Top Stories: County discrimination suit; Vancouver women stalked; fireworks sales ahead

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Here are the top stories on columbian.com this week:

1. Clark County ordered to pay $600K in discrimination lawsuit

A federal jury on Tuesday ordered Clark County to pay $600,000 to three Latino Public Works employees over years of racial discrimination and harassment.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a Los Angeles-based civil rights organization, filed suit on behalf of Elias Peña, Isaiah Hutson and Ray Alanis in the U.S. District Court of Western Washington in June 2021.

• Latino men employed at Public Works sue over hostile work environment, harassment

2. 2 Vancouver women complained a Tri-Cities man was stalking them. Police found they weren’t alone

KENNEWICK — A Kennewick man is accused of taking extraordinary steps to stalk two women more than 200 miles away. And investigators believe there may be many more victims.

Investigators say that Justin William Hughes spent more than 1½ years harassing two women, who were friends, in Vancouver. He impersonated family members and hijacked social media accounts all in an attempt to get a hold of them.

The listening sessions come ahead of the July 18 Clark County Council meeting where council members will consider adopting the 179th Street access management and circulation plan. Public Works Director and County Engineer Ken Lader, Deputy County Manager Amber Emery and county staff will be in attendance.