Morning Press: Domestic violence shootings in Salmon Creek, Washougal; library challenges

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Here are some of the stories that were popular this week with Columbian readers:

One killed, two wounded in domestic violence shooting at home in North Salmon Creek

Investigators say a man shot and wounded his wife and baby before fatally shooting himself Wednesday afternoon at a home in North Salmon Creek.

Authorities have not yet identified the family. Both the woman and baby were taken to area hospitals for gunshot wounds; they were in critical condition, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

• Woman was unable to be interviewed due to her injuries
• Update: 6-month-old wounded in Salmon Creek shooting dies

Deputies investigate shooting at home in Washougal area as ‘murder-suicide attempt’

WASHOUGAL — A woman died at an area hospital, and her husband remains in critical condition after a Thursday afternoon shooting at a home in the 30000 block of Southeast Sunset View Road, just outside Washougal city limits.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office called the incident a “murder-suicide attempt,” and investigators don’t believe there’s any threat to the community.

• Woman dies at hospital; man in critical condition

Construction work continues at The Waterfront Vancouver

Cranes along the river at The Waterfront Vancouver are in no short supply this December, with about half a dozen buildings currently or soon to be under construction and more development coming.

“It’ll be a busy place,” said Barry Cain, president of Gramor Development of Lake Oswego, Ore., which is the lead developer of The Waterfront Vancouver. “That’s what we wanted. We wanted it to be an urban environment on the water.”

• Cranes overlook development as work on housing, hotel, retail buildings underway

Opposition to drag queen story hours roils FVRLibraries

For over three years, the monthly Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees’ meetings have spiraled out of control.

Between February and December of 2019, the Vancouver Community Library held three drag queen story hours — events where performers dressed in drag read children’s storybooks featuring tales of inclusion and acceptance.

• Vancouver library’s events highlighted diversity, equity and inclusion

Respiratory illnesses strike children, too

As Clark County continues to battle the surge of respiratory-related illnesses, some parents are having to bring their little ones to the hospital for help.

Hospitals continue to see an influx of respiratory illnesses. The Vancouver Clinic reported a 15 percent COVID-19 positivity rate, a 46 percent flu positivity rate and a 35 percent RSV positivity rate during the week of Nov. 20 to Nov. 26, according to Vancouver Clinic data.

• Trio of RSV, flu, COVID straining hospitals across Clark County