Joe Cortright of City Observatory told Oregon's Transportation Commission that ODOT's budget crisis stems from systemic cost mismanagement — not fuel efficiency. The Abernethy Bridge tripled to $815 million; the Interstate Bridge Replacement ballooned to nearly $15 billion, with $10 billion in Oregon's share omitted from staff reports entirely. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-major-projects-and-odots-financial-crisis/ #ODOT #InterstateBridge #IBR #TransportationPolicy #OregonPolitics #CostOverruns #ClarkCounty #PacificNorthwest #Opinion #Infrastructure

La Center resident Tim Petta draws a line from JP Morgan, Carnegie, and Rockefeller to Camden and Mac Spiller in Battle Ground — arguing that industrialists who created jobs, gave philanthropically, and reinvested in their communities built something worth repeating. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-what-made-and-can-make-america-great/ #Opinion #BattleGround #LaCenter #ClarkCounty #CamdenSpiller #MacSpiller #AmericanHistory #Philanthropy #ClarkCountyToday #Letters

About 100 volunteers gathered at Esther Short Park in Vancouver for the third annual Pick It Up, Vancouver event, organized by SOLVE. The crew collected enough litter to fill a 3-yard dumpster, with a final weight tally still to come. SOLVE, which began as an Oregon anti-litter campaign, is expanding its mission into Southwest Washington. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/pick-it-up-vancouver-holds-another-event-for-volunteers-to-pick-up-litter-in-downtown/ #PickItUpVancouver #SOLVE #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #Volunteers #CommunityCleanup #DowntownVancouver #WashingtonState

Ronald Hsu, DDS, of Storybook Dentistry in Camas and Dr. Megan Miller of Expedition Pediatric Dentistry offer guidance on credentials, communication style, and why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child's first dental visit by age one. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/youth/how-to-choose-a-pediatric-dental-provider/ #PediatricDentistry #ChildrensDentalHealth #DeltaDentalWA #OralHealth #YouthHealth #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #DentalCare #ParentingTips #DentalHome

A 16-year-old wrestler and her mother are suing the Puyallup School District, WIAA, and state education officials after a male athlete who identifies as female allegedly sexually assaulted her during a December all-girls tournament. ADF attorney Suzanne Beecher says Washington's policy violates federal Title IX protections. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/female-wrestler-sues-school-district-state-over-alleged-assault-by-male-competitor/ #WrestlingLawsuit #TitleIX #PuyallupSchoolDistrict #GirlsSports #Washington #WIAA #ADF #ChrisReykdal #TransgenderAthletes #ClarkCountyToday

Camden and Mac Spiller purchased The Reflector, returning the 115-year-old Battle Ground newspaper to local hands. Rep. John Ley pushed to block the Interstate Bridge Replacement's Record of Decision, tolling talks continued with a 2028 start projected, and Ridgefield's commercial expansion kept pace with its rapid population growth. https://mailchi.mp/clarkcountytoday/this-weeks-top-news_june_12_2026 #ClarkCounty #InterstateBridge #Ridgefield #TheReflector #Vancouver #WashingtonState #LocalNews #Transportation #PublicSafety #ClarkCountyToday

For the first time in memory, no Clark County team won a state title in a traditional team sport during the 2025-26 school year. Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore close out spring sports, weigh in on controversies beyond Clark County, and look ahead to college and pro sports. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/the-study-of-sports-podcast-june-12-2026-we-say-goodbye-to-not-only-spring-sports-but-we-also-give-a-salute-to-the-full-high-school-sports-year/ #StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #SpringSports #Podcast

Rep. John Ley is urging U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to delay approval of the Interstate Bridge replacement project, citing a price tag now estimated at more than $15 billion and concerns over scope, tolling, congestion, and light rail inclusion. Clark County Today wants to know where you stand. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/poll-should-federal-transportation-officials-delay-approval-of-the-interstate-bridge-replacement-project-until-a-new-review-is-completed/ #InterstateBridge #I5Bridge #ClarkCounty #Transportation #JohnLey #IBR #WashingtonState #FederalTransportation #Vancouver #Infrastructure

---

Katie Shifley has been named Vancouver's next chief financial officer following a national search. She joins from Multnomah County Library and will oversee a biennial budget of $2.2 billion, including a $481.1 million capital budget. City Manager Lon Pluckhahn cited her decade of regional government finance experience. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/city-of-vancouver-announces-appointment-of-a-new-chief-financial-officer/ #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #CityOfVancouver #CFO #PublicFinance #WashingtonState #LocalGovernment

Battle Ground marks 75 years since its 1951 incorporation with a free Pop-Up Birthday Party at Kiwanis Park on June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free cupcakes from Rabbit Hole Eatery, a live mural by Ana Gabriela Honsowetz, mini horse petting, and a foam dance party are all on the program. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/area-residents-invited-to-celebrate-battle-grounds-75th-birthday/ #BattleGround #BattleGround75 #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #CommunityEvents #BattleGroundWA #KiwaanisPark #FamilyFun #PNW #FreeEvent

---