Stories byAlexis Weisend

Columbian staff reporter

@weisend_alexis

(360) 735-4536

alexis.weisend@columbian.com

People return to their tents along the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail with food and supplies received from the Bikers Outreach Organization on March 23. The city is steadily moving people from the camp into shelter or housing, preparing for an eventual closure.

‘Few places to go’: Those living in Burnt Bridge Creek encampment say it serves a purpose, but city plans to close it

April 26, 2025, 6:14am Clark County News

Mary Hoxsic knows the encampment along Vancouver’s Burnt Bridge Creek Trail where she lives has a bad reputation. But outsiders don’t know the campers’ stories, she said.Read story

Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Dept.’s interim chief dies of self-inflicted gunshot

April 25, 2025, 12:09pm Clark County NewsUpdated 1 day ago

The Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department’s interim chief died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday after he allegedly fled a northeast Vancouver residence where a residential burglary was reported, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.Read story

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, D-Skamania, walks on stage to boos and sign-waving Thursday during a town hall at Luepke Center. Hundreds of constituents lined up for the event with signs expressing their displeasure at the voting record of Perez.

Angry crowd confronts U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez at Vancouver town hall

April 24, 2025, 8:38pm Clark County NewsUpdated 1 day ago

A line of more than 500 people wrapped around the Luepke Center in Vancouver for Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s Thursday town hall. Most of them were there to criticize the Skamania Democrat for siding with Republicans on recent controversial votes. Many of them had voted for her.Read story

The Grant Street Pier juts out over the Columbia River on July 23, 2024. The Vancouver City Council on Monday adopted a five-year economic development strategy that includes a marketing campaign to position Vancouver as a center of innovation.

‘Filling in all those gaps’: Vancouver adopts its first economic development strategy

April 22, 2025, 12:50pm Business

In its first ever economic development strategy, the city of Vancouver plans to build generational wealth, promote trade jobs and position Vancouver as an innovative place with vibrant commercial districts.Read story

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, center, answers questions from the media after appearing at an election night party at the Hilton Vancouver Washington on Nov. 5. Perez’s critics say she’s been too ambivalent on the actions of the Trump administration to avoid ruffling feathers of Trump supporters in her district.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s controversial votes draw ire from supporters in Southwest Washington

April 19, 2025, 6:14am Clark County NewsSubscriber Exclusive

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is facing backlash in her Southwest Washington district from the same Democrats who helped her get elected. Now, some are calling for a new candidate.Read story

Fruit Valley Park gets a new name and new inclusive play equipment thanks to $1.2M donation

The city of Vancouver has created a playground concept for Elizabeth Austin Playground at Fruit Valley Park.

The city of Vancouver plans to replace playground equipment at Fruit Valley Park with inclusive play equipment for children of all abilities, thanks to a $1.2 million donation from the Vancouver-based Kuni Foundation. The park will be renamed Elizabeth Austin Playground.Read story

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defends vote in favor of SAVE Act

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speaks to the crowd at an election night party at the Hilton Vancouver on Nov. 5, 2024. Perez was one of just four democratic congressional representatives on Thursday to vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act.

Southwest Washington’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was one of just four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act — a controversial bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.Read story