Clark County Today News

Girls from Skyview, Battle Ground, and Camas high schools will speak publicly for the first time Wednesday about competing against a male athlete in girls' cross-country. The rally and press conference, organized by Amy E. Sousa, will feature athletes, parents, advocate Francis Staudt, and three state lawmakers. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/camas-courage-girls-three-area-high-schools-speak-o...

Ridgefield School District opened Sunset Ridge Elementary on Oct. 15, bringing together students from South Ridge Elementary and new families on land that once served as the Claiborne family farm. Principal Todd Graves and Superintendent Jenny Rodriquez marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting, student-led tours, and a symbolic soil ceremony. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/ridgefield-school-...

Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries broke ground on a new 14,000-square-foot Washougal Community Library, replacing a 2,300-square-foot facility. The $19.4 million project received a record $6 million gift from The Endeavour Fund and is scheduled to open in 2028. A "Close the Gap" campaign now seeks the remaining $400,000. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/fort-vancouver-regional-library-district-b...

Vancouver Police are investigating a fatal collision at E 37th Street and P Street after a southbound motorcyclist struck the rear passenger side of a westbound vehicle. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries and did not survive. The vehicle driver remained on scene and showed no signs of impairment. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/vancouver-police-investigat...

Clark County Republican Women issued a statement backing Skyview athletes who walked out of a September 15 cross-country meet and Camas athletes who staged a larger walkout October 13 over transgender eligibility. The group supports biological sex as the basis for female-only competition and urges a yes vote on Initiative IL26-638, on the November 3 ballot. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opini...

Meg Goudy of the Mountain States Policy Center argues Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal is blocking a federal scholarship tax credit worth up to $1.5 billion in donations, while over 26% of state students read below grade level and over 33% struggle in math. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-washington-superintendent-reykdal-advocates-politics #WashingtonState #Education #SchoolChoi...

A 35-year-old cyclist suffered significant injuries after being struck and left at the intersection of SW 34th Street and SW 10th Avenue in Battle Ground. A witness provided the license plate number of the suspect vehicle, a white Ford Ranger, leading officers to Cloe Vesley, 20, who was taken into custody and charged with Hit and Run with Injury. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/driver-arrested...

Washington's Court of Appeals sided with the city of Vancouver, ruling that the Save Vancouver Streets initiative was an administrative function and could not be imposed through the local initiative process. More than 6,500 residents had signed the petition seeking a public vote before any vehicle traffic lane could be removed. SVS says it is ending its legal battle. https://clarkcountytoday.com/s...

Save Vancouver Streets collected more than 6,500 signatures, roughly 50 percent more than the City Charter required, yet two court rulings have ended the group's bid to place a citizen initiative on the Vancouver ballot. The organization says pursuing the Washington State Supreme Court would not be a responsible use of supporters' resources. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/save-vancouver-street...

Mark Rose opens a three-part series by challenging the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation. Civil rights attorney Christopher Ferrara, who had a 2020 legal victory that helped reopen COVID-shuttered churches, will present the argument live at the West Coast Catholic Conference, Nov. 13 to 14 in Portland. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-can-you-american-and-catholic #Opin...

Free drive-thru medication disposal events come to Clark County, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal, and Battle Ground on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pills, liquids, and inhalers are accepted. No need to leave your vehicle. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/safely-dispose-unused-medications-oct-24-drug-take-back #DrugTakeBack #MedicationDisposal #ClarkCounty #PrescriptionSafety #Preve...

Reform Clark County founder Rob Anderson says Paul Burgess's defense of Wil Fuentes and Diana Perez falls apart against Fourth Plain Forward's own contracts, which call FPF "the Contractor" more than a hundred times and list business lending as a CDBG-funded service. Anderson also questions whether Perez met the income eligibility threshold required to receive FPF services. https://clarkcountytoda...

A heavy manufacturer on the Columbia River has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program's preferred 116-foot fixed-span design, arguing it would permanently restrict navigation and industrial activity upstream. Iron Partners LLC contends federal agencies violated environmental and navigation laws, and that the U.S. Coast Guard reversed a prior determinatio...

Vancouver's Julia Dawn Seaver makes a pointed case that right-leaning voters are falling into pessimism and conspiracy thinking, while ignoring what she calls a substantial list of Trump-era accomplishments. She contrasts Democratic-run states on cost of living, crime, and taxes with Republican-led alternatives, and urges Clark County voters to get to the polls. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/...

Fourth Plain Forward Executive Director Paul Burgess disputes published claims about Wil Fuentes, the nonprofit's CDBG classification, and a loan made to a business from a Washington State Department of Commerce grant. Burgess says Fuentes was never paid with CDBG funds and that his departure was prearranged due to the end of grant funding for his position. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/lette...

Clark County voters will decide whether the county council should have independent authority to conduct performance audits of county finances and programs. Supporters say it strengthens accountability; opponents argue existing free audits through the Washington State Auditor's Office make it unnecessary and costly. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-27-concerning-legi...

Clark County voters will decide whether to cut the signature requirement for citizen initiatives and referendums from 10 percent to 8 percent. Sponsored by commission secretary Cathie Garber, the amendment passed the Charter Review Commission 12-3. Opponents note a similar measure was rejected by 59 percent of voters in 2022. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-26-conc...

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...