Clark County Today News

Recreational fires are now banned throughout unincorporated Clark County effective immediately, joining a campfire ban already in place from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Fire Marshal Donna Goddard says the restriction is a necessary step to prevent escaped campfires from igniting larger grass or brush fires. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/burn-ban-expanded-in-unincorpor...

Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center examines how Judge Chris Lanese, while upholding the Public Investment Impact Disclosure for IP26-645, spent the hearing making the policy case for a more progressive tax code rather than testing whether the Attorney General met the law's neutrality requirement. The judge acknowledged the initiative makes no direct spending cuts, yet the disclosure tells...

Washington is one of 12 states with a stop-as-yield law for cyclists, meaning riders can legally treat stop signs as yield signs. Columnist Doug Dahl explains the safety research behind the law, including a 14% drop in cyclist injuries in Idaho and a 23% drop in Delaware. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-yielding-a-lot-like-stopping/ #StopAsYield #CyclistSafety #WashingtonState #Traffi...

Vancouver's new Cultural Access Program is accepting its first grant applications for nonprofits in arts, culture, heritage and science. The inaugural eight-month funding cycle runs November 2026 through June 2027, with a first-year budget of $3.85 million. Applications close September 10. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/inspire-vancouver-opens-first-grant-applications-for-community-organization...

Clark County's Board of Health is accepting applications for six volunteer positions on its Public Health Advisory Council, including seats for public health consumers, a dentist, a social services agency, and a youth representative. Terms begin Oct. 1, 2026, and the application deadline is 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2026. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/board-of-health-seeks-applicants-for-six-public-h...

Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, and Young MC take the stage Saturday night at the Clark County Fair for the I Love the 90's concert. From barnyard races and Curly the Camel to Mars Encounters live shows at 2:30, 4:30, and 6:30 p.m., Day 2 of Summer's Best Party is packed. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/heres-whats-happening-at-the-clark-county-fair-on-saturday-aug-8/ #ClarkCountyFair #VanillaIce #ILov...

Delanie Craighead, the 2026 American Honey Queen, arrived in Clark County at 1 a.m. and was helping open the Clark County Fair by 10 a.m. She will spend the next few days at the Bee Barn sharing live hives and bee education with fairgoers. Mars Encounters and the carnival are also open at Summer's Best Party, running through Aug. 16 in Ridgefield. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/all-the-buzz-f...

Aaron Farinacci, 37, faces formal arson charges after allegedly confessing to starting roughly 25 fires over five weeks and igniting the Old Trails fire, which burned more than 3,200 acres and destroyed more than 400 structures. Court records say he tracked weather apps to target Red Flag Warning days. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/arson-suspect-confessed-to-setting-dozens-of-spokane-wildfires...

Senate Republicans voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times at a July 29 hearing on COVID-19 origins, including in response to questions about his tie color. Biden's 2014-to-2025 pardon of Fauci is at the center of the dispute. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/us-senate-panel-votes-to-hold-fauci-in-contempt-for-declining-to-answer-covid-questions/...

C-TRAN is offering free shuttle service to the Clark County Fair every day from August 7 through August 16, with pickup at eight locations including Vancouver Mall, Fisher's Landing, Battle Ground, La Center, Ridgefield, and Yacolt. Shuttle riders also receive a coupon for $1 off fair admission. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/c-tran-takes-you-to-summers-best-party-for-free/ #ClarkCountyFair #CT...

Brent Hennrich's refusal to back Gluesenkamp Perez, a high-profile Republican visit, and competitive legislative results define a consequential week in Clark County politics. Full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/clarkcountytoday/this-weeks-top-news_august_6_2026

Brent Hennrich captured more than 16 percent of the 3rd Congressional District primary vote, and he says he will not support incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in November. With nearly 28,000 votes in play, where those supporters land could shape the outcome of a closely watched battleground race. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/poll-could-brent-hennrichs-refusal-to-support-gluesenkamp-p...

Clark County Today editor Ken Vance examines whether Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District are repeating the same splintering strategy that cost Republicans the seat for two terms. Brett Hennrich, who drew 16 percent of the primary vote, says he will not support Gluesenkamp Perez in November. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-will-sw-washington-democrats-repeat-the-mistake-of-thei...

Less than 48 hours after Washington's primary closed, U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson was at Trap Door Brewing in Vancouver endorsing John Braun for Washington's 3rd Congressional District. Braun faces Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in November, with Cook Political Report listing the seat as a toss-up among 18 nationally. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/u-s-speaker-of-the-house-campaigns-for-john-br...

Democrat Brent Hennrich, who earned over 16% of the vote in Washington's 3rd Congressional District primary, says he will not support Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in November. His roughly 28,000 voters could prove decisive in the battleground race between Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican John Braun. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/liberal-hennrich-in-3rd-district-wont-support-gluesenkamp-perez/...

Mark Harmsworth of the Washington Policy Center argues that while lawmakers champion affordable housing, the Department of Health is raising fees on mobile home parks and temporary worker housing by as much as 250 percent, shifting the cost burden onto the residents least able to absorb it. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-when-politicians-say-one-thing-and-do-something-else/ #Affordab...

Clark County's Commission on Aging is accepting nominations for its annual Silver Citizen Award, open to any county resident 60 or older who has made meaningful contributions through volunteerism, service, or community engagement. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2026. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/commission-on-agings-7th-annual-silver-citizen-award/ #SilverCitizenAward #ClarkCounty...

The 2026 Clark County Fair opens Friday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. after 354 days of waiting. Opening day features a 2 p.m. Midway parade with cars, horses, and magicians, a 7 p.m. Midland country concert, and the Celebration of Horses equestrian showcase at Dr. Jack Giesy Arena. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/heres-whats-happening-at-the-clark-county-fair-on-friday-aug-7/ #ClarkCountyFair #ClarkCoun...

Matt Young founded Vancouver Elite Outreach 16 years ago after his own struggles with dyslexia, a tough home life, and becoming a teenage parent. Now he mentors boys and girls ages 11 to 18 through life skills, career days, and community partnerships. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/vancouver-elite-outreach-looks-to-help-citys-youth-through-mentorship/ #VancouverEliteOutreach #YouthMentorship...

Bill Ritchie, founding pastor of Crossroads Community Church, spent four and a half years caring for his wife Betty before her death. Now 82, he has a 156-page book on navigating grief and faith, and leads a weekly widowers group of 10 men. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/beloved-area-pastor-shares-the-backstory-behind-the-writing-of-his-new-book-about-grief/ #grief #faith #BillRitchie #Crossr...

Columnist Nancy Churchill traces Title IX's legacy, from roughly 300,000 female athletes in 1972 to more than three million girls competing in high school sports four decades later, and argues that Initiative 638 would restore biological-sex requirements to Washington's middle and high school sports programs. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-xx-xy-follow-the-science/ #Initiative638 #Ti...

Paul Valencia has covered the Clark County Fair for years, and he argues the 10-day event, starting Aug. 7, is the best entertainment value in Clark County at $11.50 for adults. From Mars Encounters to an I Love the 90s concert, this year's fair promises something for every generation. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/entertainment/opinion-the-clark-county-fair-gives-this-reporter-the-opportuni...

Four Republican incumbents in Clark County's 17th and 18th legislative districts are trailing their Democrat challengers after Tuesday's primary. If all four lose in November, Democrats move closer to a supermajority in the Washington State House. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/primary-election-results-reveal-republicans-have-work-to-do-in-17th-and-18th-district-legislative-races/ #ClarkCounty...

Washington state Supreme Court incumbents, including two appointees of Gov. Bob Ferguson, led in three contested primary races after Tuesday's initial results. In a fourth race for an open seat, Mason County Judge David Stevens leads while King County Judge Jaime Hawk and appeals Judge Mike Diaz split the progressive vote. Candidates have raised over $2.3 million combined, with the state's new inc...

State Senate Minority Leader John Braun finished second in initial Third Congressional District primary results with 53,869 votes, trailing Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's 54,132. Democrat Brett Hennrich placed a distant third with 21,290 votes. Braun and Gluesenkamp Perez advance to November. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/braun-feeling-upbeat-after-initial-ballot-results/ #WA03 #WashingtonStat...