Clark County has launched a parks partnership program allowing businesses and organizations to offer fitness classes, guided activities, food options, and more inside county parks. The program is open to mobile vendors, established companies, and community groups. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/new-parks-partnership-program-aims-to-bring-more-services-and-activities-to-clark-county-parks/ #ClarkCounty #ParksPartnership #VancouverWA #ClarkCountyParks #PublicWorks #CommunityNews #WashingtonState #LocalBusiness #OutdoorActivities #PNW

---

Willie Williams III was appointed to the Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors in a 4-0 vote, filling a District 4 seat vacant since Jacqueline Weatherspoon resigned March 2. Williams, director of the Grice-Adair Center for Educational Excellence in Portland Public Schools, will serve through the end of 2027. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/eps-board-of-directors-appoints-willie-williams-to-fill-district-4-position/ #EvergreentPublicSchools #SchoolBoard #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #WillieWilliams #Education #WashingtonState

Constitutional scholar Rob Natelson opens a series on the Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary by tracing how British tax laws — from the Stamp Act of 1764 to the Coercive Acts of 1774 — dismantled a working colonial federation and made revolution nearly inevitable. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-the-runup-to-the-declaration-of-independence/ #DeclarationOfIndependence #AmericanRevolution #ColonialHistory #Founding #ConstitutionalLaw #Opinion #MountainStatesPolicyCenter

Longview Superintendent Karen Cloninger now faces criminal charges — including witness tampering and obstruction — after school officials allegedly concealed reports of student rapes for months. Lars Larson argues mandatory reporting laws are routinely ignored across the Northwest, and parents everywhere should demand accountability now. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-rape-coverup-means-parents-must-demand-a-new-commitment-from-schools/ #Opinion #SchoolSafety #MandatoryReporting #Longview #WashingtonState #ChildSafety #LarsLarson #PacificNorthwest #Accountability

All Seal owner Patty Clark painted Yacolt's centerlines red, white and blue at no cost to celebrate America's 250th birthday — but one anonymous complaint now threatens the display's future. Mayor Ian Shealy says the town may be forced to remove the striping before summer ends. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/one-complaint-threatens-yacolts-patriotic-road-display/ #Yacolt #ClarkCounty #America250 #PatrioticDisplay #WashingtonState #CommunityNews #MemorialDay #SmallTown #AllSeal

A white liquor tank holding 900,000 gallons ruptured at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview Tuesday morning, killing at least one person and leaving nine employees unaccounted for. Gov. Bob Ferguson mobilized the National Guard Civil Support Team and Homeland Response Force as hazmat crews worked in dangerous conditions. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/chemical-tank-rupture-in-longview-leaves-at-least-one-dead-nine-missing/ #NipponDynawave #Longview #IndustrialAccident #WorkplaceSafety #WashingtonState #PacificNorthwest #HazmatResponse #NationalGuard #ColumbiaRiver #PublicSafety

---

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, compares the Interstate Bridge Replacement project to California's high-speed rail disaster, warning costs have ballooned from $3.2 billion to potentially $18 billion with only $5.5 billion secured. He argues tolls could legally reach $18 per trip and that 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles could divert to Highway 205. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/video-rep-john-ley-warns-interstate-bridge-project-tolls-could-be-higher-than-forecast/ #InterstateBridge #IBR #Tolls #Vancouver #WashingtonState #ClarkCounty #Transportation #JohnLey #Oregon #LightRail

Columbia River boys soccer is back in the final four — as the 3-seed, just like the year they won the state championship. Seton Catholic baseball, the 5-seed, knocked off Klahoya 5-1 and Rochester 9-2 to reach the Class 1A semifinals. Washougal won the 2A girls golf team title. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/high-school-sports-columbia-river-boys-soccer-looking-for-a-repeat-state-championship/ #HighSchoolSports #ColumbiaRiver #SetonCatholic #WashingtonState #WIAA #ClarkCounty #BoySoccer #Baseball #SpringSports #StateChampionship

Jonathan Hines argues Washington's public-sector union system creates a self-reinforcing financial loop — public wages become dues, dues fund PACs, and PACs elect the politicians who set the next round of contracts. He calls for opt-in-only political fundraising, pay-to-play restrictions, and an end to government-run dues collection for partisan campaigns. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-restoring-balance-breaking-the-loop-of-public-union-dues-and-politics/ #Opinion #UnionDues #CampaignFinance #WashingtonState #PublicSectorUnions #FiscalIntegrity #Olympia #LaborReform #Janus #ClarkCounty

Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center dismantles three progressive studies claiming Washington's budget has shrunk, showing the Near General Fund grew from $31.2 billion to $80.2 billion — 55% above the population-plus-inflation benchmark — while real per-capita state and local revenue climbed 42% since 2005. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-no-washingtons-budget-is-not-shrinking-despite-progressive-claims/ #WashingtonState #StateBudget #TaxPolicy #FiscalPolicy #WashingtonPolitics #Opinion #Olympia #WashingtonPolicyCenter