Clark County Today News

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 25 would require a supermajority of the Clark County Council to enact or increase any councilmanic tax. With only five councilors, that means four must agree. Supporters say it builds consensus; opponents warn it risks funding law and justice, which makes up 73 percent of the county budget. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-25-concernin...

Camas resident and mother of four Leslie Lewallen calls on Clark County parents to vote for Initiative 645 and named candidates, arguing that biological fairness in girls' sports must be protected through the ballot box, not just public protest. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-lead-example-and-vote #Opinion #Initiative645 #TitleIX #GirlsSports #CamasHighSchool #ClarkCounty #WashingtonSt...

Only 19.4% of Washington wage and salary workers are represented by unions, yet union organizations are among the major funders of campaigns opposing three 2026 ballot initiatives. Elizabeth New (Hovde) of the Washington Policy Center argues union endorsements reflect the organization's position, not the views of Washington's broader workforce or even all union members. https://clarkcountytoday.co...

Lars Larson argues Bend Schools' five-year-old concealed carry ban left Silver Rail Elementary exposed, after a father with a concealed firearm stopped a 16-year-old shooter who killed three students and a teacher. Oregon allowed concealed carry at schools for 33 years before the ban. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-thank-god-good-guy-gun-broke-foolish-law #Opinion #GunFreZones #SchoolS...

Bast Sekhmet of the Satanic Temple of Washington delivered the first invocation under Battle Ground's Resolution 26-04, adopted in August, which opens council meetings to faith and non-faith speakers on a rotating, first-come, first-served basis. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/satanic-temple-member-delivers-first-invocation-battle #BattleGround #SatanicTemple #ClarkCounty #Resolution2604 #Reli...

Clark County voters will decide whether to require a public Housing Impact Analysis before any ordinance affecting land use or construction codes is adopted. The amendment, sponsored by John Jay, passed the Charter Review Commission 8-7 and must be funded through the county's general fund, not development fees. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-24-concerning-requirem...

Clark County voters will decide whether the county manager must produce and broadly publish an annual report on county government affairs. Amendment 23 passed the Charter Review Commission 14-1, sponsored by Patrick Adigweme of District 1. Supporters say it strengthens transparency; opponents warn the timing could benefit incumbents. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no...

Councilor Wil Fuentes has separated from Fourth Plain Forward after receiving $60,000 to $99,999 from the nonprofit while it held $584,387 in county contracts. Ethics complaints have reached the HUD Office of Inspector General. Also covered: a 64-year-old cold case solved with DNA, a C-TRAN passenger who steered a bus to safety, term limits on the ballot, and the 2026 Clark County Fair's 246,000 v...

Larry Roe attended the Battle Ground School District levy information session and raises pointed questions about whether the $116 million, three-year levy funds constitutionally required basic education or legislative enhancements to it. He argues voters rejecting the levy may be sending a message to the legislature, not acting on a whim. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/letter-i-think-we-should...

Clark County Councilor Wil Fuentes has left Fourth Plain Forward after ethics complaints revealed he collected $60,000–99,999 from the nonprofit while it held $584,387 in County contracts. Vancouver Councilmember Diana Perez faces separate questions about whether her reported 2025 income of $130,000 to $260,000 disqualified her from low-income business programs she voted to fund. A complaint has b...

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 22 would allow nonpartisan county candidates to bypass the August primary and go directly to the November general election when two or fewer candidates file. Sponsor Cathie Garber says the change mirrors existing state law and could have saved more than $75,000 in the 2022 election cycle alone. Opponents argue removing the primary disadvantages challengers and reduce...

Charter Amendment No. 21 would give the Clark County Council concurrent nomination authority with the county manager for all boards and commissions, except the Ethics Commission. Currently, the council can only nominate for three specific bodies. The amendment passed the Charter Review Commission 14 to 1. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-21-concerning-revised-counci...

The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating the suspicious death of an unidentified female found floating in the Columbia River downstream from the I-5 bridge on October 14. She is described as possibly Asian or Pacific Islander, approximately 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and a birthmark on her right calf. https://cla...

Camas High School's cross country season is unraveling after a biological male joined the girls' team. A reported incident from an Arlington invitational trip was referred to ESD 112, a girl shared a hotel room with the biological male, and the district spent $4,772 on a charter bus for privacy. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/issues-continue-mount-over-biological-male-competing-camas #CamasHig...

When C-TRAN driver Michelle Smith suffered a seizure behind the wheel in July, passengers Bryanne Brady and Josh Stark kept calm, called 9-1-1, and steered a moving bus to safety. On Tuesday, C-TRAN honored them with the Award of Gratitude at its Board of Directors meeting. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/c-tran-recognizes-passengers-who-stepped-up-during-medical #CTRAN #ClarkCounty #PublicTran...

Hockinson-area residents Tom Erkert, Dale Good, and Mark Roeter have spent more than $22,000 challenging a proposed 165-foot Vertical Bridge and T-Mobile cell tower near Northeast 189th Street, arguing existing towers and small-cell alternatives make the project unnecessary. Their LUPA appeal is now before Superior Court. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/hockinson-area-residents-continue-their-f...

Clark County Council adopted a 400-page Comprehensive Growth Management Plan guiding development through 2045, when the population is projected to reach 718,154. The plan includes a new Climate Element, updated housing and zoning policies, and new fire impact fees. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/clark-county-adopts-20-year-growth-plan #ClarkCounty #GrowthManagement #Vancouver #WashingtonState...

Chris Cargill of Mountain States Policy Center takes apart Ken Jennings' ad opposing Initiative 645, arguing the income tax has collected zero dollars in revenue and no current school funding relies on it. Cargill calls the "tax break" framing impossible to quantify since the tax doesn't yet exist. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-hey-ken-jennings-ill-take-misinformation-1-000 #Initiativ...

During a live televised debate, Third Congressional District candidates John Braun and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez clashed over biological males in girls sports. Braun said the issue threatens fairness and safety under Title IX. Gluesenkamp Perez called it rare and raised concerns about enforcement. The debate comes as Initiative 638 heads to Washington voters and a dozen Camas athletes and five Battl...

Vancouver Police are investigating a shooting that occurred near Evergreen Park late Tuesday night. The victim, who was shot during an attempted bicycle robbery, was dropped off at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center by a friend and is in stable condition. The Major Crimes Unit has taken over the case. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/vancouver-police-investigate-shooting-23 #VancouverWA #Clark...

Vancouver Police responded to a welfare check at an apartment in the 2600 block of NE Neals Lane late Tuesday night and found a man and woman dead from gunshot wounds. The Major Crimes Unit is investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide. The Clark County Medical Examiner will release identities and cause of death. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/vancouver-police-investigate-murder-suicide #Van...

Eileen Quiring O'Brien has filed a formal ethics complaint against Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey, alleging undisclosed conflicts of interest, unlawful legal threats, and election interference. The complaint asks the Ethics Review Commission to investigate Kimsey's legal representation and recommend his recusal from overseeing her race. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/eileen-quiring-obrien-fi...

At the Clark County Republican Party headquarters, viewers watching the Gluesenkamp Perez-Braun debate reacted sharply when Gluesenkamp Perez raised the death of a Braun employee. Braun called it "a new low for Marie." The debate also covered voter ID, abortion, Iran, and homelessness. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/gop-viewers-not-happy-low-tactics-marie-gluesenkamp-perez #WA03 #ClarkCounty #...

Lars Larson calls out Camas School District coaches, principals, superintendents, and school board members after more than half the girls' cross-country team forfeited rather than compete against a male athlete who switched to the girls' team. Larson argues adults in positions of authority chose LGBT political accommodation over the welfare of the female athletes. https://clarkcountytoday.com/stor...

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 would require Clark County to begin public budget presentations as early as September, giving residents more time to weigh in on the county's nearly $900 million annual budget. The amendment passed the Charter Review Commission 12-3 and now goes to voters. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-20-revised-budget-transparency #ClarkCounty...