Clark County Today News

In this opinion column, Elizabeth New (Hovde) outlines how Senate Bill 5041 could lead to unemployment insurance overpayments for striking workers and added strain on Washington’s UI fund, calling for clear disclosure at the point of application. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-another-problem-with-strike-pay-from-the-ui-fund-potential-double-dipping-overpayments/ #Opinion #Washin...

Vancouver firefighters wrapped up their second annual toy drive by delivering more than 650 donated toys to students at six elementary schools, highlighting community generosity and partnerships with local fire crews and schools. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-firefighters-spread-christmas-cheer-through-2nd-annual-toy-drive/ #Vancouver #VancouverFire #ToyDrive #CommunitySupport #H...

Vancouver fire crews and a Port of Portland rescue boat responded to an emergency on the Columbia River after a man jumped from the I-205 Bridge and was pulled from the water and transported for medical care. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/person-rescued-after-jumping-from-i-205-bridge/ #Vancouver #I205Bridge #WaterRescue #VancouverFire #EmergencyResponse #ColumbiaRiver

Heavy rain and strong winds continue to impact Southwest Washington as officials monitor power restoration, flood risks, and wind advisories through Thursday night. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/weather-update-heavy-rains-and-strong-wind-gusts-expected-for-the-rest-of-thursday/ #ClarkCounty #WeatherUpdate #WindAdvisory #FloodRisk #PublicUtilities #NationalWeatherService

Bonneville Power Administration is responding to more than 40 transmission outages after extreme weather brought strong winds and saturated soils across the Northwest, impacting lower-voltage lines and multiple communities in Oregon and southwestern Washington as crews work to identify causes and restore service. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/bpa-responding-to-widespread-weather-related-ou...

In this letter to the editor, engineer Rick Vermeers outlines why he believes the Interstate Bridge Replacement project is failing under expanding scope, escalating costs, and timeline risks, and urges leaders to remove light rail to salvage a more affordable bridge plan. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-a-call-for-competent-interstate-bridge-project-management/ #Opinion #Interstate...

CRESA officials are reminding the public that 911 should be used only for life-threatening emergencies during weather events, as power outages and storm conditions continue to impact the region and emergency call volume increases. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/cresa-officials-ask-public-to-call-911-only-for-emergencies-during-weather-events/ #CRESA #EmergencyServices #WeatherAlert #PowerOu...

Rep. John Ley has introduced House Bill 2143, a measure aimed at changing state law governing representation on transportation boards by limiting population-based seat allocation and removing WSDOT’s ability to withhold funding over board composition. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/rep-john-ley-introduces-bill-to-balance-representation-on-washington-transportation-boards/ #WashingtonState #...

A Woodland man is in custody after Cowlitz County deputies responded to a report of suspicious circumstances and located a deceased man hidden on the suspect’s property, leading to charges of second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/woodland-man-arrested-charged-with-murder/ #Woodland #CowlitzCounty #MurderInvestigation #SheriffsOffice #Cri...

A severe windstorm swept across Clark County, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers, closing roads, and forcing school districts across the region to cancel classes as crews worked to clear debris and restore service. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/wild-windstorm-knocks-out-power-closes-roads-and-cancels-school-throughout-clark-county/ #ClarkCounty #Windstorm #PowerOutages #S...

Scientists say the Pacific Northwest just recorded its warmest fall on record, with unusually warm storms and rain limiting snowpack that many communities rely on during dry summer months, raising concerns about drought conditions heading into the year ahead. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/northwest-just-finished-warmest-fall-on-record-scientists-report/ #PacificNorthwest #Climate #Snowpack...

Elizabeth New (Hovde) critiques Washington lawmakers for responding to health care challenges with repeated tax proposals rather than prioritizing spending restraint and cost containment, warning that new payroll and excise taxes could further strain the state’s economy. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-more-taxes-sadly-the-washington-way/ #Opinion #WashingtonPolicyCenter #Washingt...

C-TRAN will provide free service across its entire system starting at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, with several routes operating extended late-night hours into early Jan. 1, as part of a regional effort to support safe holiday travel. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/c-tran-offering-free-service-extended-hours-this-new-years-eve-2/ #CTRAN #NewYearsEve #PublicTransit #ClarkCounty #Transportation...

Clark County Public Works is seeking applicants for three live-in volunteer park host positions for the 2026 season, with opportunities at Klineline Pond, Prairie Fields and Curtin Creek Community Park, and Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-public-works-is-seeking-three-new-live-in-volunteer-park-hosts-for-the-2026-season/ #ClarkCounty #Volunteer #Co...

Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance critiques the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program after Administrator Greg Johnson announced his departure amid continued delays in releasing updated cost estimates, unresolved design decisions, and ongoing concerns about light rail funding and project oversight. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-ibr-administrator-receives-generous-christmas-gif...

The Christmas Ships Parade has entered its final week with six remaining nights in its 71st season, as more than 70 illuminated boats continue visiting shoreline locations along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/entertainment/christmas-ships-parade-enters-final-week-with-six-nights-of-holiday-magic-remaining/ #ChristmasShips #VancouverWA #HolidayEvents #Pa...

The Clark County Treasurer’s Office is responding to a nationwide penny shortage after the U.S. Treasury Department stopped minting new pennies, encouraging customers to pay with exact change while the issue affects public offices that accept cash. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/county-treasurer-addresses-penny-shortage-encourages-customers-to-pay-with-exact-change/ #ClarkCounty #PennyShort...

Michelle Belkot’s legal case seeking reinstatement to the C-TRAN Board moved forward after a court allowed a Skamania County Sheriff’s Office report into evidence, raising new questions about board actions, voting authority, and future decisions. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/update-belkots-legal-team-submits-sheriffs-report-to-its-case-against-clark-county-council/ #CTRAN #ClarkCounty #Lo...

Lars Larson argues that continued refusal by Interstate Bridge Replacement Program leaders to provide updated cost estimates reflects a broader lack of government accountability and transparency surrounding the I-5 Bridge project. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-if-you-tolerate-lies-and-dishonesty-from-the-government-youre-guaranteed-more/ #Opinion #I5Bridge #GovernmentAccountabil...

Washington lawmakers are debating whether to undo a planned sales tax transfer meant to bolster the state’s transportation budget as declining gas tax revenue and rising construction costs strain long-term funding plans. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/maneuver-to-shore-up-was-transportation-budget-could-be-reversed/ #WashingtonState #TransportationBudget #StateLegislature #Infrastructure #P...

Clark County has opened sales for 2026 annual parking passes at its regional parks, with daily parking fees set to increase to $5 beginning Jan. 1 and multiple purchase options available to residents. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/county-regional-parks-annual-parking-passes-now-available-for-purchase/ #ClarkCounty #RegionalParks #ParkingPass #PublicWorks #VancouverWA

Nancy Churchill outlines her view that Washington state lawmakers have turned taxation into a governing philosophy, using repeated tax proposals to expand government power while avoiding spending restraint and accountability. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/opinion-tax-slave-to-washington-state/ #Opinion #WashingtonTaxes #StateGovernment #FiscalPolicy #Olympia #TaxPolicy

The Clark County Law Library will extend its weekday operating hours starting Jan. 2, 2026, offering expanded public access to legal materials and on-site librarian assistance at the Clark County Courthouse. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-law-library-increases-hours-of-operation-in-january-2026/ #ClarkCounty #LawLibrary #PublicAccess #LegalResources #VancouverWA

Rep. John Ley issued a statement criticizing the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program after lawmakers received no updated cost estimates and remained without key design decisions following a recent oversight committee meeting. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/rep-john-ley-issues-statement-after-i-5-bridge-replacement-meeting-yields-few-answers/ #I5Bridge #IBRProgram #Transportation #Washingt...

Law enforcement officers and community leaders gathered to recognize efforts to reduce impaired driving, honor those lost to DUI crashes, and highlight the Target Zero goal of eliminating preventable roadway fatalities by 2030. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/target-zero-honoring-law-enforcements-battle-against-impaired-driving-at-night-of-1000-stars/ #TargetZero #NightOf1000Stars #ImpairedD...