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. Joe Kent was among intelligence officials included in leaked text chain on Signal app Former Washington 3rd Congressional District candidate Joe Kent is making national headlines once again, this time for his involvement in a text chain of sensitive war plans accidentally shared with a journalist. President Donald Trump nominated the Yacolt Republican, who lost two bids to represent Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, to become director of the National Counterterrorism Center on Feb. 3, but he has yet to be confirmed.

Kent is currently the chief of staff for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and has been nominated to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center 2. After four years, Superintendent Jeff Snell is leaving Vancouver Public Schools Vancouver Public Schools’ superintendent will step down at the end of the school year after accepting a new position with a state education association. After four years leading the Vancouver school district, Jeff Snell will become the executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators, starting July 1. Snell will succeed Joel Aune, who will retire after seven years in the position. He’s accepted position as executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators 3. Columbia River Mental Health Services suspends operations Financial woes forced Columbia River Mental Health Services to suddenly suspend operations Monday. The move leaves thousands of people who rely on the Vancouver-based nonprofit for counseling and psychiatric treatment in the lurch. The agency, Southwest Washington’s oldest behavioral health provider, serves 5,000 people each year, according to its website.

Vancouver-based nonprofit provides counseling, psychiatric treatment to thousands of people 4. Residents say speeding cars keep crashing into their east Vancouver homes because of a roundabout Neighbors blame a decade-old roundabout in east Vancouver for sending speeding cars smashing into their homes. City data shows 14 car crashes have occurred at the traffic circle at Northeast 138th Avenue and 32nd Circle since 2015. The most recent one happened in December when a speeding driver lost control in the roundabout and smashed the vehicle into a house, according to the city. Residents want officials to fix dangerous traffic circle; the city says changes are coming 5. 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