Clark County Today News

Clark County Council schedules April 27 public hearing to select preferred land use alternative for comprehensive plan update affecting eight jurisdictions. Three alternatives studied in environmental impact statement following 60-day public comment period. Final decision will guide growth and development for next 20 years across Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal, Woodland and...

Ken Vance exposes how the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program buried crucial details about their light rail plan requiring a 70-foot elevator system at the waterfront stop. While Governor Ferguson touted a $7.65 billion bridge cost, the full project price tag hit $15.2 billion with no public oversight planned. Vancouver's mayor revealed the hidden elevator requirement that IBR officials convenie...

A new poll asks Clark County residents whether they support extending light rail beyond the current waterfront-only plan to connect with C-TRAN at Library Square. Anne McEnerny-Ogle has proposed this extension to create a multimodal transit hub rather than relying on elevator access from an elevated station. The proposal raises questions about costs, phasing, and how the system will serve Clark Co...

Doug Dahl breaks down the spatial math behind cyclist passing laws on two-lane roads. Ford F-150s measure 8 feet wide with mirrors, but most road lanes are only 10-12 feet. Add the required 3-foot buffer and cyclist positioning, and legal in-lane passing becomes impossible for most vehicles. The solution isn't aggression—it's understanding when patience beats risky maneuvers on double yellow line...

Clark County wants public input on how to spend $2.4 million in federal CDBG and HOME funds for 2026. The proposed activities include dental services for low-income residents, sidewalk installation in Battle Ground, childcare business assistance, and affordable housing projects in Washougal. The County Council will hold a public hearing May 5, with comments accepted through May 11. Projects range...

Ryan Frost from Washington Policy Center exposes the fundamental flaw in Washington's approach to tax reform: lawmakers can always spend beyond revenue and simply raise taxes to cover the difference. Despite a decade of new taxes including capital gains and income taxes, the state still faces multi-billion-dollar deficits because spending has outpaced revenue growth since 2013. Frost argues only a...

Former Attorney General Rob McKenna and legal heavyweights launch their constitutional challenge Thursday against Washington's new 9.9% income tax on millionaire earners. The lawsuit targets Senate Bill 6346, signed by Governor Ferguson in March, which ends Washington's status as one of few states without individual income tax. Supporters welcome the legal fight, expecting it to reach the state Su...

Anne McEnerny-Ogle's 48-second statement to the Regional Transportation Council exposed a major shift in the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program's light rail plans. While officials celebrated a $7.65 billion bridge project last month, they quietly revealed that light rail would only reach Vancouver's waterfront — requiring a 70-foot elevator for commuters. The mayor now wants to extend service t...

Lars Larson exposes how Oregon and Washington officials are fighting the Department of Justice in court to prevent cleanup of voter registration rolls before major elections. While Colorado was forced to remove 372,000 ineligible voters this week, Pacific Northwest Democrats seem determined to block similar scrutiny. Larson questions why states would resist rooting out fraudulent registrations unl...

Sarah Mittelman, a psychiatric provider working directly with homeless populations, challenges Clark County's approach to homelessness spending. She argues that good intentions don't make policy work and that public dollars should be tied to clear expectations like safer streets, fewer repeat crises, and measurable treatment engagement. Mittelman's letter responds to broader frustrations about pub...

Washington's Department of Ecology declared a statewide drought emergency Wednesday, the fourth consecutive year part or all of the state has faced water shortages. Director Casey Sixkiller says every watershed has dropped below 75% of normal supply despite an above-average wet winter. Mountain snowpack sits at half normal levels as warmer temperatures turned snow to rain. The declaration unlocks...

The U.S. Department of Education rescinded resolution agreements with six school districts, including Fife School District in Washington, following claims that previous administrations expanded Title IX protections beyond biological sex to include gender identity. Officials say the move corrects years of enforcement actions against districts for conduct like pronoun use, though affected schools re...

The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington launches its Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, offering $80 benefit cards to eligible Clark County residents 60 and older. The lottery-based program helps seniors purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at participating farmers markets from June through October. Applications close May 15, with income limits set at 1...

Clark County's Composter Recycler program launches seven free workshops teaching residents practical skills from worm bin composting to green cleaning. Sessions run April through May at Cascade Park Community Library and Waste Connections, covering everything from turning food scraps into fertilizer to making environmentally friendly household cleaners. Participants learn the SMART composting meth...

Anna Warren found herself in first class on the Titanic, returning to the Pacific Northwest after an anniversary trip abroad with her husband. Local historian Peri Muchich brings Warren's survival story to life at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum event, focusing on the personal experience of this brave woman who endured one of history's most tragic maritime disasters. The presentation covers everyth...

Sam Churchill warns the Interstate Bridge Replacement will destroy Manheim Auto Auction, kill Hayden Island Mall with $4 tolls, and bring homeless encampments to Vancouver. The Hayden Island resident argues the $14 billion project lacks direct I-5 access and proposes alternatives like autonomous shuttles and killing light rail. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-this-is-the-worst-thin...

Mayor David Stuebe and the City of Washougal are rolling out multiple programs to strengthen local small businesses this spring. The Gateway to Success Series offers free workshops with business coaching, while the new Let's Talk Business program connects entrepreneurs directly with city leadership. These initiatives support the city's strategic plan for economic development and community prosperi...

Vancouver Fire Department crews responded to a working fire at 1806 E Fourth Plain Boulevard just after 9 p.m. Tuesday evening. First-arriving units found flames on the first floor and quickly knocked down most of the fire from the exterior before searching the apartment. One female occupant was displaced and is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Fire District 6 provided mutual aid...

Former Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge joins Rob McKenna and the Citizens Action Defense Fund to mount a challenge to Washington’s new 9.9% income tax law. The legal team argues that the tax may violate state constitutional rules on property and uniformity. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/former-wa-supreme-court-justice-joins-legal-effort-against-income-tax/ #Washington #PhilTalmadge #In...

At least 13% of Congress, including 57 House members and 11 Senators, will leave office, marking the greatest turnover in 30 years. Analysts expect less institutional knowledge and more power for party leaders and lobbyists. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/makeover-in-store-for-congress-with-flood-of-lawmakers-headed-for-the-exits/ #Congress #Politics #Lawmakers #Elections #Leadership #Turno...

Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Ferry county sheriffs file suit against SB 5974, a state law letting a board override voters by decertifying elected sheriffs. Nancy Churchill examines the power shift away from communities and the constitutional concerns. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-sheriffs-fight-back/ #Opinion #Washington #Sheriffs #SB5974 #VoterRights #StatePolitics #Oly...

Lucille ‘Erma’ Christenson Madore, World War II worker and devoted mother, touched generations through music, faith, and family in Vancouver. Her story spans nearly 102 years, ending with a legacy of deep community roots and a large extended family. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/obituary-for-lucille-erma-christenson-madore-april-221924-march-13-2026/ #obituary #VancouverWA #ClarkCounty #...

The Center Square reveals Washington state’s diversion of $375 million from a vital infrastructure loan fund to cover the operating budget. Local and statewide groups warn repeated withdrawals risk long-term damage to city and county projects. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/fiscal-fallout-375-million-bond-debt-indirectly-funding-operating-budget/ #Washington #infrastructure #budget #bonds #...

Four sheriffs from Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Ferry counties are challenging a new Washington law that allows for the removal of sheriffs who don’t meet tougher eligibility and certification standards. The measure was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson despite opposition and legal warnings. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/lawsuit-aims-to-block-new-eligibility-requirements-for-wa-sheriffs/...

Protests, online petitions, and legislator outreach rarely shift state policy, says Todd Myers of Washington Policy Center. He argues lasting public impact comes from local, diverse efforts and genuine civic involvement. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-the-growing-gap-between-public-voice-and-political-power/ #WashingtonState #Politics #PublicEngagement #Opinion #CommunityAction #...