Shahla Farzan
Shahla Farzan is a general assignment reporter and weekend newscaster at St. Louis Public Radio. She comes most recently from KBBI Public Radio in Homer, Alaska, where she covered issues ranging from permafrost thaw to disputes over prayer in public meetings. A science nerd to the core, Shahla spent six years studying native bees, eventually earning her PhD in ecology from the University of California-Davis. She has also worked as an intern at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento and a podcaster for BirdNote. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, combing flea markets for tchotchkes, and curling up with a good book.
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As more cases of coronavirus are confirmed in the U.S., clergy are reconsidering a variety of practices during religious services, from handshakes to close contact. Experts say that's a wise idea. -
Churches are taking extra precautions regarding the coronavirus, as practices such as passing the peace through handshakes and drinking from the common cup at communion could spread the illness.
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Scientists are pushing hard to find a more effective way to prevent nearly all seasonal flu strains with one shot. For starters, they're paying volunteers to spend a 10-day stint in "Hotel Influenza." -
Violence at houses of worship in recent years has congregational leaders adding security. But the move is sometimes at odds with their beliefs and their missions to the communities they serve. -
Pope Francis recently opened the door to the possibility of women as deacons in the Catholic Church. Some women have sought official recognition for the ministries they already perform. -
As the percentage of Americans who belong to a church, mosque or synagogue declines, congregations are selling their buildings. Some of those former houses of worship are finding new life. -
United Methodists are among the last mainline Protestant denominations to address the issue, and some worry it could cause a major rift in the church. -
The American mulefoot hog was once popular, but began to die out in favor of fast-growing breeds suited to confinement. But some farmers hope to renew interest in the hogs — by getting them on menus.
