Clark County Today News

Councilor Wil Fuentes has separated from Fourth Plain Forward after receiving $60,000 to $99,999 from the nonprofit while it held $584,387 in county contracts. Ethics complaints have reached the HUD Office of Inspector General. Also covered: a 64-year-old cold case solved with DNA, a C-TRAN passenger who steered a bus to safety, term limits on the ballot, and the 2026 Clark County Fair's 246,000 visitors. URLHERE #ClarkCounty #ClarkCountyToday #WilFuentes #FourthPlainForward #Ethics #ColdCase #CTRAN #ClarkCountyFair #Newsletter #Vancouver

Larry Roe attended the Battle Ground School District levy information session and raises pointed questions about whether the $116 million, three-year levy funds constitutionally required basic education or legislative enhancements to it. He argues voters rejecting the levy may be sending a message to the legislature, not acting on a whim. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/letter-i-think-we-should-very-careful-how-we-tax-our #BattleGroundSchools #SchoolLevy #PropertyTax #K12Funding #McClearydecision #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #Opinion #PublicSchools #Education

Clark County Councilor Wil Fuentes has left Fourth Plain Forward after ethics complaints revealed he collected $60,000–99,999 from the nonprofit while it held $584,387 in County contracts. Vancouver Councilmember Diana Perez faces separate questions about whether her reported 2025 income of $130,000 to $260,000 disqualified her from low-income business programs she voted to fund. A complaint has been filed with the HUD Office of Inspector General. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/clark-county-councilor-wil-fuentes-out-fourth-plain-forward #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Ethics #FourthPlainForward #CDBG #WilFuentes #DianaPerez #WashingtonState #GovernmentAccountability #Politics

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 22 would allow nonpartisan county candidates to bypass the August primary and go directly to the November general election when two or fewer candidates file. Sponsor Cathie Garber says the change mirrors existing state law and could have saved more than $75,000 in the 2022 election cycle alone. Opponents argue removing the primary disadvantages challengers and reduces voter information. The amendment passed the Charter Review Commission 11-4. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-22-concerning-clarification #ClarkCounty #Election2026 #CharterAmendment #WashingtonState #LocalGovernment #VotersPamphlet #PrimaryElection #CountyCharter #Politics #ClarkCountyToday ---

Charter Amendment No. 21 would give the Clark County Council concurrent nomination authority with the county manager for all boards and commissions, except the Ethics Commission. Currently, the council can only nominate for three specific bodies. The amendment passed the Charter Review Commission 14 to 1. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/proposed-charter-amendment-no-21-concerning-revised-council #ClarkCounty #ClarkCountyCharter #CharterAmendment #CountyCouncil #BoardsAndCommissions #NovemberElection #WashingtonState #ClarkCountyToday

The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating the suspicious death of an unidentified female found floating in the Columbia River downstream from the I-5 bridge on October 14. She is described as possibly Asian or Pacific Islander, approximately 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and a birthmark on her right calf. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/ccso-investigates-deceased-female-located-columbia-river #CCSO #ClarkCounty #ColumbiaRiver #SuspiciousDeath #PublicSafety #Vancouver #WashingtonState

Camas High School's cross country season is unraveling after a biological male joined the girls' team. A reported incident from an Arlington invitational trip was referred to ESD 112, a girl shared a hotel room with the biological male, and the district spent $4,772 on a charter bus for privacy. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/issues-continue-mount-over-biological-male-competing-camas #CamasHighSchool #CrossCountry #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #SchoolSports #WIAA #StudentAthletes #GenderPolicy #ClarkCountyToday

When C-TRAN driver Michelle Smith suffered a seizure behind the wheel in July, passengers Bryanne Brady and Josh Stark kept calm, called 9-1-1, and steered a moving bus to safety. On Tuesday, C-TRAN honored them with the Award of Gratitude at its Board of Directors meeting. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/c-tran-recognizes-passengers-who-stepped-up-during-medical #CTRAN #ClarkCounty #PublicTransit #CommunityHeroes #VancouverWA #WashingtonState #BusDriver #Gratitude #LocalHeroes

Hockinson-area residents Tom Erkert, Dale Good, and Mark Roeter have spent more than $22,000 challenging a proposed 165-foot Vertical Bridge and T-Mobile cell tower near Northeast 189th Street, arguing existing towers and small-cell alternatives make the project unnecessary. Their LUPA appeal is now before Superior Court. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/hockinson-area-residents-continue-their-fight-against #Hockinson #ClarkCounty #CellTower #WirelessInfrastructure #VerticalBridge #TMobile #LandUse #WashingtonState

Clark County Council adopted a 400-page Comprehensive Growth Management Plan guiding development through 2045, when the population is projected to reach 718,154. The plan includes a new Climate Element, updated housing and zoning policies, and new fire impact fees. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/clark-county-adopts-20-year-growth-plan #ClarkCounty #GrowthManagement #Vancouver #WashingtonState #HousingPolicy #UrbanGrowth #ClarkCountyToday