Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Oregon Republicans end walkout, return to work after cap-and-trade bill dies
The Oregon Senate Republicans returned voluntarily to the state capitol on Saturday, the day before the end of the legislative session, after a weeklong walkout that saw the governor try to bring them back using state troopers. Published June 28, 2019
Air Italy violates Open Skies pact with Qatar subsidies, U.S. airlines say
The Big Three U.S. passenger airlines -- Delta, American and United -- are calling on the Trump administration to take action over their claims that Qatar has violated the 2018 Open Skies agreement by using "massive government subsidies" to add routes via its proxy, Air Italy. Published June 27, 2019
Google, YouTube anti-conservative bias raises alarm about 2020 election meddling
Conservative frustration with Big Tech bias bubbled over this week amid fresh evidence of behind-the-scenes political manipulation at Google, spurring calls for federal action to prevent the industry from putting its thumb on the scales of the 2020 election. Published June 26, 2019
Alleged Google email compares Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, PragerU to ‘nazis’
Conservatives erupted Tuesday after Project Veritas released an alleged internal Google email in which an employee compared three prominent right-of-center figures to Nazis. Published June 25, 2019
Project Veritas video targeting Google pulled by YouTube after privacy complaints
A Project Veritas undercover video raising alarm about Google's political neutrality and 2020 election preparations was removed Monday by YouTube, which is owned by Google. Published June 25, 2019
Bill Currier threats investigated as Oregon Republicans’ walkout enters day five
The Benton County Sheriff is investigating threats made against Oregon Republican Party chairman Bill Currier, adding to the tension surrounding the standoff between the Democratic governor and runaway Republicans in the state Senate. Published June 24, 2019
Google exec in Project Veritas sting says only big tech can stop ‘the next Trump situation’
A top Google executive was caught on hidden camera declaring that the federal government should not break up the tech giant -- because then it would be more difficult to prevent "the next Trump situation." Published June 24, 2019
Andrew Cuomo New Green Deal to become law in New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Green New Deal has drawn far less buzz than the one proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Then again, her version is nowhere near passage. Published June 23, 2019
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers becomes third Democrat this year to veto infanticide legislation
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Friday a bill requiring medical care for infants born alive after an abortion, becoming the third Democratic governor this year to thwart Republican-sponsored infanticide legislation. Published June 22, 2019
Runaway Oregon Republicans prepared to stay away until legislative session ends
Oregon Senate Republicans are prepared to hunker down out of state until the legislative session adjourns June 30 to block Democrats from passing a "disastrous" cap-and-trade legislation. Published June 21, 2019
Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island governor, signs late-term abortion bill minutes after passage
A Rhode Island late-term abortion bill appeared to be finished after legislators voted it down last month in committee, but it turns out the Reproductive Privacy Act wasn't going anywhere. Published June 20, 2019
Court delivers blow to Planned Parenthood by allowing Title X abortion restrictions
A federal appeals court delivered a setback Thursday to Planned Parenthood by lifting injunctions on the Trump administration's rule prohibiting family-planning funds for facilities that perform or support abortions. Published June 20, 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand abortion-racism comparison angers pro-life blacks
Nobody was more surprised or offended than black pro-life activists like Roland Warren when Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand compared their beliefs to racism. Published June 19, 2019
Tech industry slams Josh Hawley’s bill targeting internet bias, censorship
Big Tech came out swinging Wednesday against a newly proposed bill by Sen. Josh Hawley that seeks to end censorship and bias on major social-media platforms. Published June 19, 2019
Trump administration finishes off Obama-era anti-coal Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration finished Wednesday its repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the heart of the Obama-era climate legacy, replacing it with a rule that extends a lifeline to the coal industry by giving states more leeway on reducing power-plant emissions. Published June 19, 2019
Black Hat cybersecurity conference faces backlash after dropping keynote Will Hurd
A top tech-security conference has hacked off conservatives and free-speech advocates by disinviting Rep. Will Hurd -- a black Texas Republican known for expertise on cybersecurity -- as keynote speaker over his pro-life views. Published June 17, 2019
Oberlin College ordered to pay Gibson Bakery $33 million over anti-bakery protests
An Ohio jury awarded Thursday a maximum $33 million in punitive damages to a local bakery targeted by Oberlin College protesters, triple the $11 million in compensatory damages announced in last week's verdict. Published June 13, 2019
Gov. Kate Brown makes Oregon latest blue state to join National Popular Vote
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed Wednesday a bill to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, bringing to 16 the number of jurisdictions that have joined the accord to bypass the Electoral College. Published June 12, 2019
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs late-term abortion bill at celebratory ceremony
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker drew enthusiastic whoops and cheers from the crowd Wednesday at a festive ceremony that saw him sign a bill creating a "fundamental right" to abortion and clearing the way for late-term procedures. Published June 12, 2019
Jack Phillips, Colorado baker, faces new legal battle, this time over cake for transgender person
Colorado baker Jack Phillips is going to court once again over his refusal to prepare a transgender-themed birthday cake. Published June 12, 2019
