Will the sun return? Check out our local weather forecast before you head outside. Here are some of the top stories of the week on columbian.com. Wondering what else was popular this week with readers? Check out our Trending Stories page. 1. Work has already started on Vancouver Station, a food cart pod on 164th with space for 40 trucks Work is underway for a pod of 40 food carts with an enclosed dining building in east Vancouver. A developer submitted preliminary planning documents in 2023 to the city of Vancouver for the Vancouver Station food-cart pod, to be built at 1817 S.E. 164th Ave. But construction on the project only started recently.

The new food cart pod in east Vancouver will feature an enclosed dining area, just miles from popular Oak Tree Station 2. Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn accused of theft, destroying records while mayor of Woodland Two law enforcement agencies recently investigated separate allegations against Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn — that he stole from a business associate and destroyed public records from his former role as Woodland mayor. Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputies referred felony charges of first- and second-degree theft against Finn and his wife to the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review of a filing decision, sheriff’s office Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said Thursday. He said the investigation includes allegations of theft from a business associate of the Finns’ who worked in the vacation rental business. He’s on paid leave from State Patrol while prosecutor reviews investigation 3. Hudson’s Bay administrators failed to spot red flags in handling of sexual allegations against Vancouver teacher, says report Third-party investigations released Wednesday found Vancouver Public Schools administrators did not appropriately discipline former Hudson’s Bay High School English teacher Shadbreon Gatson or thoroughly investigate allegations of his sexual involvement with multiple students. In a letter sent to families, school board members stated they were releasing the reports to reaffirm the district’s commitment to transparency, accountability and school safety.

The Vancouver Public Schools board released the third-party investigation to parents Wednesday evening 4. Vancouver City Council weighs ‘going big’ by annexing entire urban growth area The Vancouver City Council is weighing annexation options. They range from annexing a small patch of land north of Padden Parkway to adding the entire urban growth area — including Hazel Dell, Felida, Salmon Creek, Mount Vista, Five Corners and Orchards — to city limits. Bold strategy that would make Vancouver the second largest city in the state comes with a high price tag 5. Southwest Washington’s new smelt season got off to an awkward start on the Cowlitz River LONGVIEW — This year’s Cowlitz River recreational smelt dip-fishing season kicked off Wednesday almost totally without its two most important elements: smelt and people dipping for them. Each year for decades, the banks of the Cowlitz have been lined elbow to elbow with thousands of dippers looking to fill their buckets with the small but delicious fish. But this year at Gerhart Gardens, which is normally one of the most popular dipping spots, only a dozen nets plunged into the water as the season started at 8 a.m. sharp. ‘It’s fishing, not catching:’ Department’s new procedures, lack of fish keep crowds down