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Clark County

December 18, 2025
Christmas Festival of Lights features holiday light displays, outdoor caroling, indoor choral concerts and more through Dec. 30 at the Grotto in Portland. (Contributed photo)

It’s time to light up the holidays in Clark County

Holiday lights give the darkness of December a sparkling uplift, just like bubbles in Champagne. These local light shows include festive displays that have been family traditions for decades as well as a couple recent additions, like Ridgefield’s Brew Lights in the Park and the Holiday Light Walk at Skamania Lodge. Wherever you decide to enjoy the glittering extravaganza of holiday twinkles, you can be sure that your spirits will be made merry and bright.

December 11, 2025
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

PeaceHealth vague on transgender care access

A decision by U.S. Catholic bishops to ban gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals may have implications for patients at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, but it’s unclear how.

December 11, 2025

Clark County Council OKs 2026 budget

It isn’t just Clark County residents feeling the pinch of rising costs. Clark County’s annual budget for 2026, which was approved by the county council Tuesday, shows an increase in expenses of about $10 million compared with the prior year.

December 11, 2025
Sherry Erickson, from left, Jane Van Dyke and Nancy Barnes take part in the Clark Public Utilities board of commissioners meeting with CEO Lena Wittler in Vancouver on Oct. 21. On Tuesday morning, the utility’s board of commissioners unanimously approved separate budgets of $500 million for the electric system, $95 million for the generating system and $41 million for the water system. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

Utility approves budgets for 2026

Clark Public Utilities avoided a budget shortfall this year and will keep power rates steady next year with some help from the Climate Commitment Act.

December 4, 2025
Crews sort recyclables at West Van Material Recovery Center in November 2023. The state’s ban on single-use plastic bags appears to be having little impact on reducing plastic coming into landfills and recycling centers. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

Cost of plastic bags to rise 4 cents

Shoppers in Washington will soon begin paying 4 cents more per plastic bag at grocery stores and other retailers. The price for plastic bags will increase to 12 cents a bag, plus tax, on Jan. 1, but the bags themselves won’t be any thicker.