By FāVS News Staff
Spokane Climate Forum to feature City Council candidates
The Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment will host its annual Spokane Candidates Climate Change Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m., in the Globe Room at Gonzaga University. The nonpartisan event, which has been held each October since 2019, will feature candidates for Spokane City Council Position 2 and Spokane Valley City Council Positions 1, 4, 5 and 7 discussing their positions on climate-related issues.
Brian G. Henning, director of the institute, will moderate the forum alongside student moderators Claire Cooney and Joe Baranowski, both Environmental Studies majors. The free event will be livestreamed, though registration is required for in-person attendance. Co-sponsors include 350 Spokane, Community Building Foundation, Futurewise Spokane, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, League of Women Voters, Spokane Riverkeeper and The Lands Council.
Francis Collins to speak in Spokane on science, faith and truth amid National Health Agency turmoil
Former National Institutes of Health director and renowned geneticist Dr. Francis Collins will speak in Spokane on Oct. 2 as part of Whitworth University’s President’s Leadership Forum in partnership with The Spokesman-Review’s Northwest Passages series. Held at the Fox Theater, Collins will discuss his book “The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust,” exploring the intersection of science and religion in a deeply polarized society.
Collins, who led the Human Genome Project and served under three U.S. presidents, retired amid political pressure and concerns over diminishing trust in science. Now, he advocates for public understanding of medical research and urges renewed civil dialogue. His talk will reflect on science and faith as complementary, not conflicting, forces. Whitworth students have studied his earlier work in preparation. President Scott McQuilkin calls Collins’ visit a “gift” aligning with the university’s mission to seek truth and serve humanity. Tickets and event details are available online.
Spokane community vigil to honor domestic violence victims and inspire action
Spokane community members are invited to a vigil honoring lives lost to domestic violence and uplifting survivors. Held Oct. 1 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Snxw Meneɂ Amphitheater in Riverfront Park, the event will feature remarks from Mayor Lisa Brown and representatives from local victim service organizations. This gathering marks the launch of Domestic Violence Action Month (DVAM), a month-long effort to inspire advocacy and change. Guests are encouraged to wear purple in solidarity. The event is free and open to all; registration is requested to help organizers prepare.
Kenyan leader visits Spokane to spotlight impact of U.S. Foreign Aid cuts
Spokane nonprofit Partnering for Progress (P4P) is hosting Hon. Ogutu (Seth) Okumu, a Kisumu County Assembly member from Kenya,throughOct. 7. His visit highlights the real-world effects of recent USAID funding cuts on rural Kenyan communities.
Hon. Okumu will meet with Spokane leaders to discuss international partnerships and development challenges, and he will speak at P4P’s “Into Africa” fundraiser on Oct. 2, at Gonzaga University from 5:30-8 p.m. P4P leaders emphasize that the visit celebrates nearly 20 years of partnership while underscoring the urgent need for continued global support.
New intermediate Shin Buddhism course opens registration
Applications are now open for “An Intermediate-Level Fireside Chat Course on Shin Buddhism for the West and Beyond,” beginning Oct. 4. This 10-month, once-a-month course, guided by Kenneth Tanaka, explores Shin (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhism through the draft manuscript of his upcoming book, “Ocean Two: The Ten Phases of Shin Buddhism for the West and Beyond.”
Classes will be held via Zoom or in-person at the Spokane Buddhist Temple, with recordings and optional meditation sessions included. All participants will receive a free digital copy of the textbook and are encouraged to contribute feedback toward the book’s final version. Registration is required; email Shinbuddhismcourse@gmail.com for inquiries.
Hundreds gather in Olympia for faith-based vigil honoring Charlie Kirk
Over 500 people gathered at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Sept. 21 for a faith-based vigil honoring Charlie Kirk, the slain founder of Turning Point USA. As Erika Kirk’s emotional message played from a concurrent Arizona memorial, attendees listened and prayed in tribute to her husband’s legacy of faith and youth activism.
The vigil, organized by Thurston County GOP Chair Corey Gauny, featured speeches from pastors, youth leaders and lawmakers — including Lacy City Council member Democrat Nic Dunning, who faced backlash for honoring Kirk. Speakers praised Kirk’s impact on young conservatives and urged attendees to continue his mission in public discourse. The event ended with “Amazing Grace” and bagpipes, while counter-protesters silently held critical signs across the street.
Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, announced plans to introduce a resolution honoring Kirk, adding, “Stay tuned — it’s going to involve ‘In God We Trust.’”
Spokane taps Jewels Helping Hands to lead homeless navigation center
The Spokane City Council has awarded a $1.7 million contract to Jewels Helping Hands to operate the city’s central homeless navigation center, the hub of its “scatter-site” shelter system. Approved by a 5-2 vote, the contract marks the first major shift under Mayor Lisa Brown’s decentralized shelter model. The center will now focus on daytime service coordination rather than offering 30 beds, which will be absorbed elsewhere. Catholic Charities also received a $1.3 million contract for outreach services. The transition, shifting leadership from Waters Meet to Jewels, comes amid ongoing debate over shelter effectiveness and neighborhood impacts.
Some summaries created with help of AI. Staff still carefully edited material for content quality and publication standards.
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