Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Andrew Wheeler pushes Pueblo, Colorado Smelter superfund site cleanup over climate change
Not long after the Trump administration made cleaning up Superfund sites a priority for the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler turned his attention to a century-old neighborhood built for steelworkers that sits atop soil with dangerously high levels of lead and arsenic. Published July 29, 2020
NCAA urged by 300 female athletes to reject calls to boycott Idaho transgender law
More than 300 female athletes on Wednesday urged the NCAA to reject calls to boycott Idaho over the state's transgender-athlete law, citing the potential "chilling effect" on the integrity of women's sports. Published July 29, 2020
Seattle rioting results in 59 officers injured as agitators hurl explosives, bottles, rocks
The Seattle Police Department reported that 59 officers were wounded in the Saturday night rioting after being struck by explosives, bottles and rocks. Published July 27, 2020
Kshama Sawant, Seattle councilmember: ‘Brutality of American capitalism’ endangering protesters
Seattle city councilmember Kshama Sawant decried "the brutality of capitalism" after a judge blocked the city's ban on police crowd-control tools such as tear gas and pepper spray, declaring that the Friday ruling threatened "peaceful protesters." Published July 26, 2020
Sen. Kelly Loeffler blasts WNBA players’ walkout during national anthem playing: ‘Political stunt’
Sen. Kelly Loeffler, Georgia Republican, decried as "shameful" the Saturday walkout by WNBA players during the national anthem in a protest over racial and social injustice. Published July 25, 2020
Federal judge blocks Seattle’s ban on crowd-control tools as city braces for protests
A federal judge late Friday blocked a recently approved Seattle City Council ordinance banning police from using crowd-control measures like pepper spray as officers braced for a weekend of protest violence. Published July 25, 2020
Michael W. Mosman rejects Oregon Attorney General’s request to stop feds from arresting rioters
A federal judge denied Friday a request from the Oregon attorney general to stop federal agents from arresting rioters, ruling that the state lacked standing to sue on behalf of the protest crowds laying siege to federal buildings in Portland. Published July 24, 2020
Sam Coonrod refuses to kneel for Black Lives Matter, cites Christian faith
San Francisco Giants player Sam Coonrod was the only player who declined to kneel for Black Lives Matter during the season opener Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a decision he attributed to his Christian faith. Published July 24, 2020
Feds arrest 27 on alleged arson, assault, vandalism in Portland rioting
At least 27 suspects have been arrested this week by federal authorities for alleged criminal activity stemming from the protest mayhem in Portland, Oregon. Published July 24, 2020
Nicholas Sandmann settles defamation lawsuit against Washington Post
Attorneys for Nicholas Sandmann said Friday that they have settled the Covington Catholic student's defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post. Published July 24, 2020
Gresham, Oregon, Portland sparks flap after raising Black Lives Matter flag over city hall
The Portland suburb of Gresham, Oregon, has sent ripples through the community by flying a Black Lives Matter flag over city hall. Published July 23, 2020
Kate Brown, Ted Wheeler, Oregon Democrats AWOL as Portland riots rage, Republicans say
Democrats have been lambasting President Trump for sending in officers to protect federal buildings in Portland, but Republicans are increasingly asking where Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler are. Published July 22, 2020
Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer: ‘Portland, Oregon, is not out of control’
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Democrat, insists that the protest chaos in Portland isn't as bad as it looks, despite some "inappropriate and unlawful" behavior. Published July 22, 2020
Ted Cruz seeks to hold hands-off local officials liable for protest, rioting damage
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, has a plan on how to douse the protest violence in Portland, Seattle and elsewhere: Hold local officials responsible for failing to stop it. Published July 22, 2020
California parents sue Gavin Newsom to reopen schools
A group of California parents sued Tuesday to reopen the schools for in-person learning, arguing that shutdown is discriminatory and scientifically unsound, given that children are at least risk from the novel coronavirus. Published July 21, 2020
Portland decries federal agents’ ‘invasion’ as riots rage
Democrats and mayors escalated their calls Tuesday for federal law enforcement to withdraw from Portland, but if they did, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad F. Wolf said violent mobs would raze the federal courthouse -- and local authorities would do nothing to stop them. Published July 21, 2020
Calls to boycott Major League Baseball trend after players kneel during national anthem
Calls to boycott Major League Baseball spiked Tuesday after the league posted a photo of some San Francisco Giants players kneeling during the national anthem prior to an exhibition game. Published July 21, 2020
Rand Paul rips Anthony Fauci praise of New York coronavirus response
Sen. Rand Paul, himself a physician, offered a second opinion Monday on Dr. Anthony Fauci's praise for New York's novel coronavirus response. Published July 20, 2020
Coronavirus mask confrontations escalate across U.S.
Deaths from the coronavirus may have plunged, but if viral videos are any indication, mask-shaming is spiking as more states and localities enact face-covering orders aimed at slowing the spread of the infection. Published July 20, 2020
Larry Elder’s Black conservative film ‘Uncle Tom’ takes top spot for documentaries
"Uncle Tom," a film about Black conservatives hosted by Larry Elder, has become a surprise hit, topping the industry documentary charts despite little publicity outside the right-of-center media sphere. Published July 20, 2020
