By FāVS News Staff
Eastern Washington
Spokane introduces advisory council to amplify urban Native voices
Mayor Lisa Brown and the Spokane City Council have introduced legislation to establish the Spokane Urban Native Advisory Council, a formal body that would advise city leadership on policies and programs affecting the local urban Native population.
The proposed council would consist of up to 12 voting members drawn from health, human services, economic development, education and civic sectors. Founding nominees include representatives from organizations such as The NATIVE Project, the Salish School of Spokane, the American Indian Community Center and Indigenous Eats. City Administrator Alex Scott, who also serves as the Brown administration’s tribal liaison, noted that while Spokane has maintained government-to-government relationships with area tribes including the Spokane, Kalispel and Coeur d’Alene, the city has lacked a formal structure for engaging urban Native residents — people who may hail from hundreds of different tribes and bands across the country.
Spokane salon owner to close downtown business, citing crime and housing concerns
A longtime Spokane business owner is shutting down her downtown salon, citing escalating crime and deteriorating conditions in the surrounding area. Linda Biel, co-owner of Urbanna Natural Spa, Salon and Wine, announced the business will permanently close July 15, ending a nearly decade-long run at its current South Division Street location.
Biel attributes the closure to increased criminal activity she says is concentrated around nearby Catholic Charities housing facilities, which have expanded from two to seven within a six-block radius since she moved in 2016. She said the area has seen drug use, violence and harassment, including a past armed robbery and gunfire that struck her building. The salon has also lost staff and clients, she said, due to safety concerns.
Catholic Charities Eastern Washington disputes the claims, saying residents are vulnerable individuals working toward stability and that the organization invests heavily in safety and security. Spokane officials and police acknowledge ongoing challenges downtown but say crime trends overall are improving, even as certain corridors remain concentrated hotspots.
35,657 pounds of food donated to Pullman-area nonprofits in community relief effort
Fifteen nonprofit organizations across the Palouse received a combined 35,657 pounds of shelf-stable food during a large-scale drive-through distribution event on June 4 in Pullman.
The donation, provided through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ welfare program, was distributed from the Addium parking lot between noon and 3 p.m. Organizers say the shipment was large enough to provide an estimated 29,700 meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout the region.
Because no single food bank could accommodate the entire donation, leaders of the Pullman Washington Stake coordinated with local nonprofits to divide the food into manageable portions based on each organization’s storage capacity and requested needs. The shipment includes canned goods, pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter and other essential pantry items.
Local nonprofit representatives say the donation will provide critical support as rising food costs continue to increase demand for assistance.
Western Washington
Protecting salmon preserves a way of life for a Pacific Northwest Tribe
For the Muckleshoot Tribe of Western Washington, salmon are more than a food source — they are central to identity, culture and spiritual tradition. Descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup peoples, the tribe has long been known as the “Salmon People,” maintaining practices that connect generations through fishing, storytelling and ceremony.
CBS Saturday Morning recently featured how family members are taught traditional net-fishing methods on riverbanks, where elders emphasize careful harvest, preservation and respect for the fish as relatives. Oral traditions, including the legend of Salmon Boy, reinforce a covenant of stewardship between the people and the returning salmon, honored each year during the First Salmon Ceremony.
Despite a history of restricted fishing rights and conflict — including the “Fish Wars” that led to the landmark 1974 Boldt Decisio n— tribal members continue to advocate for access and conservation. Today, environmental pressures threaten salmon habitats, prompting restoration efforts that have helped rebuild fish populations and sustain the tribe’s fishing economy and cultural survival.
Idaho
Hegseth frames trump agenda as ‘biblical’ at Christian broadcasters event; Wilson draws attention
At the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech framing President Donald Trump’s policies as rooted in biblical principles, repeatedly linking American identity, Christianity and governance. Speaking to an audience of evangelical broadcasters, Hegseth described the United States as founded on a “sacred covenant” with God and praised Trump’s policies on immigration, abortion and cultural issues as expressions of faith-based governance.
Hegseth also highlighted changes at the Pentagon, including expanded prayer services — one of which featured pastor Douglas Wilson, known for founding Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and for controversial views on women’s roles and Christian nationalism. Hegseth also lauded the removal of diversity, equity and climate programs in the military, saying it had become “stronger spiritually.” He urged religious leaders to engage boldly in political and social issues, declaring that border enforcement and cultural protection were “biblical.”
FāVS News Honors
FAVS News receives shout-outs from nonprofits and media for their work in May
This May, FāVS News received shoutouts for stories and accomplishments from four national and two local nonprofit and media outlets: A Public Witness’ weekly roundup e-newsletter by Word&Way linked Morgen White’s story on Rick Steves; FāVS News’ May announcement of covering religion stories statewide received recognition from Religion Unplugged’s Bobby Ross Jr. Wknd Plug-In, as well as Tracy Simmons’ commentary, “The Pacific Northwest isn’t godless. We just haven’t been paying attention”; Interfaith America linked to Terry Kyllo’s FāVS News column, “Putting People in a Room Together Doesn’t Build Trust. Here’s What Does”; in on of the National Immigration Forum’s daily updates, they linked to Cassy Benefield’s story, “Spokane’s New Roots garden grows food security and community for refugees; and Moscow Pullman Daily News and Spokane Public Radio did news stories on FāVS News winning the national Associated Church Press Award for best wire service.
In addition, Tracy Simmons won first place in the Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Arts & Culture category (small publication) for her coverage of Doug Wilson.
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