By FāVS News Staff
Western Washington
Washington Stonewall Democrats urge groups to reconsider endorsements of Melissa Chaudhry
The Washington Stonewall Democrats are calling on organizations to reconsider their endorsements of congressional candidate Melissa Chaudhry after she acknowledged omitting support for LGBTQ+ rights from her campaign website because she was “careful” about appealing to some Muslim constituents.
The group said LGBTQ+ equality is a core Democratic value and criticized Chaudhry’s decision to leave her position unclear during the endorsement process. Chaudhry later reaffirmed her support for LGBTQ+ rights, saying she stands with LGBTQ+ family members, friends and constituents, but the explanation failed to satisfy some critics. The controversy has prompted at least one Democratic organization to revisit its endorsement and intensified scrutiny of Chaudhry’s campaign for Washington’s 9th Congressional District, where she is challenging longtime U.S. Rep. Adam Smith.
Central Washington
Graduate research advances plans for Pasco Black History Museum
A Washington State University graduate student’s research is helping lay the groundwork for a future Black history museum in Pasco by documenting the city’s historic Black-owned businesses and community landmarks. Kyley Canion Brewer is collecting oral histories and creating a digital map highlighting the east Pasco neighborhood, once a thriving center of Black culture shaped by railroad and Hanford workers during segregation.
Her work will become part of the Eastern Washington Institute of Black History & Culture’s planned museum, which aims to preserve and share the region’s Black heritage through both physical and digital exhibits. The nonprofit is also seeking a permanent downtown Pasco location while expanding community outreach through traveling oral history projects and digital archives, ensuring local stories remain accessible for future generations.
Eastern Washington
Pastor Ben Ortize resigns from Calvary Spokane amid ongoing abuse allegations
Pastor Ben Ortize has resigned from Calvary Spokane following months of controversy over allegations of abusive leadership and sexual harassment. Senior Pastor Ken Ortize, Ben Ortize’s father, announced the resignation during Sunday’s worship service, saying Ben Ortize stepped down to ease pressure on the church after a difficult period. Ken Ortize did not acknowledge any wrongdoing but asked the congregation to pray for Ben Ortize and his family while encouraging support for his online ministry.
Ben Ortize has faced accusations of abusive leadership at ministries in Washington, Idaho and Montana, while Ken Ortize has been accused of covering up the alleged misconduct. Ben Ortize also recently lost the tax-exempt status of his $1.2 million Idaho parsonage. Despite resigning from Calvary Spokane, Ben Ortize continues leading the online Grace Sandpoint ministry, where his latest sermon made no mention of his departure.
Plans filed for mosque and weekend school in Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood
The Maryam Masjid and Islamic Community Center in North Spokane submitted a proposal to the City of Spokane outlines plans for a new mosque and weekend school on a vacant lot in the Hillyard neighborhood. The development, planned at 5401 N. Market St., would include a two-story, 4,000-square-foot mosque, a separate two-story, 2,000-square-foot building for weekend religious education, and a 27-space parking lot. The site is located about three blocks south of the Hillyard Aquatic Center. According to the Muslim Community Association, weekend schools provide children with instruction in Islamic faith, Quranic studies and Arabic. Property records show the land has been owned by engineer Jay R. Bonnett since 2017.
Idaho
Traveling rabbis visit Eastern Idaho to build Jewish community connections
Two Chabad rabbinical students from New York, Yossi Bistritzky and Eli Sputz, are spending three weeks in eastern Idaho to strengthen connections among the region’s Jewish residents. Working with Chabad-Lubavitch of Idaho, the pair plans to locate Jewish families, encourage them to reconnect with their heritage and foster a stronger sense of community. They hope to organize a communal Friday meal during their visit, bringing together people who may have little contact with other Jewish residents. Organizers estimate Idaho is home to about 3,000 Jews, including several hundred in the Idaho Falls area, where no permanent synagogue exists. The outreach continues a decades-long effort to support isolated Jewish communities through educational visits, religious guidance and community-building activities.
Idaho abortion rights initiative secures spot on November ballot
Idaho voters will decide in November whether to repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban after the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act qualified for the general election ballot. Organizers with Idahoans United for Women and Families submitted more than 110,000 signatures, surpassing the required threshold and marking the largest successful citizen petition drive in state history.
If approved, the measure would restore legal abortion until fetal viability, allow procedures later in medical emergencies or fatal fetal diagnoses and protect access to contraception, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reproductive healthcare privacy. Supporters say the initiative restores personal medical decision-making and addresses healthcare challenges caused by the current law. Opponents argue it would dismantle decades of pro-life legislation and are preparing a statewide campaign to defeat the measure before voters cast ballots in November.
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