Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Target closes 100 stores temporarily amid George Floyd protests, riots
The novel coronavirus pandemic couldn't shut down Target, but the rioting ripping apart major U.S. cities has. Published May 31, 2020
Joe Lockhart, Ex-NFL, Bill Clinton spokesman: Vikings should sign Colin Kaepernick amid protests
Joe Lockhart, a former NFL and Clinton White House spokesman, had a suggestion for addressing the violent rioting taking over the streets of Minneapolis: The Minnesota Vikings should sign Colin Kaepernick. Published May 31, 2020
Celebrities called out for donating to protester bail fund as rioting escalates
Celebrities such as comedic actor Steve Carell ("Space Force", "The Office"), are coming under fire for donating to a bail fund aimed at springing protesters even as police struggle to stop the escalating violence in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities. Published May 30, 2020
Trump administration blames rioting on antifa, leftists as Democrats eye white supremacists
The Trump administration blamed on Saturday far-left groups using antifa tactics for fomenting the violent protests upending Minneapolis and other major cities, even as Minnesota Democrats say they're looking at white supremacists and far-right extremists. Published May 30, 2020
Minnesota Gov. Walz seeks help from Pentagon as protest violence spreads nationwide
An overwhelmed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday that he has reached out to the Pentagon for help in controlling the growing mobs of out-of-state agitators seeking to "break the back of civil society" in the wake of George Floyd's death. Published May 30, 2020
Angry mob storms CNN headquarters as protests roil Atlanta over George Floyd death
An angry mob outraged at the death of George Floyd stormed CNN's world headquarters Friday night in Atlanta, vandalizing the building's facade, breaking windows, and tossing a firecracker or smoke bomb at officers blocking the entrance. Published May 29, 2020
Family of George Floyd wants charges against officer upped to first-degree murder
The family of George Floyd called Friday for ex-cop Derek Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder instead of third-degree murder in the "brutal killing" of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis. Published May 29, 2020
George Floyd died of police restraint combined with health problems, not asphyxiation: Autopsy
George Floyd died Monday from a combination of preexisting health conditions exacerbated by being held down by Minneapolis officers, not from strangulation or asphyxiation, based on the medical examiner's initial report. Published May 29, 2020
Derek Chauvin arrested for death of George Floyd
A Minnesota state official said Friday that he was told that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested in connection with the death of George Floyd. Published May 29, 2020
Ethylene oxide plant crackdown creates medical sterilization chemical shortage
The battle over the sterilization agent ethylene oxide began like a sequel to "Erin Brockovich" -- local activists shut down big chemical plants over cancer fears -- and then the coronavirus hit. Published May 28, 2020
Connecticut transgender-sports policy discriminates against girls: Education Department
The Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has concluded that Connecticut's schools and athletic conference violated Title IX with their transgender-participation policies by discriminating against female athletes. Published May 28, 2020
ACLU lawsuit: Kentucky’s photo ID law places voters at ‘dire’ risk of catching coronavirus
Kentucky's newly passed law requiring voters to show photo identification places them in "dire and unnecessary risk" of contracting the novel coronavirus, according to an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed Wednesday. Published May 27, 2020
Kate Brown, Oregon governor, sued for easing limits on restaurants, gyms but not churches
Two churches have sued Oregon Gov. Kate Brown over her executive order restricting faith-based gatherings to 25 people, calling it "irrational" to allow restaurants, bars and gyms to host larger crowds but not churches. Published May 26, 2020
Matthew Shirtcliff refuses to budge on order invalidating Gov. Kate Brown’s shutdown
A county judge in Oregon refused Tuesday to budge on his decision invalidating Gov. Kate Brown's pandemic stay-at-home orders, saying that his injunction will remain in place. Published May 26, 2020
Amy Cooper apologizes for calling cops on black birder who asked her to leash dog
A white pet owner apologized for calling the police Monday on a black bird-watcher who asked her to leash her dog in New York City's Central Park, a dispute that quickly spiraled into a racial flashpoint. Published May 26, 2020
New York Times lists homicide victim as coronavirus death on page one
It didn't take long before sharp-eyed readers spotted a mistake on Sunday's front page of The New York Times: One of those listed as dying from the novel coronavirus was actually a homicide victim. Published May 24, 2020
Colorado State gives $1,500 checks to undocumented students despite $100M budget shortfall
Colorado State University, which is anticipating a $100 million revenue hit from the shutdown, is handing out $1,500 checks to illegal immigrants to help support them during the novel coronavirus crisis. Published May 22, 2020
Nikole Hannah-Jones, of 1619 project, draws distinction of ‘politically black and racially black’
New York Times luminary Nikole Hannah-Jones, architect of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project, touched off a social-media uproar Friday after drawing a distinction between being "politically black and being racially black." Published May 22, 2020
BlackRock skirts question about China, climate stance at annual meeting
BlackRock grappled with a couple of political landmines Thursday at its annual shareholders' meeting from conservative and progressive activists seeking to pin down the world's largest asset manager on climate change and social justice. Published May 21, 2020
Norma McCorvey, ‘Jane Roe,’ claim she was paid to oppose abortion is false, pro-life allies say
A former attorney for the late Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" in the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, denied as "patently false" her bombshell claim in an upcoming FX documentary that she was paid to lie about her pro-life conversion. Published May 20, 2020
