Top Stories: Vancouver City Council unhappy with light rail plans; Vancouver Public Schools layoffs; Vancouver's Southcliff neighborhood seeks historic designation
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Here are some of the top stories on columbian.com this week.
1. Vancouver City Council unhappy with plans to shorten light rail extension
Vancouver city councilors oppose a proposal to cut short the light rail line on the planned Interstate 5 Bridge replacement.
An I-5 Bridge replacement plan approved by local and regional officials in 2022 called for TriMet's Yellow MAX line to extend 1.9 miles from its current terminus at Portland's Expo Center to Evergreen Boulevard, near the downtown Vancouver Community Library.
* Latest version of Interstate Bridge Replacement Program would cut Evergreen Boulevard from light rail plan
2. Staff, students, parents pack Vancouver Public Schools board meeting to oppose layoffs
Teachers, staff, students and parents filled Tuesday's Vancouver Public Schools board meeting to oppose layoffs across the district resulting from a $24 million budget deficit.
During its March 10 meeting, the school board approved staff reductions for the 2026-27 school year. Nearly 200 positions are slated to be cut, including teachers, administrators, counselors and custodians.
* District cutting nearly 200 positions in 2026-27 due to $24M budget deficit
3.Vancouver's Southcliff neighborhood seeks historic designation
Vancouver archaeologist Doug Wilson was already well steeped in local history when a few of his Southcliff neighbors approached him with a request: Could Wilson help the midcentury Vancouver neighborhood apply for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places?
If selected, Southcliff would become Washington's first post-World War II neighborhood to make it onto the list of the United States' most historically prominent locations.
* Vancouver's Southcliff neighborhood seeks historic designation
4.Vancouver man identified as suspect in fatal stabbing of his wife
The Vancouver Police Department has identified the suspect in the April 9 domestic violence homicide of a 33-year-old Vancouver woman.
Tyrell E. Peters, 30, of Vancouver has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree domestic violence murder following the stabbing death of his wife at their apartment in the 10400 block of Northeast Oakbrook Circle.
Court records identify the victim as Naomi L. Peters.
* Suspect sustained injuries believed to be self-inflicted
5.Vancouver 14th on Livability's list of 100 best places to live in U.S.
Livability, an online media and marketing company, has included Vancouver in its annual list of the top places to live in the United States.
The 2026 "Best Places" list ranked Vancouver 14th out of 100 small to mid-sized cities and No. 1 among cities in the Pacific Northwest.
* City ranks No. 1 among small to mid-sized cities in PNW
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