Clark County Today News

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-thom...

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-fu...

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 #Pu...

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...

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-a...

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/ #LewisvilleRegi...

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-the...

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 20...

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...

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-representati...

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 #Com...

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...

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 #K...

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...

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...

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-...

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/ #WashingtonSta...

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-...

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/crac...

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 #Vanco...

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/op...

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 #Wash...

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.co...

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. htt...

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 #Drinking...