Clark County Today News

Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance breaks down why the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling upholding transgender athlete bans in Idaho and West Virginia changes nothing for Washington State — and why Initiative IL26-638 may be the only path forward for girls' sports advocates here. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-dont-expect-bans-on-trans-athletes-in-girls-sports-in-wa-even-with-scotus-ru...

Vancouver marks America's 250th birthday with a free daylong festival at Fort Vancouver Parade Grounds on July 3, noon to 11 p.m. The celebration includes live performances, historic weapons demonstrations, a pet costume contest, and a free outdoor screening of A League of Their Own at 9:15 p.m. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-celebrates-americas-250th-birthday-with-free-daylong-fe...

The Supreme Court ruled states can ban transgender athletes from girls sports — and Lars Larson is demanding Oregon and Washington act. Twenty-seven states already have protections in place. Larson argues both states actively shield trans athletes while female competitors lose records and, in some cases, suffer injuries. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-will-oregon-and-washington-n...

Washington's June revenue forecast added $554 million to the current biennium but cut $461 million from 2027-29 projections — leaving only 2.5% budget capacity while projected inflation could reach 9.4% over two years. Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center argues the structural deficit is far from solved. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-washingtons-budget-outlook-darkens-with...

Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper has scheduled a July 10 distraint auction of restaurant furniture, fixtures, and equipment from a former Shari's location at 305 SE Chkalov Drive in Vancouver. The sale proceeds only if delinquent taxes remain unpaid by 4 p.m. July 9. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/county-treasurer-schedules-personal-property-auction-for-july-10/ #ClarkCounty #Alish...

Rob Natelson, Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Mountain States Policy Center, closes his series on the Declaration of Independence by tracing how its founding creed shaped Lincoln, the Constitution's ratification debate, and even the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights — while warning that misuse of the document demands civic education. https://www.clarkcountytoday.co...

Camas resident Anna Miller writes that FBI Director Kash Patel's task forces have rescued 7,500 children, captured eight of the FBI's 10 most wanted in 17 months, and are dismantling trafficking pipelines and encrypted predator rings nationwide. She also highlights NCMEC's warning about a surge in financial sextortion targeting minors. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-the-war-for-am...

Lars Larson calls Chief Justice John Roberts the deciding vote in a ruling he says allows presidential election ballots to be counted weeks after Election Day — a decision four conservative justices dissented from. Larson argues 14 states exploit the post-deadline window and points to the Los Angeles mayor's race as a recent example. His challenge to Congress: pass the SAVE Act or risk what he cal...

Washington collected $1.5 billion from capital gains taxes — roughly twice February's projection — nearly erasing an $878 million deficit. But budget writers warn the underlying fundamentals remain challenging, with a shortfall expected in the next two-year budget cycle. Gov. Ferguson says December's proposal will rely on cuts, not new taxes. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/capital-gains...

With WA Cares benefits set to launch, 61% of early applicants were denied — and family caregivers are being steered toward a union-linked employer with little transparency about costs, obligations, or alternatives. Elizabeth New (Hovde) of the Washington Policy Center says the state's communication failures are not accidental. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/wa-cares-ready-ish-to-launch-f...

The average Fourth of July cookout now costs about 4 percent more than last year, with West Coast families paying around $80 for a 10-person meal. But Pam Lewison of the Washington Policy Center notes farmers take home only about 6 cents of every dollar spent on that feast. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-fourth-of-july-cookout-costs-a-little-more-this-year/ #FourthOfJuly #FoodCos...

Clark County Councilor Michelle Belkot has endorsed Eileen Quiring O'Brien for Clark County Auditor, citing Quiring O'Brien's record as former Chair of the Clark County Council and her focus on government transparency and accountability. Belkot represents District 2 on the Clark County Council. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-councilor-michelle-belkot-endorses-eileen-quiring-obr...

Thirteen of Clark County's leading heritage organizations will gather at the Clark County Historical Museum on July 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a free public fair at 1511 Main Street in downtown Vancouver. From the Clark County Genealogical Society to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, attendees can explore local history, volunteer opportunities, and America 250 programming all in one place....

Clark County resident Bogdan Lendel argues the $14-plus billion I-5 Bridge proposal rebuilds the same corridor bottleneck without solving the region's core problem: too few Columbia River crossings. He calls for a third crossing to create true redundancy and network flexibility. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-the-region-does-not-just-need-a-prettier-i-5-bridge/ #I5Bridge #ClarkCou...

Vancouver leaders pushed C-TRAN to plan fixed rail beyond the Interstate Bridge project, two Washington Supreme Court justices face recusal calls over income tax ties to Gov. Bob Ferguson, and Camas Days returns July 25-26 with a Broadway theme. Fireworks sales begin June 28 as fire officials warn of elevated wildfire danger. URLHERE #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Camas #Transportation #LightRail #CTRAN...

A Vancouver proposal to have C-TRAN study fixed rail infrastructure has reignited the transit debate in Clark County. Supporters say rail shapes development; critics say the region's needs can be met without it. Cast your vote and see where the community stands. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-do-you-believe-clark-county-needs-light-rail-or-other-fixed-rail-transit-in-the-future/ #Cl...

Two Washington Supreme Court justices appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson — neither of whom had prior judicial experience — declined to commit to recusing themselves from a looming lawsuit challenging the state's new 9.9% income tax on incomes above $1 million. Justices Colleen Melody and Theo Angelis have financial and professional ties to Ferguson, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, the Attorney General's Office,...

Washington's capital gains tax hauled in $1.5 billion in fiscal 2026 — $750 million above forecast — yet Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center argues that windfall covers less than 10% of the state's projected $7–$10 billion budget shortfall. Total state tax collections have more than doubled over the past decade, and the deficit persists. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-reco...

The Clark County Auto License office at 1300 Franklin St. in Vancouver is closed for in-person services through July 7 while the customer service area undergoes renovation. Phone and email support remain available, and nine subagent locations across Clark County are open for in-person licensing needs. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-auto-license-will-remain-closed-until-july-7-f...

Vancouver resident Michael Backman challenges Councilor Erik Paulsen's claim that no other Washington city of 300,000 lacks fixed-rail service — pointing out Seattle is the only city that even meets that population threshold. Backman also disputes that converting The Vine BRT to tram service is as simple as laying rail, citing engineering overhauls and electrification costs that Clark County taxpa...

C-TRAN board member Tim Hein says small cities won't pay for any fixed rail expansion in Vancouver — costs must be sold by Vancouver and Clark County leaders to their own constituents. Hein and Erik Paulsen are meeting to discuss Paulsen's vision for rail throughout Vancouver and the urban growth area, while board chair Bart Hansen cites a $2 billion price tag just to extend light rail one mile fr...

Starting Friday night, June 26, the ramp from southbound I-5 to southbound I-205 at Exit 7 in Vancouver closes until Sunday morning, June 28, at 10 a.m. All southbound I-205 lanes between the I-5/I-205 split and Exit 36 will also close. Kerr Contractors Oregon LLC is removing damaged concrete and resurfacing with asphalt. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/weekend-closures-of-entrance-to-southb...

Helen Leedom has been appointed assistant director of student services for Camas School District, bringing a background in school psychology, special education leadership, and student support from both Washington and Oregon. She previously served as special services coordinator for Evergreen Public Schools and held leadership roles with Corbett School District. Leedom begins July 1. https://www.cl...

Washington's gas tax climbs again on July 1, 2026 — the first automatic increase under ESHB 2711, signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Bob Pishue of the Mountain States Policy Center argues the inflation-indexed hike bypasses legislative accountability while Washingtonians already pay $5.34 per gallon versus $4.24 in Idaho. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-washington-states-gas-tax-is-goin...

Clark County Today editor Ken Vance argues that Vancouver officials pushing to replace C-TRAN's Bus Rapid Transit system with light rail are ignoring three voter rejections, buses running below 20% capacity, and the looming 2029 bankruptcy of Portland's TriMet — while Sound Transit's expansion has ballooned $35 billion over budget. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-clark-county-does...