Clark County Today News

The Greater Vancouver Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2026 First Citizen Award, an 87-year-old honor recognizing lifelong leadership, service, and philanthropy in Southwest Washington. Nominations are open through August 28, with the recipient honored October 14 at The Heathman Lodge. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/greater-vancouver-chamber-opens-nominations-for-the-2026-first-citi...

The Vancouver Police Officers' Guild is challenging directives from the City Attorney's Office telling officers not to arrest or cite individuals for theft, trespass, drug possession, and other offenses. The Guild warns the policy creates legal uncertainty for officers and leaves crime victims without recourse, including in domestic violence situations. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-...

The lower portion of Daybreak Regional Park in Battle Ground closes Aug. 3 through Oct. 15 for construction tied to the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project. Work includes trail relocation, floodplain grading, bank stabilization, and native planting along three river miles. The boat launch, damaged in a December 2025 flood, will remain closed when the park reopens. https://clarkcountytoday.c...

Clark County resident Anna Miller makes the case for Eileen Quiring O'Brien as the county's next auditor, citing her years on the Clark County Council, her role as County Chair, and her support for an independent audit of the Auditor's Office to strengthen public confidence. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-is-eileen-quiring-obrien-qualified-to-be-our-next-clark-county-auditor/ #ClarkCo...

Nancy Churchill argues that four Washington Supreme Court seats on the August 4 primary ballot could shape the state's constitutional future, including a 2027 ruling on the new 9.9 percent millionaires tax. She profiles four Republican-backed candidates she says prioritize constitutional fidelity over judicial activism. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-supreme-court-slate-your-primary-...

The Vancouver Fire Department has confirmed the July 20 fire that destroyed the Oakbrook Park play structure was intentionally set, causing roughly $100,000 in damage. A $10,000 reward through the Arson Alarm Foundation is being offered for tips leading to an arrest. The investigation remains open. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/fire-and-arson-investigation-concludes-playground-fire-was-intenti...

After nearly 17 years leading Washougal and a 40-year local government career, City Manager David Scott will retire on April 15, 2027. His tenure included securing a $40 million federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant and transitioning the city to a council-manager form of government. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/city-of-washougal-announces-upcoming-retirement-of-city-manager-david-scot...

Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene partnered with Sunshine Laundry and Cleanworks Laundromat on Main Street in Battle Ground to cover 20 full loads of washing and drying for 40 people. Pastor Will Swaney says the event sparked spontaneous conversations among patrons. The church plans to hold Laundry Love monthly. https://clarkcountytoday.com/people/love-and-suds-makes-for-successful-combo-as-savi...

Washougal resident Anthony Teso pushes back on a Washington Policy Center column, arguing that Senate Bill 5041 does not destabilize the unemployment trust fund and that striking workers drawing benefits are drawing on their own deferred wages, not employer funds. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-a-strike-is-the-withdrawal-of-labor-in-a-dispute-the-employer-co-produces-at-the-bargaining...

Vancouver resident Jim McConnell breaks down city budgets per capita across the West Coast, finding that Vancouver's $12,000 per-person budget surpasses Seattle's $11,000 and Los Angeles's $3,800. McConnell argues the trend reflects irrational progressive fiscal policy. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-how-rational-are-our-city-taxes/ #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #CityBudget #WashingtonState...

Sarah Mittelman, a nurse with over 20 years in emergency and behavioral health care, explains why she left the Democratic Party to run for state representative in Legislative District 49 as a Republican. She writes that no one recruited her and that the decision aligned with her conscience, not political convenience. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-i-didnt-become-a-republican-because-...

A man died Friday afternoon after his Toyota Tacoma left the gravel L-1500 Road in Yacolt Burn State Forest, struck a stump, and rolled down an embankment. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. DNR Police, Clark County Sheriff deputies, and Fire District 3 responded. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/fatal-crash-reported-on-road-in-yacolt-burn-state-forest/ #YacoltBurnStateForest #ClarkCounty #Fa...

Camas resident Douglas Tweet argues the $15.2 billion IBR bridge plan allocates roughly half its width to light rail, buses, and bicycles while cramming cars, trucks, and freight into the remainder — and that Clark County has voted against light rail three times. Tweet makes the case for John Braun in the August 4 primary. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-john-braun-for-congress-navy-ca...

Elisabeth Gordon, 51, was arrested in Vancouver after a road rage incident in which she allegedly rear-ended another vehicle, then attempted to elude Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies. A grappler deployment stopped her GMC Yukon near NE Andresen Road, and a police K9 assisted in taking her into custody. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/road-rage-suspect-arrested-after-attempting-to-elude-dep...

Bloodworks Northwest has declared a Code Red blood emergency — meaning less than a one-to-two-day supply remains for patients across the Pacific Northwest. The nonprofit supplies 95 percent of regional hospitals and is asking donors to give and spread the word. One July donor wins a $10,000 gas card. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/bloodworks-northwest-issue-code-red-seeks-blood-donors/ #Bloodwo...

Clark County Elections began mailing ballots on July 14 for the Aug. 4 Primary and Special Election. The deadline to register or update your registration online or by mail is 4 p.m. on July 27. After that date, updates must be made in person by 8 p.m. on Election Day. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/ballots-for-aug-4-primary-and-special-election-in-the-mail/ #ClarkCounty #Elections #Vancouver #W...

Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken, told a panel of state business leaders that he's never felt this much fear in Washington's business community. His concern isn't the millionaire income tax — it's what he called an "insatiable appetite of spending beyond your means" by majority Democrats in Olympia, negative credit rating outlooks, and a growing number of companies quietly discussing relocat...

The Endeavour Fund's $6 million gift — the largest in FVRL Foundation history — puts the new Washougal Community Library just $400,000 from its $10.4 million fundraising goal. The 14,000-square-foot facility at 222 Durgan Street is slated to open in 2028, replacing a 2,300-square-foot space that has served nearly 18,000 residents since 1981. https://clarkcountytoday.com/business/record-6m-gift-bri...

Vancouver is moving forward with a no-barrier Bridge Shelter, but Peter Bracchi asks a pointed question: if years of sanitation, oversight, and disorder problems at Share House were never solved, what prevents the same failures from taking root at the new facility? https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-vancouver-does-not-just-need-a-new-shelter/ #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #Homelessness #BridgeS...

The McClaskey Foundation, through the Parks Foundation of Clark County, has invested $25,000 to sustain the Summer Playgrounds Program — a six-week, free recreation program serving Vancouver children ages 6–11 at Evergreen Park, Hough Elementary, and Crestline Elementary, including daily USDA-funded lunches. https://clarkcountytoday.com/youth/parks-foundation-of-clark-county-awards-25000-to-suppor...

Former Democratic Governor Gary Locke told a statewide economic summit that Washington's legislature has "no budget discipline," warning that one-time money is being locked into permanent programs with no plan to sustain them — even as the state faces a projected budget deficit. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/video-ex-governor-locke-criticizes-washingtons-out-of-control-spending/ #Washington...

Initiative 645 is certified for the November ballot after Let's Go Washington submitted 509,365 signatures. The Clark County Charter Review Commission passed amendment 26-40 on a 12-3 vote, C-TRAN holds $201 million in cash but fares cover just 4.2 percent of operating costs, and the Washougal National turns 45 on July 25. https://mailchi.mp/clarkcountytoday/this-weeks-top-news_july_17_2026 #Clark...

A Clark County Charter Review Commission amendment passed 12-3 would lower the signature threshold for initiatives from 10 percent to 8 percent. Sponsor Cathie Garber says no citizen petition has reached the ballot since Clark County adopted Home Rule in 2014. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-40-amending-the-initiative-mini-initiative-and-referenda-process/ #ClarkCoun...

A Mercatus Center study of nearly 34 million interstate moves finds Americans are gravitating toward states with lower taxes and greater economic freedom — and Washington is among the top sources of people choosing Idaho. Chris Cargill of Mountain States Policy Center examines what's driving the shift and what it means for the region. https://clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-idaho-and-montana-...

Initiative 645, which would repeal Washington's new 9.9% income tax on income above $1 million a year, has been certified for the November ballot after Let's Go Washington submitted 509,365 signatures with an 80%-plus validity rate. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the underlying law in March; tax collections are set to begin in 2029. https://clarkcountytoday.com/news/its-official-wa-voters-will-get-to-we...