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In case you missed them, here are some of the top stories of the weekend:
Since President Obama’s Affordable Care Act was signed seven years ago this month, it has remained in the forefront of controversy.
Nearly 114,000 Clark County residents are enrolled, but many voters remain dissatisfied. Leaders at the federal and state level are divided, but nonetheless reform seems likely. Today, we look at the act, and how its repeal or redesign could affect our community.
Read the full story: Trumping Obamacare: Affordable Care Act reform
Christensen Shipyards, the luxury yacht builder in Vancouver, is set to close its receivership after two years.
A Clark County Superior Court judge finalized the settlement Friday, allowing the disbursal of $6.1 million to more than 600 claimants who went unpaid as the company struggled.
The receiver, Miles Stover, called the decision a success, considering the number of companies and people involved.
“If you have any experience in this world, this was a very successful case,” he said. Stover expects to officially end the receivership in the next two months.
Christensen Shipyards Ltd. struggled in the aftermath of the recession. The company was nearly bankrupted in early 2015 when several companies filed lawsuits claiming they were owed for supplies and services.
Most of the claims will pay out 72 cents on the dollar, said Albert Kennedy, of the Portland law firm Tonkon Torp. He added the monthslong wait was due largely to the sheer number of claims that needed to be negotiated.
Read the full story: Christensen Shipyards receivership nears end
Alem Gebrehiwot won a lottery in 2011. But on Friday, his wife was ahead of him in claiming the unique prize: American citizenship.
The Ethiopian-born couple were part of the crowd when 26 immigrants took the oath of allegiance Friday morning at the Vancouver Community Library. Fiyori Hagos became a naturalized citizen as Gebrehiwot and their 4-year-old son applauded.
Gebrehiwot had been planning to join his wife in reciting the oath, but paperwork put him off schedule. He is in the process of legally changing his last name, which is complicating the naturalization process, the Portland resident said.
Read the full story: 26 new U.S. citizens sworn in at Vancouver Community Library ceremony
With Southwest Washington’s economy in full gear, the growth of industrial companies has made for busy times for commercial real estate agents tasked with helping those companies expand.
Only, many agents are saying they aren’t finding a lot of available space to show their clients.
“A lot of these guys have been managing to work within the confines of the spaces they are in, keeping things efficient, not getting in over their skis — but now they are bursting at the seams,” said Garrett Harper, an executive with the Vancouver real estate firm Eric Fuller & Associates. “I’ve got a fair number of clients wanting to get into a bigger space.”
Light industrial space — often used by companies whose wares demand elbow room, sturdy floors and high ceilings — is currently at a scant 4.9 percent vacancy in Clark County, according to the commercial real estate firm CBRE Group in Portland.
Manufacturing and wholesale trade experienced relative booms in 2016. Wholesale trade added 900 jobs last year, according to the latest data from the Washington Employment Security Department. Manufacturers kicked in 400 new jobs of their own.
“That’s more job opportunities and it’s something we need to pay attention to in terms of a training pipeline,” said regional economist Scott Bailey.
Read the full story: Projects help light industry find places to expand around Clark County
