In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the the latest Marvel superhero movie breaks from the studio’s typically secular worldview to argue that religion is a necessary part of a healthy grieving process.

Jennifer Hicks is a new columnist for SpokaneFāVS who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Spokanites (or is it Spokanians?) might not be aware where the dangerous stench is coming from. It arises out of “the cesspool of liberalism” about ninety miles south-south-east of them. This is what Dan Foreman, a newly elected Idaho State Senator, once called “Latah County, particularly the university, [and the] greater Moscow area” (Moscow-Pullman Daily News April 25, 2018). Now he will soon represent this “cesspool” in which I swim.

Have you ever heard someone mention they hear God’s voice? In some cases I find it reassuring. In others, I look for an exit. What’s the difference? OK, you might question how I could be reassured when someone speaks simply of hearing God tell or ask them things. I, too, have found a quiet, compelling voice in my mind’s ear displaying greater courage, insight and wisdom than I can claim. Another voice at times would lead me to destructive conclusions or actions. Depending on which I attend to, the difference is stark.

Today brought news of the death of Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, from cancer, at the age of 58. In recent years, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush emerged as one of a small group of important anti-Trump evangelical Christians, along with his friend and co-author Peter Wehner and the lawyer David French. Gerson’s voice will be missed by many.

The silence from city officials, the police and UI officials seems so baffling since Sunday, Nov. 13. After people were told about the police finding the bodies of four students, it was very quiet until the names were released on Monday. Then, nothing again. It took a while for the police to finally say the four were killed by an “edged” item. Most people have taken that to mean a knife. The coroner said none of the dead were the perpetrator, ending the murder-suicide theories.