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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
Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council member Blake Nelson, right, examines a cross section of a transmission cable to be used in the Cascade Renewable Transmission project during a Nov. 17 public meeting at Black Pearl on the Columbia in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Power line worries Columbia River navigators

Columbia River navigators are growing worried as a project to put a 100-mile power transmission line under the river charges ahead without offering ways to mitigate its impacts on the industry.

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.