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 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 Assistant Professor of Journalism at Washington State University.

Rallying for justice

January 17, 2012 Commentary 0

Sharon Cowan faced the choir, raised her hands in the air and signaled singers to begin. Just like they do every year, the Spokane Community Gospel Mass Choir jump started the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March with its upbeat tempos. It only took moments for the crowd to …

Audio Slideshow: Remembering MLK with Annual Unity March

January 17, 2012 Commentary 0

Check back for article. Tracy SimmonsTracy 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 …

Unity March Photos

January 17, 2012 Commentary 0

Check out photos of today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March. View many more photos on our Flickr album. Check back later for an audio slideshow of this event. Tracy SimmonsTracy Simmons is an award-winning journalist specializing in religion reporting and digital entrepreneurship. In her approximate 20 years on …

MLK parade an opportunity to “re-claim the day”

January 14, 2012 Commentary 0

By Tracy Simmons Religion News Spokane At last year’s Unity March Spokanites were reminded that white supremacystill has a pulse here. Kevin Harpham, who has extensive ties to white supremacists, hoped to detonate a bomb at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. But his backpack was discovered, the …

Gonzaga to participate in Unity March, celebrate Black history

January 13, 2012 Commentary 0

Monday marks the 26thanniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The City of Spokane urges residents to consider this year's holiday a “Day On, Not a Day Off.” Gonzaga Universityfaculty, staff and students plan to honor King's …

Study portrays Mormons as outsiders looking in

January 12, 2012 Beliefs 6

In some ways, Mormonism is the ultimate American religion. Born in America, it was unveiled by an American prophet who believed the Constitution was divinely inspired and the Garden of Eden bloomed in Independence, Mo. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown from six members gathered …