Washington placed 9th in U.S. News Best States, but 87% of that ranking is weighted toward quality-of-life factors, not business health. A spring 2026 employer survey found 24% of businesses considering leaving the state, nearly triple the winter 2025 level. Washington ranks 50th in short-term fiscal stability. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-dont-be-fooled-by-the-hype/ #WashingtonState #BusinessExodus #Economy #SmallBusiness #WashingtonPolicy #Opinion

Leslie Lewallen, director of Clark County Future 42, calls on residents to scrutinize local government budgets before final votes are cast. Camas has received audit findings for three consecutive years, including roughly $47 million in assets reported as fully depreciated while still in use. Vancouver's audit flagged improper recording of $18.3 million in Proposition 2 fire-levy revenues. Lewallen offers ten questions every citizen should ask before budgets are adopted. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-sunlight-is-still-the-best-disinfectant/ #ClarkCounty #LocalGovernment #BudgetTransparency #CamasWA #VancouverWA #TaxpayerAccountability #Opinion #WashingtonState #GovernmentOversight #ClarkCountyToday

Since Portland stopped building freeways in 1982, commuter congestion time has tripled and fuel wasted in traffic has sextupled to 34.7 million gallons per year. Cascade Policy Institute's Randal O'Toole examines how decades of anti-auto planning have backfired, with transit ridership falling and solo driving at record highs. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-portlands-war-on-cars-part-1/ #Portland #Transportation #AntiAutoPlanningPortland #CascadePolicyInstitute #TrafficCongestion #Opinion #LightRail #Bikelanes #PacificNorthwest #TransportationPolicy

Cascade Policy Institute's Naomi Inman introduces a month-long series examining Portland's half-century of anti-auto transportation planning, from road diets and BAT lanes to a goal of shifting 70 percent of Portlanders into shared vehicles. The series includes new research from adjunct scholar Randal O'Toole and a personal reflection from John Charles on the 40th anniversary of MAX light rail. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-portlands-war-on-cars-1-losing-the-war-on-the-automobile/ #Portland #Transportation #WarOnCars #CascadePolicyInstitute #LightRail #UrbanPlanning #PBOT #Opinion #PacificNorthwest #FreeMarket

Clark County Fire District 3 hosted its first community wildfire preparedness presentation in east Clark County, covering local fire risk, Wildland Urban Interface realities, and strategies residents can use to protect their homes. Fire Chief Chris Drone called the turnout and engagement a strong foundation to build on each year. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/fire-district-3-lays-foundation-for-annual-wildfire-education-event/ #WildfirePreparedness #FireDistrict3 #ClarkCounty #EastClarkCounty #WildlandUrbanInterface #WashingtonState #FireSafety #EmergencyPreparedness #BrushPrairie #BattleGround

Two men from Oregon, Ryan A. Culvert of Hillsboro and William Galeana Yovis of Beaverton, were arrested in Washougal after a two-day undercover operation targeting individuals seeking to sexually exploit children. No actual minor was involved. Both are now in Clark County Jail. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/washougal-police-department-child-exploitation-operation-leads-to-two-arrests/ #WashougalPolice #ChildExploitation #ClarkCounty #PublicSafety #WashingtonState #LawEnforcement

Dr. Alan Melnick's retirement as Clark County's combined public health director and health officer prompts Peter Bracchi to ask whether the county should separate the roles before recruiting a replacement. The positions were merged in 2013 to save approximately $262,000 annually, but Bracchi argues the county's growth to 532,119 residents and a $23.1 million Public Health Fund budget may warrant a structural review. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-one-retirement-two-critical-offices/ #ClarkCounty #PublicHealth #Opinion #LocalGovernment #Washington #HealthOfficer

For the first time since the 1980 eruption, spring Chinook salmon have been released into the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. WDFW, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and the U.S. Forest Service released 30 hatchery-origin adults into South Fork Coldwater Creek in June. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/wdfw-cowlitz-indian-tribe-and-u-s-forest-service-celebrate-first-chinook-salmon-reintroduction-to-mount-st-helens-area-since-1980-eruption/ #WashingtonState #Salmon #ChinookSalmon #MountStHelens #SalmonRecovery #WDFW #CowlitzIndianTribe #NorthForkToutleRiver #FishPassage #WildlifeRestoration

Akin's Bundles of Love campaign is bringing free tote bags packed with at least 80 diapers, wipes, baby food, and community resource information to the Hazel Dell Fred Meyer in Vancouver on August 1 and 2, 2026. The giveaway connects families with Akin's Family Resource Centers and year-round support services. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/akin-launches-bundles-of-love-campaign-with-free-baby-supply-giveaway-in-vancouver/ #Akin #BundlesOfLove #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #FamilyResourceCenters #FreeDiapers #BabyEssentials #WashingtonState

Tracie Jellison, a retired banking professional, has opened a 1,200-square-foot Graze Craze franchise at Salmon Creek Center in Vancouver, offering handcrafted charcuterie boards, gluten-free and vegan options, and catering for events and celebrations. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/graze-craze-opens-new-charcuterie-shop-in-vancouver/ #GrazeCraze #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #Charcuterie #LocalBusiness #WomanOwned #Catering #SalmonCreek