The idea of an active and bustling waterfront in Washougal is an exciting concept to think about, and efforts to make this happen in the future continue to take small, but important steps forward.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has proposed a bill that would impose two major tax increases on residents in Washington to raise more money for public education. Calling his proposed tax increases a "blunt but necessary instrument," Dorn says the new taxes are needed to provide "full funding" for K-12 public education, in response to the supreme court's January 2012 McCleary v. State of Washington decision.
Dianne and Darin Van Dyken are lucky to be alive. As profiled in an article in today's Post-Record, before the two met in 2012, they had both had serious addictions to drugs and alcohol. The destructive paths they chose to take in their lives led to very dark places. Darin ended up in what he describes as "the ghetto," essentially homeless and dealing drugs to survive, while Dianne had attempted suicide and was eventually arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants -- her blood alcohol level pushed to a point that could have been deadly. Both had several unsuccessful attempts to get clean.
Pike was right
City Council should support I-502 in Camas The demand for marijuana is spinning off enormous profits for drug cartels, for gangs, and for illegal dealers. Allowing regulated marijuana sales in Camas would allow us to refocus limited city resources on more important priorities and would redirect millions of dollars that are currently flowing to criminal organizations each year to legitimate businesses and provide a source of additional revenue for Camas.
Knowledge, understanding and compassion are power. This concept can be applied to many facets of life, but particularly when it comes to those aspects that make us different from one another.
It didn't come with a whole lot of fanfare, but on Tuesday night something pretty important happened in Washougal -- something likely to have a significant impact on youth and the greater community for years to come.
Coal, oil pose health, safety risks
The Clark County area is just now recovering from one of the longest stretches of nasty winter weather in recent years. City crews, including public works employees and emergency responders, were kept on their toes throughout the weekend, taking care of problems ranging from frozen pipes and sewer alarms to car accidents and other medical emergencies.
Last February, the Washington Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling overturned the five-time voter-approved requirement that tax increases receive a supermajority vote of the Legislature or voter approval. In the past, when the court has invalidated a law passed by the people, the Legislature has sought to implement what the people want; Initiative 695 reducing car tab costs and Initiative-747 limiting property tax increases are recent examples.
