Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Dade Phelan, Texas House speaker, calls for legislature to review statewide winter blackouts
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan called Tuesday for a joint legislative hearing into the statewide blackouts that have left millions without power in the middle of a generational Arctic freeze. Published February 16, 2021
Andrew Cuomo denies hiding nursing-home deaths in New York, cites ‘toxic political environment’
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he did not hide COVID-19 nursing home deaths as Democrats joined Republicans in demanding answers, putting pressure on the Biden administration to investigate the spiraling scandal. Published February 15, 2021
Biden administration under pressure to investigate Cuomo nursing home scandal
The Biden administration is under mounting pressure to investigate the spiraling New York nursing home scandal as Democrats join Republicans in demanding answers on the Cuomo administration's decision to withhold information on the novel coronavirus death toll. Published February 15, 2021
CDC guidance calls on schools to reopen ‘as soon as possible’
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Sunday the Biden administration's new guidance for school reopening recognizes the urgent need to end the "collateral damage" of school closures. Published February 12, 2021
Washington state workers union fees case challenges post-Janus restrictions
Attorneys for the employees on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to take up their case against Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington Federation of State Employees, arguing that state and union officials violated Janus by erecting barriers to leave the union. Published February 11, 2021
Oil rigs relocate from New Mexico to Texas over Biden’s permitting freeze
New Mexico is already paying the price for the Biden administration's freeze on agency-level approvals for permits on federal lands as oil rigs relocate to private property in Texas. Published February 11, 2021
14 Republican AGs blast Joe Biden’s order killing Keystone XL pipeline, call it ‘virtue signaling’
Fourteen Republican attorneys general have urged President Biden to reconsider his decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, saying that the "symbolic act of virtue signaling" will do nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Published February 10, 2021
Joe Biden accused of backtracking on school reopenings with one-day-a-week plan
President Biden was accused Tuesday of backtracking on his school-reopening pledge after the White House said the plan was to have as few as 50% of schools open for in-person learning for as little as one day per week. Published February 9, 2021
Joe Biden climate policies raise alarm about environmental damage
President Biden's climate blitz already has proven costly to U.S. energy jobs, but concerns are mounting that his executive actions will do nothing to reduce emissions while threatening to wreak enormous environmental damage. Published February 9, 2021
Ka’Mauri Harrison, student suspended for BB gun in virtual class, backed by Louisiana AG Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry filed Monday a motion in support of Ka'Mauri Harrison, the fourth-grader who was recommended for expulsion after moving a BB gun that his brother had tripped over during a virtual class. Published February 8, 2021
Democrats torn between teachers’ unions, parents
Democrats are caught in a political bind between frustrated parents who want to send their children back to school and teachers' unions resisting appeals for in-person learning over safety concerns, a tug-of-war that threatens to ensnare President Biden. Published February 8, 2021
Rep. Maxine Waters defends speech urging crowd to ‘push back’ on Trump figures
Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, insists that she never exhorted violence even as the Trump legal team prepares to use a clip of her at the impeachment trial whipping up an anti-Trump crowd. Published February 8, 2021
Chris Murphy dismisses Rand Paul criticism, says Trump impeachment has ‘no comparison’
Expect to hear plenty about inflammatory statements during the Senate impeachment trial beginning Tuesday, and not just those from former President Donald Trump. Published February 7, 2021
Bernie Sanders vows to pass $15 minimum wage in relief package despite Biden’s pessimism
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernard Sanders said he hasn't given up on raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Published February 7, 2021
Ron Johnson: Capitol fencing sends signal that Trump voters are ‘all insurrectionists’
Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, said Sunday he worries that keeping the fencing around the U.S. Capitol is meant to send a message that Trump supporters "are all insurrectionists." Published February 7, 2021
Rand Paul: Impeach Schumer
If the new impeachment standard is inflammatory speech, then Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer should be the next in line after former President Trump, as far as Sen. Rand Paul is concerned. Published February 7, 2021
Liz Cheney says she won’t resign after Wyoming GOP calls for her to step down
House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney said Sunday she will remain in office despite the Wyoming Republican Party's call for her to resign over her vote to impeach former President Donald Trump. Published February 7, 2021
Bernie Sanders blasts lowering income threshold to $50K for stimulus checks
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernard Sanders blasted Sunday lowering the annual income threshold for coronavirus stimulus checks, calling it "absurd." Published February 7, 2021
President Biden commends son Hunter’s ‘honesty’ about substance abuse in memoir
An emotional President Biden praised the "honesty" shown by son Hunter Biden in discussing his struggles with drug addiction as detailed in an upcoming memoir. Published February 7, 2021
Kaepernick taunts NFL with Ben & Jerry’s signs near Super Bowl
Colin Kaepernick won't be playing in Super Bowl LV, but the quarterback-turned-activist found another way to draw attention ahead of the big game. Published February 7, 2021