service Center and virtually. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/countys-commission-on-aging-to-discuss-intergenerational-housing-alternatives/ #ClarkCounty #CommissionOnAging #AffordableHousing #IntergenerationalHousing #Vancouver #WashingtonState #Housing #SeniorLiving #ClarkCountyToday

A six-hour left lane closure on southbound I-5 near Exit 11 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, as WSDOT crews repair damaged guardrail sections south of Ridgefield in northern Clark County. Drivers should expect delays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/plan-for-delays-on-southbound-i-5-in-clark-county-for-guardrail-repairs-may-13/ #I5 #ClarkCounty #WSDOT #Ridgefield #TrafficAlert #Washington #LaneClosure #SR502 #RoadMaintenance #NorthernClarkCounty

Clark County Today editor Ken Vance writes about his mother Donna Vance, who raised four boys, worked multiple jobs, picked her own blackberries for jelly, and still found a way to apologize when she paid for groceries with food stamps. She passed away in 2004 at age 76. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/mothers-day-remembering-my-mom-and-her-many-endearing-qualities-2/ #MothersDayMemory #KenVance #ClarkCountyToday #Opinion #Motherhood #PNW #FamilyLegacy #DonnaVance #Reflective #ClarkCounty ---

William J. Sneiderwine, 61, was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail after Vancouver Police Department's Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit served a search warrant at a Vancouver residence. Sneiderwine faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Child Molestation I and Tampering with Physical Evidence, as investigators continue forensically examining digital evidence in a case that also involves deceased former pediatrician Michael Wilmington and incarcerated suspect Chad Hartley. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-police-arrest-additional-suspect-in-child-molestation-investigation/ #VancouverPolice #ClarkCounty #ChildMolestation #PublicSafety #VPD #CrimeNews #Washington #PNW

IBR Administrator Greg Johnson collected $1,945,553 in total compensation over 5½ years while project costs tripled to $15 billion and the construction timeline doubled to 20 years. Rep. John Ley breaks down the numbers — and asks who's accountable. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-greg-johnsons-2-million-contract-delivered-a-huge-mess/ #IBR #InterstateBridgeReplacement #LightRail #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #WashingtonState #Transportation #Politics #Opinion #Columns

Republican state Sen. John Braun has outlined his congressional priorities — lower taxes, reduced spending, stronger public safety, and education reform. Now Clark County Today is asking readers which issue should lead the agenda for Southwest Washington's next representative. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-what-issue-should-be-the-top-priority-for-southwest-washingtons-next-member-of-congress/ #SWWashington #Congress #JohnBraun #ClarkCounty #Politics #WashingtonState #3rdCongressionalDistrict #Taxes #PublicSafety #Education ---

A new Association of Washington Business survey finds 24% of employers considering leaving Washington State, with 38% planning to expand elsewhere. AWB's Morgan Irwin points to the newly passed income tax as a key driver, while an opposing group disputes the findings. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/video-new-survey-finds-more-wa-businesses-considering-moving-out-of-state/ #WashingtonState #WAbusiness #AWB #IncomeTax #WashingtonEconomy #BusinessRelocation #ClimateCommitmentAct #TaxBurden #PacificNorthwest #TCSWashington

After the U.S. Supreme Court limited race-based redistricting rules, Washington Democratic leaders — including Party Chair Shasti Conrad and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon — are weighing whether to redraw the state's congressional map. Doing so would require winning supermajorities in both chambers this fall. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/in-wake-of-supreme-court-ruling-wa-democrats-weight-congressional-redistricting-options/ #Redistricting #WashingtonState #WAPolitics #SupremeCourt #Congress #ClarkCounty #WashingtonDemocrats #VotingRights

WSDOT contractor Kerr Contractors Oregon LLC began work May 4 to rehabilitate 2.2 miles of southbound I-5 between NE 179th Street and the I-5/I-205 split in Vancouver. The crack, seat and overlay method adds four layers of asphalt over broken concrete panels, many more than 50 years old. Expect nighttime and weekend lane closures through late summer 2026. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/cracking-down-on-rough-roads-along-i-5-in-vancouver/ #I5Vancouver #WSDOT #ClarkCounty #Transportation #RoadConstruction #Vancouver #WashingtonState

Vancouver is spending tens of millions on GAC filtration to remove PFAS forever chemicals from drinking water — but Peter Bracchi argues the city should also address preventable contamination sources, including eight-plus years of treated camping debris near the Men's Share House corridor. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-vancouver-should-lead-on-pfas-free-camping-gear/ #PFAS #Vancouver #DrinkingWater #ForeverChemicals #EnvironmentalHealth #ClarkCounty #Opinion #PublicHealth #WaterContamination #HomelessPolicy

The IBR's Final SEIS confirms 59 residential displacements, up to 15 years of construction, noise levels of 82–94 dBA near homes, and no enforceable vibration or health protections for Hayden Island's 3,000 residents. Gary Clark and Kimberly Haslett of Neighbors for a Better Crossing break down what the document says — and what it deliberately leaves unanswered. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-ibr-environmental-review-confirms-impacts-to-hayden-island-while-leaving-key-safeguards-undefined/ #Interstatebridge #IBR #HaydenIsland #ClarkCounty #Transportation #Opinion #EnvironmentalReview #ColumbiaRiver #Vancouver #WashingtonState

Doug Dahl of The Wise Drive breaks down Washington's one-touch phone rule — and why legal doesn't mean safe. Hands-free drivers still face four times the crash risk of a focused driver, and distracted driving factors into over 20% of Washington traffic fatalities. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-hands-free-but-not-risk-free-the-one-touch-limit/ #TargetZero #DistractedDriving #WashingtonState #TrafficSafety #Opinion #TheWiseDrive

Vancouver is investing $14 million this summer to pave or preserve more than 100 lane miles of street. The program covers residential neighborhoods and major corridors, adds ADA curb ramps at 70 locations, and introduces new protected bike and mobility lanes on several key routes. Funding comes from the Street Fund, General Fund, and Transportation Benefit District. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-prepares-for-2026-pavement-season/ #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #Transportation #PavementManagement #Infrastructure #RoadMaintenance #Bikelanes #VancouverWA #PublicWorks #CityOfVancouver ---

Darold A. Slack, a Vancouver foster parent to approximately 55 children between 2013 and 2025, was arrested after detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Children's Justice Center executed a search warrant on May 1. Slack faces 14 charges including Child Molestation, Rape of a Child, and Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. Investigators believe additional victims may not have come forward. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vpd-investigate-child-sex-abuse-by-male-who-had-been-foster-parent-to-dozens-of-children/ #VancouverWA #ClarkCounty #ChildSafety #PublicSafety #VancouverPD #FosterCare #SexCrimes #ChildAbuse #Washington

Clark County Councilor Matt Little is calling for broader public notification after Camas reopened Well 13 — a source with PFAS levels above state allowable limits — to meet summer water demand. A permanent filtration system won't be ready until spring 2027. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-councilor-little-reminds-camas-residents-of-the-opening-of-well-13/ #Camas #PFAS #DrinkingWater #ClarkCounty #WaterQuality #WashingtonState #PublicHealth

Jonathan Hines from Vancouver dissects Washington's education funding crisis, arguing that union demands, administrative bloat, and unfunded IEP mandates are consuming billions while classrooms suffer. He details how districts cannibalized levy funds for salary increases and face a $500 million special education gap that forces cuts to general student programs. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-the-cracks-in-the-foundation-why-washingtons-education-system-is-faltering/ #WashingtonEducation #SchoolFunding #McClearyDecision #TeacherUnions #SpecialEducation #Opinion #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #EducationReform #PublicSchools

Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi questions whether the city's extensive homelessness programs are reducing waste and cleanup costs after public records reveal $1.38 million in cleanup expenses and 1,700 tons of material removed since 2021. Despite Safe Stay communities, HART teams, and the upcoming $22 million Bridge Shelter, Bracchi argues taxpayers shouldn't fund endless programs without measurable accountability. He compares basic camping responsibility to public land management, demanding fewer repeat camps and cleaner public spaces. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-vancouver-built-the-system-and-the-cleanup-bills-still-keep-coming/ #Vancouver #Homelessness #Accountability #TaxpayerCosts #PublicLand #Opinion #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #BridgeShelter #SafeStay

Future 42 Clark County launches inaugural scorecards tracking how Vancouver City Council and Clark County Council members voted on critical issues like taxes, public safety, and housing. Diana Perez voted against Future 42's position on all six Vancouver issues, while Michelle Belkot aligned with the organization on four of five county votes. The annual scorecards aim to increase government accountability and help voters make informed decisions about their local representatives. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/future-42-clark-county-releases-inaugural-local-government-scorecards/ #Future42 #ClarkCounty #VancouverWA #GovernmentAccountability #LocalPolitics #Scorecards #VoterEducation #ClarkCountyCouncil #VancouverCityCouncil #Transparency

Battle Ground's new Facade Improvement Grant Program offers local businesses up to $10,000 in matching funds to revitalize Old Town storefronts. The City Council approved $50,000 for exterior improvements including signage, painting, awnings, and lighting along E. Main Street. Applications open May 1 through June 30 on a first-come, first-served basis, with all projects due by December 31. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/battle-ground-introduces-old-town-facade-improvement-grant-program/ #BattleGround #SmallBusiness #OldTown #EconomicDevelopment #ClarkCounty

Clark County Councilor Dick Rylander examines the lasting impact of the landmark Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision on public sector unions and teacher dues. With Camas, Evergreen, and Battle Ground teacher contracts up for renewal, Rylander explores why Washington teachers continue paying $737 annually despite the Court's 2018 ruling that eliminated mandatory agency fees. The analysis covers union membership retention strategies and the ongoing debate over exclusive representation in public education. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-why-do-teachers-continue-to-pay-union-dues/ #TeachersUnion #JanusDecision #ClarkCounty #WashingtonEducation #LaborLaw #TeacherContracts #PublicSectorUnions #FirstAmendment #Opinion #Politics

WSDOT maintenance crews will close the northbound I-5 Gee Creek Rest Area just north of Vancouver from May 4-29 for annual maintenance work. During the 25-day closure, crews will clean and replace roofs, check electrical and plumbing systems, fix water lines, clean the septic tank and complete landscaping work. The closure affects the rest area between mileposts 10.8-11.6. Travelers can get real-time updates via the WSDOT mobile app or travel map. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/annual-maintenance-work-to-close-northbound-i-5-gee-creek-rest-area-in-clark-county-may-4-29/ #Transportation #I5 #RestArea #WSDOT #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Ridgefield #Maintenance #Travel

Clark County Council is recruiting volunteers for two three-year positions on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission. One position represents southwest Clark County residents south of Northeast 179th Street and west of Highway 503. The other serves county-wide. The commission provides input on recycling, garbage collection, landfills, and waste reduction programs while helping update the county's Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. Applications require a letter of interest and resume submitted to Jake Goodwin by 5 p.m. May 29. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/county-council-seeks-applicants-for-volunteer-positions-on-the-solid-waste-advisory-commission/ #ClarkCounty #SolidWaste #Recycling #Volunteers #WasteManagement #Vancouver #Community #Environment #PublicService #ClarkCountyCouncil