Washington | featured news

I applaud Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler for her vote this week to fund the Department of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. The lapse in appropriations has led to a shutdown at the FAA, which is severely affecting the National Airspace System, resulting in:
1. Delays in equipment maintenance and modernization projects, which result in exorbitant cost overruns and no safety redundancy.
2. The furlough of safety inspectors and aviation certifiers, which also harms the private sector.

BATTLE GROUND — Principal Properties of Vancouver recently broke ground on a 65,175-square-foot recreational vehicle and self-storage project within Scotton Landing. The project will feature six buildings totaling 645 units, most of which will be climate controlled. Completion is expected this summer.
Scotton Landing is a 22-acre mixed-use project developed by Principal Properties that includes retail, commercial, and multifamily space. It’s across the street from Millcreek Town Center.

As The Wall dominated the news last week, a pitiful juxtaposition of two realities — one the hard truth, the other a lie — emerged to clarify the destructiveness of the American president’s toxic narcissism.
Federal workers facing their first payday without a check were selling their possessions on social media so they could pay their bills. Donald Trump told NBC News correspondent Kelly O’Donnell that he can “relate” to the unpaid workers.

A developer has proposed building a First Citizens Bank at the northeast corner of Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard and Park Plaza Drive in Vancouver.
The site, owned by Portland Adventist Medical Center, is vacant, according to the pre-application submitted to the city. The 5,700-square-foot building on the 1.37-acre lot would have 19 parking spaces. The property had a market value of $902,300 in January 2018, according to Clark County real estate records.

Environmentalists have identified another threat to the planet. It’s called a nurdle.
Nurdles are tiny pellets of plastic resin no bigger than a pencil eraser that manufacturers transform into packaging, plastic straws, water bottles and other typical targets of environmental action.

If binge-watching “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix has you paring down your wardrobe, Washington State University Vancouver can take some of that.
The university is seeking donations of new or used professional attire, including dress shirts, pants, skirts, suits, accessories, shoes and ties. A collection bin will be available on campus Jan. 22 through Feb. 1 in the lobby of the Student Services Center. Free visitor parking is nearby.
Students can select an outfit Feb. 5 and 6 at the Career Clothing Closet giveaway.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s move to offer pardons for people haunted by old marijuana convictions is a good first step, but it does not go far enough. The Legislature should expand upon the governor’s efforts and provide justice for even more Washington residents.

RIDGEFIELD — Trap Door Brewing plans to open a taproom in Ridgefield Pioneer Village, likely opening in spring 2020. The brewer would retain its Vancouver headquarters at 2315 Main St.