Cassy Benefield
Cassy Benefield received her bachelor’s in journalism from Cal Poly Technical University in San Luis Obispo, California. As a total religion nerd, she can’t believe she gets to work as a journalist writing stories about her favorite subject. She loves non-fiction and owns more piles of books on a variety of subjects than she is able to read — from fascism to racism, from the Book of Revelation to the history of Christianity and other religions. She reports for FāVS.News and is also its associate editor and Ask an Evangelical columnist.
Rodric Bradford
Rodric Hurdle-Bradford is a veteran journalist and editor whose career spans nearly two decades of reporting across business, science, gaming and real estate beats. He has served as a staff writer for Global Gaming Business Magazine, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Business Press and Bisnow, and has authored and edited hundreds of articles, press releases and reports for outlets including MarTech Today and Crittenden Medical Media. Most recently, he worked as communications editor and project manager for the National Science Foundation’s Game Changer Academies, where he edited more than 100 documents ranging from production scripts to data analysis reports.
Max Broennle
Max Broennle is a senior at Whitworth University. They study theater and film while writing for the Whitworthian, Whitworth’s student newspaper, and freelancing for FaVS News. They will be graduating May 2026 and aim to continue their career in journalism, wherever it takes them.
Mia Gallegos
Mia Gallegos is a graduate from Gonzaga University with her degree in Journalism and Digital Marketing. She currently resides in Denver, Colorado working as a Communications Specialist for the Archdiocese of Denver’s Mission Support Centers. Additionally, she writes for the Archdiocese’ print and online publication, The Denver Catholic, while also making time to continue her passion for dance as the Hip Hop teacher for a dance studio within the Denver Metro Area. She has written for FaVS since her Junior year at GU and is excited to continue producing content for their reader base from afar.
Megan Guido
Megan Guido has lived in Pullman for most of her life. She holds two degrees, a bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Idaho and a master’s in Public Administration from the Institute of Public Service at Seattle University. Her career has been in marketing-communications while her work and interests are grounded in public service. She served on Pullman City Council from 2022-2025 and she is the founding director of Whitman Recovery Community Center in Pullman. Additionally, she is a certified Color Code personality and communications coach.
Cory Johnson
Cory Johnson is a freelance journalist based in Tacoma, Washington. He studied journalism and public administration at the University of Missouri and worked in newsrooms in his native Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi. Two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest brought him to the PNW where he now lives in the Tacoma Catholic Worker community. When not writing, he’s often found in a bluegrass show or outside with handlebars, hiking sticks, a paddle or camera in his hand.
Jason Jones, Audio Producer
Jason Jones is a pastor and podcaster. He’s currently serving as the pastor of Country Homes Christian Church and as one of the hosts of the Spokane Stories podcast. He’s originally from Missouri and has served churches in Texas, Montana, New York and Indiana before coming to Spokane. He’s a husband and a father, and he also may be the most dedicated fan of the 2006 movie, “Nacho Libre.”
Aaron Hedge
Aaron Hedge writes about Christian dominionism and environmental issues in and around Spokane. He’s led local coverage of several important local stories, including the fallout from Mayor Nadine Woodward’s appearance at an anti-queer worship concert, the resignation of a gay teacher in Mead and water contamination on the West Plains. He has a master’s in creative writing from Eastern Washington University and a master’s in environmental studies from Prescott College. He started teaching journalism classes at Gonzaga University this fall. He reports for both FāVS and Range Media through a media partnership.
Rev. Gen Heywood, Photographer
Rev. Gen Heywood has been active in parish ministry for more than 30 years. From small towns to big cities, she always lets the needs of the community and the congregation be her guide. Gen credits the supportive leadership of Veradale United Church of Christ for including her work to overcome racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation as part of her ministry.
“Veradale UCC is a small church with a powerful faith. They are the reason I can be a witness for a world where we do justice, live with compassion and walk humbly with the Divine,” she said.
Gen grew up in rural Maine. She received a B.A. in Music Therapy and German from Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts, and her M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts. She is a lifelong learner who lives in Spokane Valley, Washington, with her three dogs, as well as, sometimes, with her amazing young adult children.
Cindy Hval
Cindy Hval is the author of “War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation” and has been a columnist and correspondent for The Spokesman-Review newspaper since 2006. In addition, her stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including 12 volumes of the “Chicken Soup For the Soul” series. Cindy is the mother of four sons, Nana of twin grandsons and is owned by two cats, also boys. She and her husband, Derek, recently celebrated their 37th anniversary. Her idea of heaven is a room full of books and all the time in the world to read them. Her website is cindyhval.com. She is one of the FāVS reporters.
Matthew Kincanon
Matthew Kincanon is a former Digital Content Producer with a journalism and political science degree from Gonzaga University. His journalism experience includes the Gonzaga Bulletin, The Spokesman-Review, Art Chowder magazine and FāVS.News. He said he is excited to be a freelancer at FāVS News because, as a Spokane native, he wants to learn more about the various religious communities and cultures in his hometown. He is one of the FāVS reporters.
Emma Ledbetter
Emma Ledbetter is a freelance writer from Newcastle, Washington. She earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Washington State University and works as a research assistant developing writing resources for students. Emma’s reporting has been published in The Spokesman-Review, The Reykjavík Grapevine, Poynter’s The Lead newsletter, and WSU’s student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen. When she’s not reporting or editing, you’ll find her reading, hiking or playing with dogs.
Emma Maple
Emma Maple currently works for the Daily Courier in Southern Oregon, serving as the Jackson County reporter. To get her fill of reporting on religion and values, she still freelances for FaVs in her free time. In her spare time, she loves to rock climb, whitewater raft, backpack and go on adventures with her border collie/Australian Shepherd, Shep. She is one of the FaVs reporters.
John McCallum
John McCallum is a freelance writer living in Liberty Lake. A graduate of Eastern Washington University with degrees in Journalism and Radio-Television, John spent 21 years at the Cheney Free Press as an award-winning staff reporter, editor, managing editor and photojournalist; writing and photographing people, places and things ranging from government to education, sports, religion and current affairs. He is a member of Spokane’s Knox Presbyterian Church, has served as a church leader on session and participated in worship through a variety of roles ranging from pulpit speaking to the Knox Drama Team. He is a member of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest Guatemala Task Force, making six mission trips to that Central American country. John enjoys time with his wife, Sheila, and their dachshund, Lacey, at home and on the road — especially the Oregon Coast — along with running, biking and kayaking. He is one of the FāVS reporters.
Caleb McGever
Caleb McGever is a freelance journalist and digital content producer in Spokane. He graduated from Whitworth University, where he earned a degree in English and theology while working at the Whitworthian as magazine editor. Although he is originally from Phoenix he now lives in Spokane and appreciates its green outdoors, lively people and loud local punk rock bands.
Norah McLaughlin
Norah McLaughlin is a sophomore at Whitworth University studying journalism and media studies. She is an associate editor for the university’s newspaper, The Whitworthian, as well as a member of the nationally-ranked forensics team. She is excited to get out into the community to build connections and gain more experience in news writing.
Kali Nelson
Kali Nelson is a freelance journalist from Moscow, Idaho, and studied at the University of Idaho. She has written for both the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune. Her work has covered features from around the Palouse. She is one of the FāVS reporters.
Lisa Ormond
Lisa has a journalism degree from California State University, Northridge. She looks back on her career to date fondly having worked in various California broadcast news organizations, insurance public affairs and at both Washington State University and the University of Idaho. Lisa loves learning and has a passion for helping and giving to others. Born and raised in Northern California, Lisa resides in Post Falls near the Spokane River now. She cherishes the people, the vibe and the natural beauty that the Inland Northwest region offers. Her spiritual growth is a blessing in her life and continues to offer a pathway for living peacefully with herself and others.
Abbey Rodriguez
Abbey Rodriguez is a freelance reporter for FāVS News living in Spokane. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Library and Information Science online through Simmons University and hopes to be an archivist. She graduated from Whitworth University in May 2025 with degrees in history and theology. During her time at Whitworth, she served as the Arts & Culture editor for the Whitworthian, Whitworth’s student newspaper. She also currently works in the Whitworth University Archives as a processing assistant for the Pacific Northwest Protestant Collection. In her free time, Rodrigiuez loves to kayak, hike and cross stitch.
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 FāVS.News (formerly 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 Associate Professor of Journalism at Washington State University. She is one of the FāVS reporters, as well as the executive director and founder.
Cody Wendt
Cody Wendt is a writer, musician and high school tennis coach based out of Moscow, Idaho. Since graduating from the University of Idaho, he has written primarily for the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News while contributing freelance pieces for outlets like American Thinker, Uniquely Palouse Magazine, Cougfan.com and FāVS News. He is one of the FāVS reporters.
Morgen White
Morgen White graduated from Washington State University summa cum laude with a degree in broadcast journalism. She currently works at Bishop Place Senior Living as a Lifestyle & Leisure Specialist, which includes day-to-day activities and larger event coordination. Despite working full-time, her passion for journalism has pushed her to continue working at Northwest Public Broadcasting as an announcer and producer, as well as to continue making social media content and writing for FāVS News on her weekends.