By FāVS News Staff
Former Redemption Church site transforms amid Spokane homelessness crisis
The former Redemption Church site on Division Street is undergoing a major transformation as Spokane grapples with homelessness and public safety challenges. Once home to a downtown congregation forced to relocate due to repeated break-ins and overdoses, the building now serves as a backdrop for renewed calls for city action. The Spokane Business Association recently held a press conference there, declaring a “major crisis” and unveiling its “75 Percent Leadership Pledge” to strengthen enforcement and accountability. Meanwhile, new owner Steve Schmautz, through SDS Division LLC, is converting the historic church into office and retail space. The $100,000 project includes new perimeter security fencing, a retaining wall and expanded parking — signaling both a physical and symbolic shift in the heart of Division Street.
WSU Suspends Gender Medicine Course Amid Activist Complaints and Accreditation Inquiry
Washington State University (WSU) has suspended a continuing medical education (CME) course on youth gender medicine following complaints from LGBTQ+ activists and an inquiry by its accrediting body. The course, produced by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), explored the benefits, risks and ethical considerations of medical interventions for gender-dysphoric youth.
Activists, led by Erin Reed, labeled SEGM an “anti-trans hate group,” prompting the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to open a formal investigation. WSU said it is cooperating to ensure the materials meet accreditation standards, suspending CME credit access while the review proceeds. SEGM criticized the move as politically driven, arguing the course was vetted for scientific integrity.
The controversy has divided WSU faculty, with some urging oversight and others defending academic freedom. The suspension reflects a growing national clash over evidence, ideology, and free inquiry in medical education on gender care. The university must explain its video approval process by Nov. 16 and has suspended CME credit during the investigation, though the videos remain publicly viewable.
Native American youth face highest incarceration rates in Washington
Native American children in Washington state are more than 4.5 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth — a gap that has widened over the past two decades despite repeated reform efforts. Data from 2019–2023 show Indigenous youth face disproportionate arrests, detentions and harsher sentencing, particularly for nonviolent offenses. In counties like Whitman and Okanogan, arrest rates reach up to seven times higher for Native youth, often driven by discretionary policing and structural bias.
Advocates and attorneys say systemic racism, overpolicing and lack of access to legal and family support perpetuate the cycle, reports InvestigateWest in the first installment of their series Uneven Ground. Indigenous juveniles are also far more likely to be jailed for minor probation violations or truancy-related cases, underscoring deep inequities in education and justice systems. While Washington has passed broad juvenile justice reforms, advocates say Native youth remain left out of solutions and that the state has failed to collaborate meaningfully with tribal governments.
Handel’s ‘Messiah’ returns to St. John’s Cathedral for three nearly sold-out holiday performances
A beloved Spokane holiday tradition returns as the Spokane Symphony Chorale and Chamber Singers present Handel’s “Messiah” at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (127 E. 12th Ave.), Nov. 20–22. Conducted by James Lowe with Meg Stohlmann directing the chorale, the concert features soloists Chloe Sundet (soprano), Nicole Sonbert (alto), Le’asi Mana (tenor) and Charles Robert Stephens (bass). Audiences can expect the timeless beauty of Handel’s masterwork, highlighted by the triumphant “Hallelujah” chorus.
Tickets are nearly gone — Thursday and Friday shows are low in availability, and Saturday’s matinee is sold out. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) and 3 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 2 p.m.). The event is not recommended for children under age five.
SFCC’s theater presents Jen Silverman’s darkly comic fable ‘Witch’
The Spartan Theatre at Spokane Falls Community College, in collaboration with the Bigfoot Drama Club, presents “Witch” by Jen Silverman, directed by Rebecca Craven. In this witty and provocative retelling of a Jacobean classic, a devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to strike bargains for villagers’ souls — only to meet resistance from Elizabeth, a woman condemned as a witch but unwilling to sell her soul. As temptations rise and loyalties shift, Silverman’s modern fable explores morality, desire and the price of hope.
Contains strong language, mature themes, and depictions of violence; parental discretion advised for audiences under 16. Dates are Fri-Sun Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23. Tickets and more information can be found online.
Spokane Valley Mall launches 2025 ‘Giving Machine’ holiday charity initiative
The Spokane Valley Mall will kick-off the 2025 Giving Machine Initiative on Dec. 12 to inspire the community to donate to charity to support people locally and all over the world during the holiday season. The Light the World Giving Machine Initiative kick-off event will happen Friday, Dec. 12 from 11-11:30 a.m. at the Spokane Valley Mall food court. This initiative is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the press release.
Starting at $5, people and businesses are able to purchase items for non-profits through the specialized vending machines to give back to those in need. All donations to the Giving Machine will go to five local charities and two international charities to support the work they do. The kick-off event will feature “celebrities and leaders” from the local charities, which include Project Beauty Share, Teen and Kid Closet, Second Harvest SNAP and Vanessa Behan. To see the impact of the Giving Machines, watch One Drop At A Time: The Giving Machines.
Some summaries created with help of AI. Staff still carefully edited material for content quality and publication standards.
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