By FāVS News Staff
Idaho
Canyon County to drop trespassing case against street preacher at Pride festival
NAMPA, Idaho — The Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Monday it plans to drop its case against Titus Folks, an evangelical preacher who was cited for trespassing June 14 after attempting to set up a table to distribute religious literature near the annual Canyon County Pride Festival at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Festival organizers asked Folks to leave when he set up outside the fenced event area with a sign reading “What is your identity?” and called police after he refused, according to a press release from the office. Officers cited Folks for trespassing when he wouldn’t leave the park.
The prosecutor’s office determined that while festival organizers were entitled to reserve the space for their event, the permit “does not give the permit holder unfettered discretion to exclude a person from that forum for the content of his speech.” Officials said Folks could have been asked to relocate his table but could not be barred from preaching or handing out literature in the public park. “The officers handled a difficult situation professionally and in good faith,” Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Boyd said in the release. “That does not change the constitutional analysis. The First Amendment does not yield to a permit or a preference.” Folks is represented by the IFPC Legal Center, an arm of the Idaho Family Policy Center, which criticized the citation in an Aug. 11 blog post.
Idaho churches can fund anti-Prop 1 campaign without disclosing donors, attorney general says
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s office says churches may spend general funds to support or oppose ballot initiatives, including Proposition 1 — which would create a right to reproductive freedom and privacy in the state — without publicly identifying their donors under certain circumstances. The Aug. 27 opinion argues that requiring churches to disclose contributors could substantially burden their religious exercise under Idaho’s Free Exercise of Religion Protected Act.
Churches can avoid donor disclosure when using existing general funds rather than soliciting contributions specifically for political activity; campaign finance reports would list the church instead. The Idaho Secretary of State requested the opinion after several churches sought clarification. The ruling follows the Legislature’s rejection of a bill that would have capped church election spending at 10% of annual donations. Prop 1 has already generated more than $4.6 million in combined campaign fundraising.
Eastern Washington
YWCA Spokane seeks nominations for 2027 Women of Achievement Awards
SPOKANE, Wash. — YWCA Spokane is accepting nominations through Sept. 25 for its 45th annual Women of Achievement Awards, which recognize women who live or work in the Spokane area and have shown leadership through their professional work or community service. Categories include arts and culture, business and industry, Carl Maxey racial and social justice, community enhancement, education, government and public service, science, technology and environment, young woman of achievement, and lifetime achievement. Nominations can be submitted online at ywcaspokane.org/woa-nominations, by email to woa@ywcaspokane.org or by mail to 930 N. Monroe St., Spokane, WA 99201, attention Women of Achievement Awards.
Honorees will be celebrated March 12, 2027, at the Davenport Grand during YWCA Spokane’s largest annual fundraiser, which typically draws support from more than 50 companies and organizations and over 1,000 community members. Proceeds benefit YWCA Spokane’s services for domestic violence survivors, including emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, job readiness programs, child care and free preschool.
Western Washington
Kirkland buys former LDS church for $10M community center
KIRKLAND, Wash. — The city of Kirkland has purchased a 15,600-square-foot former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints property in the Kingsgate neighborhood for $10 million, outbidding housing developers who pushed offers above the site’s $7.3 million asking price, the Seattle Times reported. The church likely accepted a lower price for the 3.3-acre property in exchange for a community-focused use, Kirkland Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra said.
The city plans to convert the building, which already has gyms, classrooms and open space, into a community center without major renovations, though part of the site could later be used for affordable housing. No opening date has been set, but a large field on the property is expected to open to the public once the sale closes.
Clear Mountain Monastery establishes permanent Theravada Buddhist home near Seattle
NORTH BEND, Wash. —Clear Mountain Monastery, a Theravada Buddhist community founded in the Seattle area, has established a permanent home on forested land near North Bend, Washington, after a three-year search and a fundraising campaign that raised nearly $5 million. Monks Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho arrived Aug. 31 after walking three days from Seattle to the new property. The monastery initially purchased 20 hectares, with plans to expand to about 36 hectares.
The monks will begin living in simple huts while supporters develop the site gradually. Long-term plans include housing for up to 20 monastics, a large temple, meditation and study programs, retreat facilities, gardens and public events. Located near Mount Si, the property offers both seclusion and accessibility from Seattle.
Central Washington
Tri-Cities faith groups unite to address homelessness through community education
TRI-CITIES, Wash. — A coalition of seven Tri-Cities churches, nonprofits and community leaders has launched a series of free programs focused on understanding and addressing homelessness. Organized by the Tri-Cities Interfaith Task Force, the five-part “Mission Possible: Understanding Homelessness in the Tri-Cities” series brings together local experts and leaders to discuss homelessness data, city planning, available resources and ways residents can help.
The first sessions were held Sept. 1 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Richland and Sept. 3 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Kennewick. A session on resources for unhoused residents will be on Sept. 15 at Kennewick First Lutheran Church. Organizers hope the effort will educate residents, strengthen existing programs and inspire more volunteers to support people experiencing homelessness.
Editor’s note: This roundup was condensed from longer articles and press releases using AI tools, then edited and fact-checked by FāVS staff prior to publication.
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