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Tuesday,  January 21 , 2025
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Stories by Sarah Wolf

Columbian staff writer

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(360) 735-4513
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sarah.wolf@columbian.com
Police lights illuminate the food court entrance to Vancouver Mall after a shooting on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.

Vancouver Mall reopens after masked shooter sent panicked shoppers fleeing

Police lights illuminate the food court entrance to Vancouver Mall after a shooting on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.

November 1, 2024, 10:20am Clark County News

Vancouver Mall reopened at 3 p.m., one day after one person was killed and two were injured in a chaotic Halloween night shooting in the second-level food court. Read story

Crews unload a nacelle, the piece where the blades and turbine meet, from a ship at the Port of Vancouver in 2020. The port recently secured a $22.5 million federal grant to buy new electric cranes, which are used to move wind turbines, and make other “green” upgrades.

Vancouver port will use $22.5M grant to buy two electric mobile harbor cranes

Crews unload a nacelle, the piece where the blades and turbine meet, from a ship at the Port of Vancouver in 2020. The port recently secured a $22.5 million federal grant to buy new electric cranes, which are used to move wind turbines, and make other “green” upgrades.

October 30, 2024, 3:46pm Business

The Port of Vancouver landed a $22.5 million federal grant that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read story

Second Step Housing staff examine the outdoor compressors for new ductless heat pumps. Clark Public Utilities’ new Community Grant Program recently awarded $120,000 to Vancouver nonprofit Second Step Housing for new ductless heat pumps.

Grant program is a ‘win-win’ for nonprofits serving low-income households and Clark Public Utilities

Second Step Housing staff examine the outdoor compressors for new ductless heat pumps. Clark Public Utilities’ new Community Grant Program recently awarded $120,000 to Vancouver nonprofit Second Step Housing for new ductless heat pumps.

October 29, 2024, 3:34pm Business

For decades, Clark Public Utilities has run programs that encourage customers to adopt energy efficient technologies in their homes and businesses. A new program, however, is providing grants to nonprofits to make energy efficient or renewable energy investments of their own. Read story

Pedestrians stroll past a sign at the Fred Meyer store in Cascade Park that reflects current gas prices last Tuesday morning. Clark County was long ago known for being one of Washington’s more affordable counties. Now, however, it is one of the most expensive places to live in the state.

Clark County’s cost of living is the fourth highest in Washington

Pedestrians stroll past a sign at the Fred Meyer store in Cascade Park that reflects current gas prices last Tuesday morning. Clark County was long ago known for being one of Washington’s more affordable counties. Now, however, it is one of the most expensive places to live in the state.

October 29, 2024, 6:10am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Clark County’s cost of living is the fourth-highest in the Washington, behind King, Snohomish and San Juan counties, according to a national report. Read story

System dispatchers monitor the grid at the Bonneville Power Administration’s Ross Complex. Growing demand for power in the region and state mandates requiring carbon-free energy in the future complicate the administration’s work. The administration can’t guarantee a carbon-free product. Utilities across the region may need to find their own energy sources in the future to make up the difference.

Electricity equilibrium? Finding power for the Pacific Northwest in the future ‘will be a significant challenge’

System dispatchers monitor the grid at the Bonneville Power Administration’s Ross Complex. Growing demand for power in the region and state mandates requiring carbon-free energy in the future complicate the administration’s work. The administration can’t guarantee a carbon-free product. Utilities across the region may need to find their own energy sources in the future to make up the difference.

October 26, 2024, 6:14am Business Subscriber Exclusive

From their control center at the Ross Complex in Vancouver, Bonneville Power Administration dispatchers manage the region’s electricity supply and demand in real time. Read story

Owner Chuck Milne, a 76-year-old golf pro who has been playing the game since he was 5, has run the Vanco Golf Range in Vancouver since 1981.

Clark County golfers lose another favorite with Vanco Golf Range in its final days

Owner Chuck Milne, a 76-year-old golf pro who has been playing the game since he was 5, has run the Vanco Golf Range in Vancouver since 1981.

October 24, 2024, 6:08am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Clark County golfers will lose another place to play next week as the 50-year-old Vanco Golf Range closes its doors for the last time. Read story

Bart Hansen, a Vancouver city councilor and executive director at the Building Industry Association of Clark County, talks during a Vancouver City Council workshop in July at Vancouver City Hall. Hansen is moving from the local association to take a position at the statewide Building Industry Association of Washington.

Bart Hansen joins Building Industry Association of Washington as vice president of business development

Bart Hansen, a Vancouver city councilor and executive director at the Building Industry Association of Clark County, talks during a Vancouver City Council workshop in July at Vancouver City Hall. Hansen is moving from the local association to take a position at the statewide Building Industry Association of Washington.

October 23, 2024, 12:03pm Business

Bart Hansen, executive director for the Building Industry Association of Clark County and longtime Vancouver city councilor, has been hired by the statewide Building Industry Association of Washington. Read story

Construction recently began on the former Spanky’s Legendary Consignment building in downtown Vancouver. Northwest Elite Homes purchased the building in 2021, although it has been vacant since Spanky’s closed in 2007.

Renovation of former Spanky’s building marks major milestone for downtown Vancouver

Construction recently began on the former Spanky’s Legendary Consignment building in downtown Vancouver. Northwest Elite Homes purchased the building in 2021, although it has been vacant since Spanky’s closed in 2007.

October 23, 2024, 6:05am Business

Construction is underway at the former Spanky’s building, 812 Main St., in downtown Vancouver. Read story

The Columbian Files PacifiCorp, which operates several dams on the Lewis River including Merwin Dam, is planning a new transmission line through east Clark County.

PacifiCorp plans to run high-voltage line from Swift Dam through east Clark County into Oregon

The Columbian Files PacifiCorp, which operates several dams on the Lewis River including Merwin Dam, is planning a new transmission line through east Clark County.

October 22, 2024, 6:08am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Portland power company PacifiCorp plans to run a new high voltage transmission line through east Clark County, the company confirmed last week. Read story

The Subway on Eighth Street in downtown Vancouver is among those that have closed across Clark County. The store appears to have been abandoned, according to a lawsuit filed by its landlord.

Six Vancouver Subway stores appear abandoned as liquidation looms

The Subway on Eighth Street in downtown Vancouver is among those that have closed across Clark County. The store appears to have been abandoned, according to a lawsuit filed by its landlord.

October 22, 2024, 6:08am Business

Six Clark County Subway locations that closed abruptly this summer still look operational. Advertisements cover the windows. Furniture, ovens and counters sit inside untouched. But on the heels of the franchise owner’s bankruptcy, one Vancouver landlord says the stores have been abandoned. Read story