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In case you missed them, here are some of the top stories from the week:
For days, Clark County was the epicenter of a pending wave of teacher strikes set to spread across Washington state.
And as schools along the Interstate 5 corridor returned to class this week, seven took to or remained on the picket lines instead.
Teachers from nine districts are on strike, including the Evergreen Education Association and Battle Ground Education Association, according to the Washington Education Association. That means more than 100,000 students remain out of school while districts and their respective unions negotiate. Clark County alone still has about 40,000 students out of school.
Get the latest on the negotiations between districts and union.
The Clark County Council agreed Wednesday on the text of a resolution supporting the replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge after tussling over how specific it should be regarding added lanes and tolls that could be part of the project.
“We’re not designing a project; we’re not designing a bridge,” Councilor John Blom said during a meeting Wednesday.
But Councilor Jeanne Stewart, noting that she had “10 years of rodeo,” said generalized statements can be used to support what ends up becoming a very different project with serious financial implications.
Learn more about the council’s stance.
After a seven-year battle with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Akhil Jhaveri died from complications from the disease Saturday.
The 52-year-old Ridgefield man and his family endeared themselves to the local community through his fight against ALS. That support was most recently on display during an honorary wedding ceremony in July, where Akhil got to see his daughters — Ashley, 25, Corinne, 23, and Jordan, 18 — share “vows” of the traits they would want in a partner in the future.
Laura Jhaveri, Akhil’s wife, shared marital advice she picked up from their marriage. The couple’s 30th anniversary was Monday.
Read more about Akhil’s inspirational battle with ALS
A new gas station and convenience store are on the horizon near ilani.
About 80 leaders from the casino resort, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and more gathered at the site adjacent to ilani, just off Interstate 5 at Exit 16, to break ground on the project.
“This is really part of our master plan to grow the reservation and continue to evolve our products and services here,” said Kara Fox-LaRose, ilani president and general manager.
She attended the reception and groundbreaking ceremony on a warm and sunny Thursday morning at the site, a tribe-owned plot of land just south of ilani’s main building.
Learn more about the tribe’s plans
The U.S. Department of Labor released a legal opinion Aug. 28 confirming that live organ donation qualifies as a serious health condition and, therefore, is eligible for protection as outlined in the Family Medical Leave Act.
The opinion is in response to an appropriations funding bill provision authored by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, that amended the FMLA to include organ donation as a qualified condition for leave.
“On behalf of all kidney patients waiting on a life-saving transplant, we sincerely thank Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler for her unwavering commitment to helping remove barriers to living organ donation,” Kevin Longino, chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation, said in a press release. “She continues to be a steadfast champion for all those in need, and we are so grateful for her leadership in ensuring the job security of living donors who are eligible for FMLA.”
Learn more about the new protections
Clark County’s “Flippin’ Quarter” was dusted off for the second time in the last 20 years and called to duty Wednesday. A quick toss by Auditor Greg Kimsey determined Carolyn Simpson winner for Precinct Committee Officer 692.
Simpson ran against Sean Emerson for the chance to represent Republicans in the northeast Vancouver district, but the race garnered equal votes — 49 to 49.
Last week, a formal recount confirmed the election result that led to Wednesday’s event.
There were 105 undervotes, which Simpson said demonstrates the power of the individual voter.
Read about the flip that determined the winner.
