The Salvation Army Spokane has set up a donation link to best assist families impacted by the Gray Fire in Medical Lake tragedy.

I’ve often wondered about the conservative pushback against marijuana since I first tried it. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. At the time I was in high school and had no strong opinion about it. Every year it seems more and more attitudes are changing in favor of legal marijuana, including mine.

When I migrated to America 15 years ago it was a different country to what it is today, and the same goes for my native country, Pakistan. I am now a U.S. citizen. However, I maintain a strong interest and concern in both countries’ social, political, educational and economic conditions.

William and Linda Wharton will perform music for solo and duo cellos at 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Moscow, Idaho. Proceeds will go to a relief fund for victims of last week’s devastating fire on Maui, Hawaii.

Author Kaitlyn Schiess wrote “The Ballot and The Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go From Here” to address how the Bible has been employed in the United States’ political discourse. Schiess addresses what she sees as proper uses and misuses of the Bible when we talk about politics.

This week's post highlights locals helping Maui, a Spokane Buddhist Temple being robbed, St. Mary's historic home to be demolished on the Sacred Heart campus, St. John's Cathedral and a successful Backpacks for Kids drive.