Morning Press: Limited License Legal Technician, St. Helens quakes, new laws

What will will the weather throw at us this weekend? Find out with our local weather coverage.

Here are some of the stories that grabbed readers’ attention this week.

Vancouver woman is first Limited License Legal Technician in Clark County

From young adulthood, Vancouver’s Michelle White felt a calling to become a lawyer. But many obstacles stood in her way.

She grew up in a low-income family, where no one had attended college, and she didn’t have much guidance on how to achieve her dream.

Life went on, as it does, and she found herself raising a family and working full time in various office jobs, later as a legal assistant.

• Legal work a benefit to county residents

Cluster of earthquakes near Mount St. Helens felt throughout region

At least 16 earthquakes rumbled the landscape about 7.5 miles northeast of Mount St. Helens very early Wednesday morning.

The largest earthquake, a magnitude 3.9, struck at 12:36 a.m., then was quickly followed by a series of at least 15 aftershocks of magnitude 2.7 or less which tapered off over the next several hours.

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory said the earthquakes show no signs of relation to the volcano. Instead they were most likely caused by stress and faulting in the earth’s crust around the area.

• Shaking felt throughout Southwest Washington

Their paths first crossed on Nov. 11, when Eric and Tonya Imhoff, along with one of their daughters, went down to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s animal shelter in Vancouver. They hoped to adopt a dog. Jasmine, a 1 1/2 -year-old husky, went home with them.

• Humane Society promotion waiving fees a success for all involved

Program allows people to park overnight at five Clark County churches

Moving from Arizona to Vancouver seemed like a good idea. Shannon Medlin is a freelance software developer and her partner, who goes by his stage name Thor Shreddington, is a musician. They were struggling financially, so they seized the opportunity to live near the music and tech scenes in Portland and Seattle when a friend offered to sublet his apartment.

After the roommate situation went sour this summer — resulting in a protection order and eviction case that were both dismissed — the couple stayed at another friend’s house, and then began living out of their 1986 GMC Suburban. They had to decide where to park at night. Conventional wisdom suggested Wal-Mart parking lots were a safe bet, but the couple got kicked out, not knowing that they weren’t supposed to camp there.

• GoConnect’s SafePark

Sick leave rule among new laws for 2018

The new year brings a host of traditions. Resolutions and the annual rush to the gym among the most notable. But 2018 will also bring new laws. Here’s a look at five new rules taking effect in 2018.

• New year also sees changes in minimum wage, taxes