The state has surpassed its acreage record just two months into wildfire season. https://mrf.lu/2Zrk_

I've been thinking about stillness lately—perhaps because I'm about to head to Alaska for a little vacation. I wrote about what I'm learning about the spiritual art of being still for FāVS. favs.news/learning-the...

Learning the Spiritual Art of Stillness in a Busy Life

After a backpacking trip and time away from constant busyness, a FāVS editor reflects on Psalm 46, rest and rediscovering the spiritual practice of being still.

favs.news

One of our own lost his home in yesterday's devastating Spokane-area fires. We've started a GoFundMe to help our FāVS News reporter and his family begin to rebuild. If you can give or share, we'd be incredibly grateful. gofund.me/d3a0a0429

Donate to Support Matthew and FāVS Writers After the Fire, organized by Tracy Simmons

Matthew Kincanon has spent nearly a decade telling other people's stor… Tracy Simmons needs your support for Support Matthew and FāVS Writers After the Fire

gofund.me

Another little FāVS milestone: one of our stories was republished by The Christian Century this week. 🎉 We're a small nonprofit newsroom, so seeing our reporting picked up by publications we respect is pretty darn exciting. www.christiancentury.org/news/how-rur...

How rural churches in the Pacific Northwest are sharing pastors across denominations

Across the Pacific Northwest, rural churches from mainline denominations are combating declining attendance and escalating costs through a novel solution: pastor sharing.“What we’re finding is it’s ge...

christiancentury.org

A reality many outside Jewish communities may not realize: security has become a significant part of the cost of gathering & worshipping. Read: how Jewish communities across WA are responding to persistent antisemitic threats & what those security demands mean for congregational life. bit.ly/45uUtbU

Seattle Jewish Community Doubles Security amid antisemitism

A Jewish Community in Seattle expanding its SAFE Washington program as synagogues and Jewish organizations respond to ongoing antisemitic threats.

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One thing I've learned running a nonprofit newsroom: Partnerships are how local journalism grows.

Excited about a new partnership! Presbyterian Outlook will begin publishing one FāVS News story each month as they expand PNW coverage. Collaboration > competition.

Bosnian authorities investigate desecration and fire damage at Medjugorje Virgin Mary shrine religionnews.com/2026/07/29/b...

Bosnian authorities investigate desecration and fire damage at Medjugorje Virgin Mary shrine

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Two years ago, the Vatican gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to Medjugorje, where children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, offerin...

religionnews.com

Looking forward to joining a religion journalism panel at #SPJ26 this fall. Excited to talk about the challenges—and opportunities—of covering faith and religion in today's media landscape. bit.ly/4fBXyvE

Rural churches across Washington are finding creative ways to keep ministry alive—including sharing pastors across congregations. New from FāVS News on how faith communities are adapting to changing realities. bit.ly/4xc3NNU

Rural Churches Share Pastors to Strengthen Ministry

Rural churches across the Pacific Northwest are sharing pastors across denominations, reducing costs, strengthening ministries and building new partnerships.

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Houston-based creator Shawn Singh (@ShawnTheFoodSheep) and Jennifer Chang from the @houstonchronicle.com are joining the Lenfest Audience Community this week for a candid conversation on how the media and creator ecosystems are working together. Learn more this Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT:

Inside Houston’s creator economy: What successful creator/newsroom partnerships look like

Creator Shawn Singh & The Houston Chronicle share how the media and creator ecosystems are evolving in this free workshop.

lenfestinstitute.org

New from FāVS News: Micah Yip reports from Kirkland, where protesters, clergy and Turning Point USA supporters offered sharply different visions of Christianity during Erika Kirk's "Make Heaven Crowded" tour stop. A thoughtful look at faith, protest and public witness. bit.ly/4fBdXjA

Outside Erika Kirk's Kirkland rally, protesters ask who Christianity is for - FāVS News

Protesters gathered outside a TPUSA event featuring Erika Kirk in western Washington where speakers mixed Christian messages with conservative politics, sparking peaceful opposition.

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NEW: Former students, parents and a former teacher say The Oaks Classical Christian Academy caused lasting emotional and spiritual harm. Our latest investigation examines those allegations and the school's ties to Doug Wilson's Association of Classical Christian Schools. bit.ly/3T9sED6

Former Students Allege Harm at Spokane Christian Academy

Former students, parents and a teacher say a Spokane Classical Christian Academy caused emotional and spiritual harm while promoting a rigid Christian ideology.

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"Too #queer for #Christian spaces, too Christian for queer spaces" — that's the tension #LGBTQ+ Christians across the Pacific Northwest are pushing back on, one affirming church group at a time. Our reporter Emma Maple talked to leaders in Kirkland, Seattle, Wenatchee and Bellingham - bit.ly/4vWuupB

LGBTQ+ Christians Find Community in Northwest Churches

Affirming churches across the Pacific Northwest are creating LGBTQ+ faith groups that offer belonging, spiritual exploration and support.

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Can faith communities help bridge rural and urban divides? Emma Maple reports on a grassroots Eastern Washington effort focused on information, trust and finding common ground. bit.ly/4wkSEtq #Journalism #Community #Faith

Eastern Washington Group Focuses on Rural Healthcare

Prosperity Eastern Washington is raising awareness about rural healthcare challenges while exploring how faith communities can bridge urban-rural divides.

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Spokane asylum seeker self-deports to Nicaragua, fearing detainment and separation from 1-year-old The Department of Homeland Security states 2.2 million unauthorized immigrants have self-deported since January 2025. Written by Monica Casillo-Casas, originally published by The Spokesman and SPR.

Spokane asylum seeker self-deports to Nicaragua, fearing detainment and separation from 1-year-old

The Department of Homeland Security states 2.2 million unauthorized immigrants have self-deported since January 2025.

rangemedia.co

Like it or not, Doug Wilson is everywhere pca.st/episode/faf1...

"Masculinsim" goes mainstream: a movement to fight feminism

Masculinism is a belief that feminism emasculates men, and men should be in control while women stay at home raising children. Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis says the movement is becoming…

pca.st

What if the way we talk about gender says more about us than it does about God? Rev. Elizabeth Stevens explores gender, faith and sacred traditions — from Hinduism to Christianity — and challenges the idea that spirituality has always been confined to a binary. bit.ly/3QtTULM #Religion #Faith

God's gender isn't male, female or even binary — so why are we? - FāVS News

The Rev. Elizabeth Stevens argues that Christianity and other faiths support gender diversity beyond modern, male, female and binary identities.

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Breaking: tiny human begins daycare. Follow-up investigation reveals tiny human is also a highly efficient disease delivery system. I’m now reporting live from my couch, where I will be covering the World Cup for the foreseeable future. 🫡⚽️

In this FāVS News commentary, Janet Marugg argues that new education policies aimed at “woke” programs could have unintended consequences for Bible colleges, seminaries and divinity schools. Read: bit.ly/4eQ58mT #Religion #HigherEducation #FaithAndValues #Journalism

How Education Cuts Could Impact Future Religious Leaders

New federal education policies could threaten theology and ministry programs, raising concerns about the future of religious education and pastoral care.

bit.ly

Thank you @sojo.net for republishing our Juneteenth story! sojo.net/articles/new...

Interfaith Choir Roots Juneteenth Celebration in Joy and Justice

“What’s really wonderful is African American gospel and spiritual music hits right to the soul. Just how the sound of the music is, it hits straight to the soul,” Rev. Angela Farrar Small, director of...

sojo.net

What happens when gospel music becomes a bridge across faith traditions? FāVS News reporter June Williams shares the story of Resounding Love, a Seattle interfaith choir bringing songs of justice, joy and resilience to a Juneteenth celebration. bit.ly/4v6Pklu #Juneteenth #Seattle #Religion

Seattle Interfaith Choir Celebrates Juneteenth Through Music

Resounding Love, a Seattle-based interfaith choir, will celebrate Juneteenth with gospel music, messages of hope and a commitment to community.

bit.ly

I've spent weeks trying to subscribe to house-of-worship newsletters across the Northwest. So many just don't have them. Journalists: "Please send us news." Congregations: "We posted it on a bulletin board." #ReligionReporting #Journalism

Can a soccer match become a flashpoint for debates over religion, LGBTQ+ rights and international diplomacy? As Seattle prepares for a Pride-themed World Cup match between Egypt and Iran, FIFA finds itself navigating competing cultural values. bit.ly/4onRN8P #WorldCup2026 #LGBTQ #Seattle #Soccer

Egypt, Iran demand FIFA cancel Pride at Seattle World Cup

Seattle's Pride-designated 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Egypt and Iran has sparked international debate over LGBTQ+ rights, religion, culture and more.

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Palouse update: still windy. My bike has become a stationary exercise machine with better views. 🚴‍♂️💨 #Palouse #Cycling #BikeLife #WashingtonState #PNW

Can economic sanctions ever be justified when they cause widespread suffering among civilians? In this FāVS News column, Patrick McCormick argues that decades of U.S. sanctions on Cuba have failed while creating severe humanitarian consequences. favs.news/cuba-sanctio... #Cuba #ReligionNews

Cuba, Sanctions and the Moral Cost of Economic Siege Warfare

An essay arguing U.S. sanctions on Cuba have caused severe humanitarian harm while failing to achieve regime change.

favs.news

"Hopefully, seeing religious institutions involved in Pride can give people a moment of safety," Spokane Pride Executive Director Matthew Danielson said. Read more: bit.ly/4u8fbs8 #PrideMonth #FaithNews #LGBTQ #ReligionNews #WashingtonState

Faith Communities Across Washington Celebrate Pride Month

Religious organizations across Washington are joining Pride Month events, offering support, visibility and healing for LGBTQ+ people of faith.

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FāVS Book Club is back 📚 June pick: *Days of Fire and Glory* by Julia Duin — a deeply reported account what happens when spiritual idealism meets unchecked leadership. Zoom discussion June 24 • Q&A with Duin July 1 bit.ly/3PMsP5R #ReligionNews #BookClub #ChristianHistory

🚨Reminder that all Idaho polls are open until 8 p.m. local time tonight! Voting absentee? Make sure it's in the hands of your election clerk TODAY. Our voter guide has info on how to find your polling place and how to find your sample ballot so you can feel prepared before you head into the booth! 🚨

Voter Guide: 2026 primary election • Idaho

From Idaho Capital Sun | Accountability reporting for the 208’s political landscape

idahocapitalsun.com

I love this story from FāVS reporter Caleb McGever, who writes beautifully about music & community Spokane’s DIY punk scene is raising money for mutual aid groups, immigrant justice and local nonprofits through benefit shows and festivals #Spokane #DIY #Punk #ReligionNews bit.ly/4nFChEM

Spokane’s DIY punk scene turns benefit concerts into support

Spokane’s punk and hardcore community are raising money for causes ranging from homelessness and food access to immigrant support.

bit.ly