Leslie Lewallen examines WEA-PAC contribution data showing roughly 63% of member funds — nearly $5 million since 2020 — directed to Democratic candidates, including Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson. She argues the union's political spending contradicts its stated nonpartisan mission while Washington students lag on state and national assessments. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-available-data-shows-the-overwhelming-majority-of-wea-pac-contributions-flow-to-democrats/ #WEA #WashingtonEducation #WEAPAC #PublicEducation #EducationAccountability #Opinion #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #K12Education #SB6346

Keithen Shepard grew up in Vancouver, starred at Union High School, and earned a degree from MIT — then landed a job with the New England Patriots as a data engineer in 2022. Now a Football R&D Analyst, he helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl in 2025 after back-to-back 4-13 seasons. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/former-union-titan-now-excels-in-key-role-in-the-front-office-of-the-new-england-patriots/ #NewEnglandPatriots #NFL #UnionHighSchool #VancouverWA #ClarkCounty #SportsTech #MITFootball #NFLFrontOffice #ClarkCountyToday

Governor Bob Ferguson appointed former K&L Gates partner Theo Angelis — who has no judicial experience — to Washington Supreme Court Position 5 in March 2026. Columnist Nancy Churchill examines all four candidates ahead of the August 4 primary, weighing trial court experience, political connections, and what's at stake with the income tax case and LEOFF 1 disputes headed to the court. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-the-judicial-backstop/ #WashingtonSupremeCourt #JudicialElections #Position5 #NancyChurchill #DangerousRhetoric #WashingtonState #Opinion #Politics #ClarkCounty #PrimaryElection

Paul Greenlee, who served nearly 15 years on the Washougal City Council after retiring and simply asking how he could help his community, died July 5, 2026 at the age of 80. City Manager David Scott and Mayor David Stuebe remembered him as a tireless champion for Washougal. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/city-of-washougal-officials-mourn-the-loss-of-former-council-member-paul-greenlee/ #Washougal #ClarkCounty #PaulGreenlee #WashougalCityCouncil #PublicService #Obituary

Clark County Republican Women are hosting a free, public Meet the Candidates event on July 23 at the Battle Ground Event Center, 912 E. Main Street. Attendees can ask candidates questions and bring their ballot for submission by a qualified election observer team. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-republican-women-to-host-meet-the-candidates-event/ #ClarkCounty #BattleGround #MeetTheCandidates #Election #ClarkCountyRepublicanWomen #Politics #Vancouver #WashingtonState

A six-month Center Square investigation found dozens of Washington state daycares receiving hundreds of thousands in taxpayer subsidies with little or no evidence of children present. A state audit identified $37 million in questionable payments — yet no official has launched a fraud investigation. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/business/video-state-fails-to-investigate-daycares-with-no-children-despite-media-reports/ #WashingtonState #DaycareFraud #DCYF #ChildcareSubsidies #GovernmentAccountability #PublicSafety #WaLeg #TaxpayerMoney #ClarkCountyToday

State Rep. David Stuebe, a retired Marine Corps Colonel and Mayor of Washougal, has announced his re-election bid for the 17th District. His platform centers on spending limits tied to family budgets, a new Tax Relief Account to return surpluses to taxpayers, and protecting core services while cutting waste. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/rep-david-stuebe-announces-re-election-campaign/ #DavidStuebe #17thDistrict #Washougal #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #Affordability #Elections2026 #SouthwestWashington #Politics #WaLeg

Rep. John Ley breaks down TriMet's financial collapse — $6.4 billion in operating losses over a decade, ridership 30 percent below 2019 levels, and cash reserves projected to run dry in May 2029. Oregon voters rejected a taxpayer bailout 83-17. The IBR's light rail component carries a $3.5 billion price tag, and phase one doesn't even include trains, tracks, or stations. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-will-trimet-be-around-to-operate-the-ibrs-light-rail/ #TriMet #IBR #LightRail #TransitFunding #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #Oregon #PublicTransit #Transportation #Opinion

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Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole says the city's public safety grant funding came in at $1.1 million — well above the $250,000 originally expected. Cole also discusses the rec center contractor selection, a new police chief search following Chief Cathy Doriot's retirement, the Kennedy Well water project, and the Rise Downtown Redevelopment Initiative. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/mayor-reflects-on-productive-first-half-of-2026-as-ridgefield-projects-advance/ #Ridgefield #ClarkCounty #RidgefieldWA #PublicSafety #RecCenter #DowntownRedevelopment #WaterInfrastructure #CityGrowth #WashingtonState #LocalNews

A 39-year-old man died after his 2003 Kawasaki ATV was struck by a Ford Escape at NE 76th St. and NE 137th Ave. late on July 4. The rider had no helmet, and investigators believe alcohol impairment may have been a factor. The Clark County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/ccso-traffic-homicide-unit-investigating-fatal-vehicle-vs-atv-collision/ #ClarkCounty #PublicSafety #TrafficSafety #ATVCrash #CCSO #WashingtonState #FatalCollision