Clark County Today News

When Obamacare passed in 2013, its new taxes targeted the wealthy — but by 2022, 7 million filers were paying the Medicare payroll tax, up from 2.8 million. Dr. Roger Stark of Mountain States Policy Center argues the ACA has failed its core promises and is ensnaring the middle class. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-more-americans-are-forced-to-pay-obamacare-taxes/ #Obamacare #Heal...

Joe Cortright of City Observatory argues the IBR's own investment grade analysis — produced by Stantec at a cost of $2.3 million — shows I-5 bridge traffic dropping from 127,000 vehicles daily to about 77,000 under $4.60 tolls, with tens of thousands diverting to I-205. IBR officials call the numbers "too conservative," but Washington's own toll projects — SR 520 and Tacoma Narrows — both fell far...

Clark County Fire District 3 is hosting a free public presentation on wildfire risk and preparedness June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Battle Ground Event Center. Fire Chief Chris Drone says every household in east Clark County's Wildland Urban Interface should have a plan before smoke is in the air. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-fire-district-3-invites-community-to-wildfire-event/ #Wi...

A Vancouver Police officer shot a male suspect Tuesday morning after he approached a woman in her yard with a knife and refused commands to drop it. The incident began as a residential burglary call in the 10900 block of NE 48th Street. The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations has taken over the case. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-police-involved-in-shooting-2/ #...

The Community Military Appreciation Committee held a nearly two-hour Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, featuring a military flyover, artillery fire, rifle salute, and a dove release. U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, and Police Chief Troy Price were among the speakers. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/vancouver-honors-the-fa...

Battle Ground Mayor Eric Overholser approved advancing proclamations supporting ICE and recognizing a federal "Antifa" domestic terrorist designation — even after city staff warned one draft violated the city's own governance standards for ceremonial proclamations. The proposals follow earlier controversy over Overholser's handling of LGBTQ-related proclamations. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/n...

Waterfront Way in Vancouver will be closed to vehicles every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day — Fridays at 4 p.m. through Mondays at 5 a.m. The pilot program showed the closures reduced street racing and created a calmer riverfront. More than 8,000 nearby parking spaces remain available. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/pedestrian-friendly-waterfront-way-weekends-are-here-for-the-s...

Bellevue City Council member Jared Nieuwenhuis argues four bills passed last session — covering sheriff accountability, license plate readers, pension funds, and face coverings — are deepening Washington's last-place police staffing ranking, where only 44 percent of violent crimes were solved in 2025. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-washington-state-keeps-making-it-harder-for-law-...

House Bill 2034 would pull billions from Washington's LEOFF 1 pension fund — built to protect retired firefighters and police — and redirect those assets to unrelated state spending. Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center argues the legal theory behind the move threatens every public pension fund in the country. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-the-nations-first-pension-raid-is...

Douglas Tweet of Camas argues IBR's own FSEIS data shows the recommended one-auxiliary-lane design fails to reduce congestion, while a two-auxiliary-lane design reduces northbound congestion by 31% and cuts travel time by 60%. He says the $15.2 billion project devotes half the bridge to modes used by just 2.3% of travelers. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-i-5-bridge-eliminate-light...

American Legion Auxiliary Tum Tum Unit 168 President Andi Schwartz writes about the meaning of the red poppy — a symbol rooted in the battlefields of World War I — and invites North County residents to a National Poppy Day outreach at Yacolt Trading Post on May 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-remembering-the-fallen-through-the-symbol-of-the-red-poppy/ #Me...

Brittany and Aric Clapp have fostered 42 children and turned that experience into Cloth and Foster, a Vancouver nonprofit that served an average of 28 caregivers a month last year — and 49 in March alone. Volunteers stock a warehouse with clothing, diapers, bedding, and more so foster families never have to scramble alone. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/spotlight-on-nonprofits-cloth-and-f...

Twenty-two students in Mindy Williams Cleeland's AVID class at Skyview High School collected more than 300 items for Cloth and Foster, a Vancouver nonprofit serving foster children and caregivers. The drive began after a classmate shared their own foster care experience. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/skyviews-avid-students-make-donation-to-nonprofit-as-part-of-class-project/ #ClothAndFos...

Clark County Council Chair Sue Marshall's State of the County Address covered public safety investments, housing affordability, the Comprehensive Growth Plan, new deputy hiring funded by a sales tax increase, and the Charter Review Commission. Now Clark County Today wants to know how residents feel about the county's overall direction. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-how-would-you-ra...

Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested May 21 on felony witness tampering and other charges after detectives allege school leadership knew of sexual misconduct involving students at Mark Morris High School as early as Jan. 29, 2026, and directed staff to handle it internally. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/longview-police-provide-update-on-mark-morris-investigat...

Washington State transportation officials are weighing toll increases to $18 on SR 167 and I-405 after toll revenue fell $10 million short of projections — and the stakes extend to Southwest Washington drivers who could face future I-5 tolls. Rep. Andrew Barkis calls the timing poor with gas prices nearing $6 per gallon in parts of the state. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/washingtonians-co...

The U.S. House passed a 217-198 bill requiring parental consent before public elementary and middle schools can update a student's pronouns, gender markers, or preferred name on records — or risk losing federal funding. Eight Democrats, including Washington's Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, voted yes. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/us-house-passes-sweeping-gender-ideology-bill-aimed-at-trans-kids-...

Additional spring Chinook retention days are now open on the mainstem Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point to the Washington-Oregon border. The Technical Advisory Committee revised the upriver spring Chinook return estimate to 111,900 — down from a preseason forecast of 147,300 — but current catch levels still support added retention. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/columbia-river-...

Elizabeth New (Hovde) of the Washington Policy Center argues Washington's compact-by-compact approach to occupational licensing leaves experienced, credentialed workers waiting too long to work. She makes the case for universal licensure recognition — already adopted by 28 states — as a broader fix. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-fix-licensing-expand-access-lower-costs-free-worke...

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek blamed Trump's Iran policy after voters rejected Measure 120 — a new transportation tax — by 83 to 17, including a majority of Democrats. Lars Larson argues Kotek ignored ODOT mismanagement on the Abernathy Bridge, Rose Quarter, and Interstate Bridge instead of taking responsibility. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-tone-deaf-tina-kotek-ignores-oregon-vot...

Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl explains why Washington's suspended license law applies anywhere in the state — including private driveways. Unlicensed drivers are twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes, and that's exactly why officers can act before a vehicle reaches the road. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-getting-a-ticket-in-your-drive-way/ #TargetZero #DougDahl #Washin...

Brush Prairie's Adele Anaya earned the 2026 Lovis Extraordinary Student Award — and at just nine years old, she co-founded Tix for Tots, a nonprofit that helped nearly 100 families access plays, museums, and sporting events in its first year. The Lovis Foundation, an Ohio-based nonprofit honoring students in grades 5–8, recognized Anaya for her volunteer work, performing arts achievements, and com...

Jonas Fridriksson, a U.S. history and world studies teacher at Battle Ground High School, has been named the 2026 recipient of the University of Washington's Thomas J. and Cameron Pressly Endowed Prize — the second time he has received the honor. He was nominated by former student Elizabeth McAleer, now a UW student, who credited Fridriksson's energetic, discussion-driven teaching style with shapi...

Clark County Public Health is warning swimmers that local lakes and rivers remain dangerously cold this Memorial Day weekend, cold enough to trigger sudden increases in breathing and heart rate — even in strong swimmers. Public Health monitors Vancouver Lake, Klineline Pond, and Battle Ground Lake for bacteria and harmful algal blooms all summer. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/public-health...

Jason Mercier of Mountain States Policy Center compares Washington's weakening job growth and expanding regulatory burden against Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming — states that rank among the nation's lowest for taxes and regulation. Former Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire's warning about overspending adds sharp bipartisan weight to the contrast. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-state...