Stories by Alexis Weisend

Columbian staff reporter

@weisend_alexis

(360) 735-4536

alexis.weisend@columbian.com

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

April 25, 2025, 12:09pm Clark County News Updated 5 mins 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 News Updated 1 hour 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 News Subscriber 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

YWCA CEO Brittini Lasseigne, left, sits with Washington Sen. Patty Murray, right, as the organization’s staff express concern about federal funding cuts affecting services.

‘We don’t know what’s going to happen’: YWCA Clark County tells Murray federal funding cuts will hurt survivors of domestic violence

April 17, 2025, 6:33pm Clark County News

YWCA Clark County staffers told U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Thursday they fear federal funding cuts will curtail services they provide to survivors of domestic violence. Read story

Vancouver council approves sale of portion of City Hall parking lot to nonprofit for affordable housing

The city of Vancouver is selling a parcel of land to Native American Youth and Family Center for $1 to kick-off the affordable housing component of its Waterfront Gateway project.

The Vancouver City Council on Monday approved the sale of a corner of City Hall’s parking lot to Native American Youth and Family Center for $1. The Portland nonprofit plans to build a 95-unit affordable housing complex there. 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

Battle Ground City Council wants to lower speed limits on Highway 502 and 503 within city

A speed limit sign is hidden in the brush along Northeast 112th Avenue in Battle Ground. Battle Ground city councilors voted on an amendment to the city’s speed-regulating ordinance to set the speed limits on state Highway 503 at 40 mph and state Highway 502 at 30 mph.

Battle Ground City Council members had some choice words Monday for the Washington State Department of Transportation, whose proposed speed limit changes to state Highway 502 weren’t as low as councilors wanted after years of speed-related complaints from the city. Read story