Tracy Simmons

Tracy Simmons is an award-winning journalist specializing in religion reporting and digital entrepreneurship. In her approximate 20 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti. Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut and Washington. She is the executive director of SpokaneFāVS.com, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Washington. She also writes for The Spokesman-Review and national publications. She is a Scholarly Assistant Professor of Journalism at Washington State University.

Are you going to see the pope?

SpokaneFāVS will be traveling to Philadelphia at the end of this month to cover Pope Francis' first visit the United States.

Spokane couple to speak on marriage for the papal visit in Philadelphia

Later this month, at the invitation of Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, they’ll be traveling to the City of Brotherly Love to speak on a panel at the World Meeting of Families. The annual event will conclude with a visit from Pope Francis.

SpokaneFāVS wins national community initiative award

Today the Local Media Association awarded SpokaneFāVS the first place award for "Best Community Initiative."

MAP: Information on nearby wildfires

Currently there are more than 10 wildfires burning in Washington State, two in North Idaho, and several others in Oregon, Montana and other parts of Idaho.

Rob Bell coming to Spokane Friday to talk faith, science

Rob Bell — once a poster child for evangelicals — will be passing through Spokane on Friday to discuss faith and science, which he says are long lost dance partners.

Muslim center vandalized, Spokane reacts

On July 4, while Admir Rasic was inside the Bosnia and Herzegovina Heritage Association of Spokane saying Ramadan prayers for America, someone was outside spray painting “Death to Islam” on the center’s east-facing wall.

Local Veterans Retreat Uses Art Therapy to Treat PTSD

The grim reaper stands on the tip of the tiny left shoe. Behind him, a soldier emerges from the white laces, fixed above three protruding nails. On the left shoe: a heart broken in half, an eye crying blood.

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