The AC Hotel by Marriott will be the first project to break ground as part of the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1 development, but it holds a second distinction: it’s the first project in Clark County to make use of one of the county’s seven new Opportunity Zones.
The zones are an investment tool that could help finance a number of future developments in some of the county’s economically disadvantaged communities, reeling in new businesses, jobs and housing developments that the area might otherwise struggle to land. Several of the designated zone sites, such as the Fourth Plain Boulevard corridor, are already priority targets for the city of Vancouver’s economic revitalization efforts.
Read the full story: Opportunity Zones have potential to bring investment, jobs to Clark County
OLYMPIA — Local lawmakers saw some of their hopes for the session dashed while others remained encouraged as the Legislature passed its second cutoff for the session.
Included in the bills that made the cutoff include legislation that would move the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement forward, potentially make fuel cleaner (and more expensive), crack down on sex trafficking and put caps on donations in port commission races.
Wednesday was the last day for bills unrelated to the budget to pass out of their house of origin to remain viable during the session, which is expected to end next month.
As the 105-day legislative session passes its halfway point, 331 bills have passed the House and 308 have passed the Senate. Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, who serves as a Democratic floor leader, said the Legislature could be on track to surpass the number of bills passed in the last two sessions.
Read the full story: Legislature: I-5 Bridge, clean-fuel bills make 2nd cutoff
Nine juveniles were arrested Friday evening after a fight between students at a district eighth-grade end-of-season basketball tournament turned into a riot, according to school district and law enforcement officials.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched at about 5:40 p.m. to a report of a disturbance at Gaiser Middle School, 3000 N.E. 99th St. in Hazel Dell, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
The statement said a 911 caller reported that a fight had broken out among students who had been attending the tournament and that there was a group of teenagers trying to interfere with and were assaulting school officials who were trying to deal with the situation.
“Three deputies arrived on scene and were immediately met with verbal hostilities from the large group of teenagers, to include racial slurs, cursing, and threats of assault,” the statement said. “As the deputies attempted to address the individual school staff was trying to detain, the group of teenagers (approximately 60-70 or more) began to close in around the deputies. They continued to curse at the deputies and threaten violence against them including death threats.”
Read the full story: Fight turns to riot at eighth-grade basketball tournament in Hazel Dell
When Netflix began streaming “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” in January, Clark County residents began undertaking home decluttering projects.
Inspired by Kondo, who suggests people keep only those things that “spark joy,” people have been bagging up stuff they no longer want from their closets, cupboards and garages, and hauling them to donation sites.
Luckily for the declutterers of Southwest Washington, getting rid of usable clothing and housewares is a no-brainer. Clark County has no shortage of nonprofit organizations and thrift shops where you can donate your stuff.
Goodwill Industries operates six retail stores in Clark County in addition to others in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon. During a week in late January, donations were 23 percent higher systemwide compared with the same week a year ago, said Dale Emanuel, spokeswoman for Goodwill Industries Columbia-Willamette in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon. In Clark County, donations were up 6 percent.’
Read the full story: Beyond Marie Kondo: Where to donate or recycle almost anything in Clark County
