Clark County Today News

Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi examines how two very different projects, the Interstate Bridge Replacement and the Bridge Shelter, share a common pattern: costs and commitments that keep expanding. The IBR's estimated price has grown from roughly $3 billion to $14.4 billion, while the Bridge Shelter carries a roughly $22 million capital cost plus millions in annual operations, and Clark County i...

Washington Policy Center's Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues that collective-bargaining sessions between the Ferguson administration and WFSE are shielded from public view by state law, leaving rank-and-file workers and taxpayers unable to evaluate whether proposed compensation agreements are truly fair. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-wfse-demands-a-fair-contract-but-workers-and-taxpayers...

Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer approved a 22.2% average rate increase for Washington's ACA exchange, affecting about 250,000 enrollees starting Jan. 1. Coordinated Care Corporation members face a jump of more than 25%, while enrollment has already fallen nearly 13% from 2025 — the steepest decline since the marketplace launched. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/affordable-care-act-insur...

Maai E. Hinton, wanted for the April 18, 2026 shooting death of Geurlin Caetano in a Vancouver parking lot, surrendered to Tacoma police and was transported to Clark County Jail by Vancouver Police Department detectives. Hinton faces charges of second degree murder, firearm possession, and a fugitive warrant. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/homicide-suspect-arrested-and-transported-to-clark-coun...

The 49th GRO Parade of Homes opens Sept. 11 in Salmon Creek's Emerald Grove community, featuring eight luxury homes on 16,000 square-foot lots. Adult tickets are $20, with $1 per ticket going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Children ages 3 to 12 are $5, with all proceeds benefiting the hospital. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/gro-parade-of-homes-set-to-open-this-week/ #GROParadeOf...

A biplane crashed at Grove Field in Washougal on September 8 after the pilot reported smoke in the cabin and returned to the airfield, where the aircraft flipped during landing. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The FAA and NTSB completed their investigation and cleared the airport. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/small-airplane-crashes-at-grove-field/ #GroveFiled #Washougal #Aviati...

The Ridgefield City Council voted 6-1 to approve a development agreement with Blue Rock Ventures for a roughly 43,000-square-foot community and recreation center at 5001 N. Pioneer Canyon Drive. The city will contribute $15 million toward the Community Center, while BRV anticipates contributing approximately $32 million for the privately owned Recreation Center. https://clarkcountytoday.com/busine...

Forty-three Vancouver Fire Department personnel responded to a working commercial structure fire at Cedar Creek Cannabis on NE 121st Ave Tuesday morning, bringing the blaze under control in roughly 20 minutes. Clark County Fire District 3, Vancouver Police, and AMR all assisted in the multi-agency response. No injuries were reported and the cause remains under investigation. https://clarkcountytod...

A 55-year-old woman walking a dog was struck by a white 2012 Ford F-150 in a crosswalk at NE 137th Avenue and NE 99th Street on Tuesday morning. She was transported to a local hospital by AMR with serious injuries. The Clark County Sheriff's Office Traffic Unit is investigating, and impairment may have been a factor. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/pedestrian-seriously-injured-after-being-struck...

Seattle Reign FC center back Jordyn Bugg, 20, visited Orchards Elementary School in Vancouver for the grand opening of Clark County's first soccer mini-pitch. Funded by the Rave Foundation and CVS Health, the pitch is one of 52 now across Washington state. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/seattle-reign-partners-celebrate-opening-of-soccer-mini-pitch-at-orchards-elementary-school/ #SeattleReign...

The U.S. Supreme Court's December argument session runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 9 and includes a direct challenge to Washington state laws allowing minors to access transgender care and mental health services without parental consent. Also on the docket: semiautomatic weapons bans from Illinois and Connecticut, an asylum termination case, and Arizona's proof-of-citizenship voter registration law. https://...

Nancy Churchill of Dangerous Rhetoric argues Republicans have an information problem, not an accomplishment problem, and lists policy wins on taxes, border security, ranching, energy, and family ahead of the midterms. She also names three congressional candidates she supports in Washington's 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-trump-is-winning-can-you-name-fiv...

Five Washington State Supreme Court seats are on the November 3 ballot, drawing millions in campaign cash and rare partisan intensity. Four challengers carry Republican Party endorsements against candidates backed by Democratic leaders, including two appointees of Gov. Bob Ferguson, as litigation over the state's new income tax on high earners looms over every race. https://clarkcountytoday.com/ne...

Dick Rylander examines the many forms illegal voting can take, from noncitizens on voter rolls to allegations of software manipulation in Colorado, arguing that even rare errors in close races can change outcomes. A July 2026 DHS review flagged over 190,000 potential noncitizens on California's rolls alone. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-we-must-take-whatever-steps-are-necessary-to-p...

Washington Policy Center's Ryan Frost documents how the Seattle Times editorial board spent months condemning Olympia's out-of-control spending, then urged voters to reject I-645, which would repeal the new state income tax. Frost argues lawmakers should be pressed to defend an $80.2 billion two-year budget and find room for tax relief within existing revenue. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/...

Camas resident Anthony Teso takes issue with Lars Larson's reading of Washington's late ballot data, the Carter-Baker report's actual findings on mail voting, and what Stevens County's jump from 172 to 602 rejected ballots in a single cycle suggests about Postal Service reliability. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-the-2005-carter-baker-report-did-warn-about-absentee-ballots/ #Opinion #...

Clark County resident Tom Schenk argues Washington Democrats raised taxes by $18 billion over two legislative sessions, diverted $4 billion from the LEOFF-1 pension fund, and knowingly created a $1 billion budget deficit heading into 2027. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-olympia-out-of-control-spending/ #Opinion #WashingtonState #StateBudget #TaxBurden #Olympia #ClarkCounty #LEOFF1 #WA...

Seattle engineer Bob Ortblad used AI to analyze the IBR's temporary diversion design, a 76-foot-wide roadway meant to carry six lanes of traffic. The result: a safe speed of 30 mph for cars and just 20 mph for trucks in dry conditions, dropping further in wind, rain, or ice. Ortblad also says IBR administrator Carley Francis has refused to allow WSDOT and ODOT safety engineers to conduct an indepe...

Clark County auditor candidate Eileen Quiring O'Brien says her first act in office would be ordering a full, independent third-party audit of the Auditor's Office, covering finances, election systems, voter rolls, and public records. The office has operated under Greg Kimsey for 28 years. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/auditor-candidate-pledges-day-1-external-audit-of-county-financials-and-elec...

Vancouver Fire Department deployed 9 apparatus and 25 firefighters to a well-involved two-story residence at 15800 NE 35th Street Sunday evening. Flames were billowing from both the front and back of the home. Crews controlled the fire in under 35 minutes. No occupants were found inside and no injuries were reported. Fire marshals are investigating the origin and cause. https://clarkcountytoday.co...

Deborah "Debbie" Adams, 80, of Woodland, Washington, passed away August 30. Married for 56 years, she built a career helping thousands with resumes, worked at Walt Disney World, and published a Christian devotional in 2019. https://clarkcountytoday.com/obituaries/obit-woodland-resident-deborah-debbie-adams-passed-away-aug-30-2026/ #Obituaries #Woodland #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #RIP

Camas resident Anna Miller argues the Clark County Council removed Councilor Michelle Belkot from the C-TRAN Board for defying a voting instruction that had no written rule behind it at the time. A new rule was adopted only after her removal. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-reinstate-councilor-belkot/ #ClarkCounty #MichelleBelkot #CTRAN #ClarkCountyCouncil #Opinion #LocalGovernment #Ca...

Clark County Today's Paul Valencia is returning to statewide high school football coverage through Final Score TV, with video reports airing Fridays around 10 p.m. and simulcast on KJR in Seattle. Valencia logged 217 consecutive regular-season Friday night games covering Clark County teams. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/opinion-reporter-thrilled-with-this-new-old-way-to-highlight-high-school...

Chiawana traveled from Pasco, with fans driving more than 200 miles, to stun Camas 28-7 in the season opener at Doc Harris Stadium, but the new field, Kong, and the band playing the visitors' fight song made for a memorable Friday night in Southwest Washington. https://clarkcountytoday.com/sports/new-field-plus-old-traditions-make-for-special-vibe-in-camas-for-the-return-of-high-school-football/ #...

A restaurant employee was shot near the back of a business on the 5000 block of East Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver around 4:30 p.m. on September 4. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Vancouver Police Crime Reduction Unit detectives are investigating and seeking witnesses. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-police-investigate-shooting-22/ #VancouverWA...