Clark County Today News

Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican challenger John Braun met at KOIN6 to debate the Iran war, gas taxes, the $15 billion I-5 bridge, and a state income tax initiative. The 3rd Congressional District race is among a handful of competitive contests that could determine House control in January. A second debate is set for Oct. 13 on KATU. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/four-ta...

This week's audio newsletter covers a congressional debate between Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and John Braun, a Camas High School sports controversy involving gender identity, nine charter amendments on the November ballot, an ethics complaint against Councilor Wil Fuentes, a use-of-force ruling in the Deputy Bryson Layton case, and Vancouver's $26 million Main Street completion. https://mailchi.mp/c...

A reported situation at Camas High School, where one athlete competed on both the boys' and girls' cross country teams in the same season, has renewed debate over Washington's sports eligibility rules. The WIAA currently allows participation based on gender identity. Clark County Today is asking readers where they stand. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/poll-should-biological-sex-birth-determini...

Clark County Public Works is looking for two adults to serve as residential park hosts at Lewisville Regional Park in Battle Ground. Hosts live on-site in a county-owned residence, clean facilities, manage gates, and help maintain security at the county's oldest and most visited park. The service term runs through Dec. 31, 2027. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/clark-county-seeks-two-volunteer-r...

La Center residents Myrna and Ken Frantz endorse Peter Silliman for Clark County Council District 5, pointing to his 4,000-plus hours of council office experience, Charter Review Commission service, and four sponsored amendments covering budget transparency, housing analysis, tax supermajority requirements, and performance audits. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/letter-his-thoughtful-leadership...

A three-vehicle crash in La Center killed the driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser after the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a C-TRAN bus carrying passengers. A minivan was also involved. Minor injuries were reported. NW La Center Road is closed between Timmen Road and Paradise Park Road while the CCSO Traffic Homicide Unit investigates. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/one-person-killed-t...

Future 42 Clark County has released a plain-language voter guide covering nine proposed charter amendments on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The organization supports seven of the nine proposals and remains neutral on two, covering topics from term limits and budget transparency to nonpartisan elections and housing impact analysis. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/future-42-clark-county-rel...

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and State Senator John Braun squared off in a KOIN-TV televised debate Wednesday, clashing over the $15 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement, Washington's new income tax, the conflict with Iran, and voter ID. A second debate is set for Oct. 13 on KATU-TV. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/gluesenkamp-perez-and-braun-make-their-cases-first-two #WA03 #Congress...

Sharon Kay Vance, who served as Skamania County Clerk for 20 years before retiring, passed away October 1, 2026, in Hood River after a six-year battle with cancer. She was 71. A Celebration of Life date is to be determined. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/obit-long-time-skamania-county-clerk-sharon-vance-passes #Obituaries #SkamaniaCounty #CarsonWashington #WashingtonState #ClarkCountyToday

Reform Clark County founder Rob Anderson filed an ethics complaint Oct. 6 charging Vancouver City Council Member Diana Perez with voting to give taxpayer funds to Fourth Plain Forward while simultaneously obtaining a personal business loan from that nonprofit. A separate complaint targets Councilor Wil Fuentes for drawing an FPF paycheck while serving on the Clark County Council. https://clarkcoun...

Lars Larson calls out school boards and State Superintendent Chris Reykdahl after Skyview High School athletes Charlie Garrett and Sierra Retzlaff forfeited a track race rather than compete against a biological male. Larson argues adults created this problem and girls shouldn't be forced to solve it. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-dont-make-girls-do-work-fix-adult-problem #Initiative63...

Candidates for Clark County Council District 5, Legislative District 20 Position 2, and Legislative District 18 Positions 1 and 2 addressed taxes, growth, transportation, education, health care, water, and data centers at a League of Women Voters forum held Oct. 1 at the Ridgefield Community Library. Troy McCoy, Peter Silliman, Ed Orcutt, Evan Jones, Randi Knott, Stephanie McClintock, John Ley, an...

On Sept. 15, Skyview cross country runners Charlie Garrett and Sierra Retzlaff stepped off the course at Camas High School to protest competing against a biological male. Both girls say spots and scholarships are at stake, and Washington voters will weigh in on Initiative 638 in November. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/skyview-girls-share-reason-their-decision-not-compete #SkyviewHighSchool #G...

Alliance Defending Freedom filed a SCOTUS emergency application for Puyallup wrestler Kallie Keeler, 15, who says she was sexually assaulted during a December 2025 match against a male competitor who identifies as female. Two lower courts declined relief. Without an injunction, Keeler faces missing the girls wrestling season beginning in November. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/video-puyallup-...

Candidate Sarah Mittelman raises questions about opponent Kim Harless's relationship with the Democratic Socialists of America, citing a 27-0 DSA resolution calling Harless a "member in good standing" expected to legislate in alignment with DSA's national platform, which calls for abolishing the U.S. Senate and police system. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-who-will-kim-harless-represen...

Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center argues that blaming McCleary for Washington's budget pressures obscures a larger reality: since 2019, non-K-12 spending has surged $20.88 billion, or 82%, nearly three times faster than K-12 growth, accounting for roughly three-quarters of total state budget expansion. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-mccleary-really-blame-washingtons-budget-woe...

Let's Go Washington released new polling showing I-001, at 51% support, and I-638, at 56% support. LGW founder Brian Heywood says a large undecided bloc reflects voter reluctance to take a public position. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/new-poll-shows-support-parents-right-know-and-fairness-girls #LetsGoWashington #I001 #I638 #WashingtonState #ParentalRights #GirlsSports #WaInitiatives

Council for the Homeless marks 37 years serving Clark County at its Gathering for Change fundraiser on Oct. 15 at Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver. CEO Sesany Fennie-Jones will publicly announce the organization's new name and brand identity live for the first time. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/council-homeless-celebrate-37-years-gathering-change #CouncilForTheHomeless #GatheringForChange #Clark...

Washington's recreational razor clam season, originally set to open Oct. 9 on four coastal beaches, is postponed indefinitely after domoic acid levels trended upward or exceeded DOH safety guidelines. WDFW biologist Bryce Blumenthal says a toxin bloom is moving north past Grays Harbor. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/razor-clam-digs-coastal-beaches-postponed-until-further #RazorClams #WDFW #Was...

Ridgefield City Council unanimously adopted a moratorium on new gas station applications, citing seven existing or under-construction fueling stations already within 1.5 miles in the Ridgefield Junction area. The Council has up to six months to review development regulations. A public hearing is set for Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/ridgefield-city-council-adopts-moratoriu...

Nancy Churchill dissects a political mailer that blamed Rep. Michael Baumgartner for a rural hospital crisis traced to hidden losses from 2022 to 2024, and a CEO termination that predated his term. She argues the Working Families Tax Cut Act actually sends Washington state $181 million for rural health care. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-desperate-campaign-spreads-rural-healthcare-lie...

A Camas High School athlete competed on the boys' cross country team for the first race of the 2026 season, then switched to the girls' team, ranking second among female runners and taking a top varsity spot, according to Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-can-real-biological-male-competes-camas-boys-and #CamasHighSchool #GirlsSports #Initiative638 #Tra...

Camas resident Anna Miller raises a pointed question about conflict-of-interest rules in Clark County government: can a councilor vote on funding for an organization that pays part of their salary? Miller argues that transparency, disclosure, and recusal are the only appropriate responses, and that silence from fellow councilors sets a precedent with lasting consequences. https://clarkcountytoday....

Chris Cargill of Mountain States Policy Center argues Washington won't collect a dime of income tax revenue until 2029, making claims that Initiative 645 would "cut" school or health care funding factually misleading. The ballot impact statement, he contends, shifted polling by 18 points. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/opinion-fact-check-washingtons-income-tax-initiative-doesnt #Initiative645...

Identity Clark County is accepting nominations for its 2027 Ed Lynch honorary board seat, a one-year role for an emerging private-sector leader. The seat honors the late businessman and philanthropist Edward Lynch, who chaired the group for more than a decade. Nominations are due by October 30, 2026. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/identity-clark-county-accepting-nominations-ed-lynch-board #Ide...