Clark County Today News

Johann Peters argues the $14.4 billion IBR mega-project is already running a funding deficit — and that removing light rail from the I-5 replacement would bring costs within the $5.5 billion currently available, while freeing resources for a second Columbia River crossing east of I-205. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-lets-build-two-new-bridges/ #Opinion #Transportation #I5Bridge...

Eileen Quiring O'Brien, candidate for Clark County auditor, received a unanimous endorsement from the Clark County Republican Party Central Committee at its quarterly meeting. She says the auditor's office is the foundation of fair elections and financial accountability, and her campaign will now expand outreach across all precincts. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/eileen-quiring-obrien-re...

A February 2026 cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led Vancouver Police to Chad Hartley, booked on four counts of child pornography and child molestation. The investigation also implicated pediatrician Michael Wilmington, who allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with children at his La Center home before being found dead in Lewis County. https://www.clarkcountytoday...

Senate Minority Leader John Braun, endorsed by President Trump for Washington's 3rd Congressional District, calls the state's new income tax unconstitutional and unnecessary — and says Republicans have a path back if they focus on affordability, safety, and results. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/state-senator-john-braun-makes-his-case-for-your-vote-in-washingtons-3rd-congressional-distri...

Washington gas prices have shattered the statewide record at $5.67 per gallon, with Seattle hitting $5.91 and San Juan County at $6.60. Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center says the Climate Commitment Act and a 55.4-cent excise tax together add more than a dollar per gallon before the cost of fuel is even calculated. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/state-taxes-climate-policy-send-w...

Candidate filing opens today for Washington's legislative, congressional, and judicial races. All 98 House seats and 24 Senate seats are contested, five Supreme Court positions are on the ballot, and the 3rd Congressional District sets up a three-way race involving Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, John Braun, and Brent Hennrich. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/candidate-filing-begins-kicking-off-was...

Cyree Phillips, 30, of Vancouver was taken into custody after deputies responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots striking nearby homes on NE 156th Street. Phillips also allegedly attempted to start a fire along a residence using lighter fluid. No injuries were reported. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/suspect-taken-into-custody-after-deputies-respond-to-multiple-9-1-1-calls/ #Clar...

A three-vehicle crash on Mill Plain Boulevard near SE 124th Avenue sent multiple patients to the hospital, including one woman whose vehicle was pinned between structural pillars after striking a large business sign. Vancouver Fire crews removed the entire passenger side of the vehicle to free her. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-fire-department-responds-to-multi-vehicle-collision/...

Semi Bird headlines the 17th Legislative District's "Gala on the Greens" fundraiser May 16 at Orchard Hills Golf and Country Club in Washougal. The former gubernatorial candidate joins state Reps. Kevin Waters and David Stuebe plus Clark County auditor candidate Eileen Quiring O'Brien for the dinner and silent auction event. Doors open at 5 p.m. with programming starting at 6 p.m. https://www.clar...

A Dodge Ram pickup truck landed on top of a Tesla Model 3 after running a red light at NE 99th St and NE 130th Ave in the Orchards area Friday evening. The collision involved three vehicles and sent one driver to the hospital. Clark County Sheriff's deputies conducted a DUI investigation on the Ram driver, who showed signs of impairment. The Traffic Homicide Unit closed the roadway for five hours...

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/opi...

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 measura...

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 accoun...

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:/...

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...

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-t...

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 Com...

Travis Drake will become Camas High School's new principal in fall 2026, bringing over 20 years of educational leadership experience from Battle Ground Public Schools. The district selected Drake to succeed Kelly O'Rourke, highlighting his student-centered approach and commitment to building inclusive school communities. Superintendent John Anzalone praised Drake's focus on high expectations and m...

Fox News contributor Guy Benson joined State Senator John Braun and radio host Ari Hoffman at a Vancouver dinner hosted by Americans for Prosperity. The trio discussed Washington's political landscape, including the recent state income tax passage and Democratic lawmakers dismissing thousands of public comments as "robots." Benson praised Vancouver's waterfront while warning about the state's curr...

Nearly two hours of public comment revealed sharp divisions over Clark County's aerial fireworks rules in unincorporated areas. Residents split between supporting current laws and pushing for stricter limits due to safety concerns and property damage. Council members indicated more information is needed before making decisions. The debate highlighted enforcement challenges and community tensions o...

A 36-year-old contractor fell into a tank under construction at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility, prompting a complex technical rescue operation. Southwest Washington Region 4 Technical Rescue Team deployed cable-based vertical haul systems and rope techniques to extract the worker from the 150-foot diameter tank. The multi-agency response included Vancouver Fire Department, Clark Count...

Retired police officers and firefighters, including former Congressman Dave Reichert, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging Washington's unprecedented plan to sweep nearly $4 billion from their overfunded pension account. The plaintiffs argue the move violates constitutional contract clauses and leaves benefits vulnerable to market downturns, while supporters maintain the law protects pensi...

Doug Dahl breaks down Washington State law requiring cyclists to ride with traffic in bike lanes, not against it. The Revised Code of Washington treats bikes as vehicles following roadway rules, making wrong-way cycling illegal and dangerous. Sixty-five percent of cyclist-driver crashes occur at intersections, where riding against traffic creates unpredictable situations. Traffic control systems a...

Fire Chief Gordon Brooks will share the remarkable 65-year journey of Amboy Fire District 10 at a special anniversary celebration hosted by the North Clark Historical Museum. The May 9th program features exhibits tracing firefighting history from America's earliest departments to today's modern operations. The free public event takes place in the renovated 1910 United Brethren Church in Upper Ambo...

The Parkersville Advisory Committee partners with the Port of Camas-Washougal for annual Spruce Up Day at Parker's Landing Historical Park. Volunteers will maintain heritage trees and rose gardens that tell ancestral stories from the 1800s. This nationally recognized historic site requires ongoing community stewardship to preserve its cultural significance. The May 12 event prepares grounds for th...