Clark County Today News

Sovereign, the new steaks, chops, and seafood restaurant at ilani in Ridgefield, is a restaurant now run directly by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, marking a major step in the tribe's move toward self-operating all casino restaurants. General manager Andrew Guthrie says the name reflects where the tribe is headed as a self-sufficient sovereign nation. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/business-profil...

Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center spent 15 years working on public pension policy and argues Washington lawmakers deliberately included public pensions in the new income tax, not because they reach the $1 million deduction threshold, but because that threshold can be lowered at any time without another vote. He says voting yes on Initiative 645 would repeal the tax. https://clarkcountytod...

Ridgefield's Sportsman's Public House is marking 100 years with a centennial celebration on Sept. 25, featuring a new menu, vendors, giveaways, and karaoke. The pub has had five owners and was a Model T auto shop before its 1926 restaurant conversion. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/ridgefield-landmark-sportsmans-public-house-celebrates-100-years-of-history-and-community/ #RidgefieldWA #Spor...

Washington's Department of Revenue calls it an income tax. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins called it "a 9.9% income tax." So why is the media calling it a "millionaires tax"? Chris Cargill of Mountain States Policy Center argues the press is adopting political branding over accurate policy description, and that the distinction matters most as voters prepare to decide Initiative 645 in November. https...

Amtrak's new 300-passenger Airo trains launch on the Cascades intercity route September 30, replacing aging coaches dating to the 1970s. The fleet adds seat capacity and modern amenities but will not increase speed or frequency on the Pacific Northwest corridor. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/northwest-rail-fans-eager-for-sept-30-debut-of-amtraks-airo-fleet/ #AmtrakCascades #PacificNorthwest #R...

A consequential week for housing costs, public safety, and the fall election season across Clark County. Full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/clarkcountytoday/this-weeks-top-news_september_18_2026

Clark County Council approved higher impact fees for La Center, Hockinson, and Woodland school districts, raising new construction costs in unincorporated areas. The Building Industry Association argues the increases hurt housing affordability. Clark County Today wants to know what readers think. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-how-do-you-think-higher-impact-fees-for-school-districts-aff...

Corey and Kelly Richardson, parents of Trent Richardson of Battle Ground, say their son's death was a tragic accident and are publicly asking their community to extend grace to his friend James Gill and Gill's family. Rooted in Christian faith, the Richardsons describe a peace that has carried them through unimaginable loss. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/richardson-family-turns-to-faith-grac...

The Washington Supreme Court struck down Initiative 2066 in a 6-3 decision, ruling the voter-approved natural gas measure unconstitutional for covering four distinct subjects. The measure had passed with nearly 52% of the vote across 34 of Washington's 39 counties in 2024. Chief Justice Debra Stephens wrote that no portion could be severed and saved. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/wa-high-court...

Clark County is accepting applications for a volunteer seat on its 15-member Community Action Advisory Board, representing low-income residents in the fourth district. The three-year term runs through Dec. 31, 2028, with the application deadline set for Friday, Oct. 9. https://clarkcountytoday.com/community_news/county-seeks-applicants-for-community-action-advisory-board-16/ #ClarkCounty #Communit...

Doug Dahl of The Wise Drive takes on a Freakonomics claim that walking drunk is eight times more dangerous than driving drunk per mile. His counterargument: miles traveled is the wrong metric when comparing speeds as different as walking and driving. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-impaired-walking-vs-impaired-driving-pick-neither/ #TargetZero #ImpairedDriving #PedestrianSafety #Traff...

Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi traces how the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund has provided roughly $1.9 million for HART expansion, contributed to the regional Bridge Shelter effort, and also appears among the financial supporters of The Columbian's Community Funded Journalism program covering homelessness and housing. Bracchi argues the public benefits from seeing those relationships on the same page....

Clark County Sheriff John Horch is personally endorsing Proposition 12 and Proposition 13, two public-safety ballot measures on the November 3 general election. Proposition 12 targets jail expansion and a new sheriff's headquarters. Proposition 13 addresses staffing. Horch notes the jail's 519 beds have been full 88 percent of the time since January 2025. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-co...

Let's Go Washington pushes back on claims made by Governor Ferguson and others about I-001, comparing 10 opposition assertions about parental rights, student records, and LGBTQ+ protections to the actual language of the initiative. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-lies-about-i-001/ #I001 #ParentalRights #WashingtonState #LetGoWashington #EducationPolicy #Opinion #StudentPrivacy #ClarkC...

Paul Valencia, Tony Liberatore, and Cale Piland break down the new 4A GSHL football schedule that has Skyview hosting Camas in the first of two matchups between the teams this season. They also highlight Camas and Ridgefield volleyball's special match, and more. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/the-study-of-sports-podcast-sept-17-2026-the-sports-enthusiasts-talk-about-the-new-football-schedule...

Nancy Churchill argues HB 1296 gutted the parental rights law Washington voters passed via I-2081, and that I-001 would restore it. Under I-001, schools would have 10 business days to produce records, and parents would receive notice of medical services, campus removals, and crimes involving their child. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-vote-yes-for-parents-rights-vote-yes-on-i-001/ #I...

Battle Ground's interim city manager contract was tabled 3-1 while the city faces a litigation hold from attorney Sue-Del McCulloch LLC, representing fired City Manager Kris Swanson, alleging breach of contract, gender discrimination, and open meeting law violations. An ethics violation against a sitting council member is also under review. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/battle-ground-interim-c...

The Clark County Council approved impact fee increases for three growing school districts and new fees for four fire districts, raising costs for builders and homebuyers across unincorporated Clark County. La Center's single-family fee jumps from $3,501 to $7,536, Hockinson's rises from $7,790 to $15,175, and Evergreen Public Schools drops to $0 due to falling enrollment. https://clarkcountytoday....

Clark County spent nearly $4 million on affordable housing in 2025 and helped only 71 people. One recipient, Fourth Plain Forward, kept roughly $250,000 of $300,000 in county funds — and employs sitting Councilor Wil Fuentes as operations manager. Rob Anderson raises pointed questions about recusals, ethics rules, and public accountability. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-4-million-fo...

Tim Barton, president of Wall Builders, brings his presentation on America's Biblical and spiritual history to Reign Church in Vancouver on October 5. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. The event is organized by Concerned Christian Citizens of Clark County. https://clarkcountytoday.com/community_news/public-invited-to-oct-5-event-designed-to-help-people-discover-the-true-s...

Pleasant Valley primary and middle schools in Vancouver are marking 50 years on their current campus with a public celebration on Sept. 25. Alumni, families, staff and community members are invited to join a memory wall, live music and reconnections with the school's past and present. https://clarkcountytoday.com/youth/pleasant-valley-schools-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-current-campus/ #Pleas...

The GRO Parade of Homes enters its second week with eight luxury homes open for tours in Vancouver's Emerald Grove development. General admission is $20, with $1 from every ticket benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Industry and Design Day is Thursday, Sept. 17. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/gro-parade-of-homes-ready-for-its-second-week/ #GROParadeOfHomes #ParadeOfHomes #Vanc...

Justin Wood of Save Vancouver Streets says he left the Washington State Court of Appeals in Tacoma with cautious optimism after judges appeared to press the city of Vancouver's attorney harder than SVS counsel Jackson Maynard. A ruling on the initiative fight could take four to six months. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/save-vancouver-streets-argues-its-case-before-state-court-of-appeals/ #Save...

Washington's 2026 primary saw 20,267 ballots rejected for late postmarks, a 32% increase over 2024, with Mason County's rejection rate rising 329.7%. The Supreme Court blocked a broader USPS rule from taking effect for November, but the postmarking and transportation changes blamed for the primary spike remain in place. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/rural-latino-trump-voters-hit-hard-by-usps-d...

More than 1,000 public schools closed nationwide in the 2025-26 school year, the fourth consecutive year closures have increased. Declining birth rates, expiring pandemic relief funds, and immigration enforcement are shrinking K-12 enrollment, now projected to fall to 46.9 million students by 2031. States from Vermont to California are testing new approaches to encourage consolidation without forc...