Rep. John Ley breaks down C-TRAN's 2025 annual report — $201 million in reserves, 4.9 million boardings, and wages up 55% since 2023. The agency outperforms TriMet, but farebox recovery has fallen from 17% to 4.2% and buses often run at less than 20% capacity. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-c-tran-outpaces-trimet-strong-finances-and-growing-ridership-but-a-cautionary-note-on-costs-and-efficiency/ #CTRAN #ClarkCounty #PublicTransit #Transportation #WashingtonState #BRT #TransitPolicy #Opinion #Columns #ClarkCountyToday

For the 26th year, Pacific Power and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opened the Merwin Fish Hatchery to more than 150 children with disabilities — each one welcomed by volunteers, handed free poles and tackle, and given the chance to reel in rainbow trout and take home up to five fish. The day's biggest catch, a 6-pound 7-ounce trout, was landed by Stuart Ruckman. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/merwin-day-of-fishing-for-kids-with-disabilities-celebrates-26-years/ #MerwinFishing #KidsWithDisabilities #PacificPower #WDFW #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #YouthFishing #OutdoorAccess #CommunityNews #ClarkCountyToday

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Washington's Employment Security Department has paid nearly $506,000 to 138 striking workers in the first six months of a new state law extending unemployment benefits to those in labor disputes. Eligible workers can receive up to 6 weeks of benefits — far less than the standard 26 weeks — and projected trust fund shortfalls could trigger a new business tax worth hundreds of millions of dollars. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/six-months-in-wa-has-paid-unemployment-to-more-than-100-striking-workers/ #WashingtonState #StrikingWorkers #UnemploymentBenefits #LaborLaw #WashingtonLegislature #UNITEHERE #EmploymentSecurityDepartment #WALaborCouncil

Amendment 26-07, sponsored by Commissioner John Jay and passed 8-7, would require Clark County to publish a data-driven public analysis of how proposed land use or construction code changes could affect housing costs before adopting them. The analysis must be funded by the county's general fund — not development fees. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-07-housing-impact-analysis/ #ClarkCounty #CharterReview #HousingAffordability #LandUse #ClarkCountyWA #November2026 #BallotMeasure #LocalGovernment

Amendment 26-01, sponsored by commission secretary Cathie Garber, would send nonpartisan county candidates directly to the general election when two or fewer are running — bypassing the primary entirely. Garber estimates the 2022 election alone could have saved more than $75,000 under this rule. The amendment passed 11-4. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-01-clarifying-nonpartisan-office-elections/ #ClarkCounty #CharterReview #Elections #WashingtonState #LocalGovernment #Amendment2601 #VancouverWA #PrimaryElection

Clark County voters will weigh in on 10 proposed charter amendments this November, covering term limits, tax increase thresholds, and a new ethics commission. The week also brought a prosecutor disqualification ruling, income tax opinion columns, candidate announcements, the death of a sheriff's deputy, and a Union High School alum making his mark with the New England Patriots. URLHERE #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #ClarkCountyToday #CharterAmendments #IncomeTax #LocalPolitics #Elections #PublicSafety

The Ridgefield Raptors went 20-7 in the first half of the West Coast League season, clinching a playoff spot — and players say the host families and coaches made it happen. Jackson Weber, Justin Brown, and Joseph Jasso describe how a Saturday brunch at the Rayburn home captured the spirit of this summer's squad. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/host-families-coaches-players-work-together-to-create-winning-chemistry-for-ridgefield-raptors/ #RidgefieldRaptors #WestCoastLeague #ClarkCounty #Baseball #Ridgefield #WashingtonState #Sports #SummerBaseball

Clark County is looking to fill four vacant volunteer seats on its Clean Water Commission, an advisory body of nine residents that guides surface water quality and watershed health policy. No stormwater expertise is required — applications are due by 5 p.m. on Aug. 25. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/county-seeks-volunteers-for-four-positions-on-the-clean-water-commission/ #ClarkCounty #CleanWater #Vancouver #WashingtonState #PublicWorks #WaterQuality #Volunteer #CommunityNews

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has not directly addressed Washington's new income tax despite repeated interview requests from The Center Square. Republican challenger Sen. John Braun and the RNC argue voters deserve a clear position. Opponents have gathered more than 500,000 signatures seeking a repeal vote. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-should-rep-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-publicly-state-her-position-on-washingtons-new-income-tax/ #WashingtonIncomeTax #MarieGluesenkampPerez #3rdCongressionalDistrict #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #Politics #2026Election

Rep. John Ley draws a direct line from Camas's "temporary" utility tax — proposed to jump from 2% to 9% — to a new statewide 9.9% income tax that over 511,000 Washingtonians have forced onto the November ballot. He argues the pattern is undeniable: temporary taxes never expire. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-letting-the-camels-nose-into-the-tent-reject-the-income-tax/ #Opinion #IncomeTax #IP26645 #WashingtonState #TaxPolicy #ClarkCounty #JohnLey #November2026 #VoterInitiative