Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Boulder, Colorado, sues Exxon, oil companies for climate change effects
Coastal municipalities like New York City and San Francisco suing oil companies over rising sea levels gained an unexpected ally Tuesday with Boulder County, which is about 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean. Published April 17, 2018
Barbara Bush dies at 92
Barbara Bush, the popular matriarch of the Bush family dynasty famous for her unpretentious style and elegant halo of white hair, died Tuesday at the age of 92. Published April 17, 2018
Colin Kaepernick makes waves by comparing himself to civil rights icon Jackie Robinson
Colin Kaepernick made waves on Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball by comparing himself to the civil rights icon. Published April 17, 2018
Growing extremism of Women’s March bedevils Democratic allies on campaign trail
The Women's March is rapidly becoming better known for its embrace of fringe issues and radical figures like Louis Farrkahan than its political rallies, which is creating headaches on the campaign trail for Democrats like Sen. Claire McCaskill. Published April 16, 2018
Ajit Pai, FCC chairman, won’t probe Sinclair for ‘news distortion’
Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai has denied a request by Senate Democrats to investigate the right-leaning Sinclair Broadcasting Group for "news distortion," saying such a probe would be "chilling" to free speech. Published April 15, 2018
Seahawks pick up another QB after Kaepernick refuses to rule out kneeling
The Seattle Seahawks are picking up a free-agent quarterback, but he's not Colin Kaepernick. Published April 13, 2018
Eric Greitens scandal: Missouri Republicans urge Trump to push governor to resign
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has so far refused to heed the growing clamor for his resignation over explosive sexual-assault allegations, but Missouri Republicans are hoping he'll listen to President Trump. Published April 12, 2018
Al Gore calls on Senate to reject Mike Pompeo because he ‘denies’ climate change
Former Vice President Al Gore Jr. said Thursday the Senate should reject Mike Pompeo to head the State Department because he's a climate denier. Published April 12, 2018
Colin Kaepernick tryout with Seahawks postponed; he refuses to rule out kneeling for anthem: Report
The Seattle Seahawks reportedly postponed a tryout with free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick after he wouldn't rule out kneeling during the national anthem. Published April 12, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg blames ‘enforcement error’ for blocking Diamond and Silk after uproar on right
Conservatives have complained for years about being censored by Facebook, but the Silicon Valley giant may have gone too far by blocking Diamond and Silk. Published April 11, 2018
Broward County refuses to arm teachers as post-Parkland safety complaints mount
The Broward County school board voted Tuesday against taking part in the newly enacted Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, named for a popular coach who died in the Feb. 14 massacre that killed 17 people. Published April 10, 2018
Recess makes comeback in public schools
After a years of teetering on the brink, recess is making a comeback in public schools as state lawmakers move to reinstate playground time lost in the push for higher test scores. Published April 10, 2018
Betsy DeVos criticizes teachers’ strikes, urges educators to ‘stay focused on what’s right for kids’
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos isn't a big fan of the recent round of state teachers' strikes, given their impact on students. Published April 9, 2018
Wells Fargo resists pressure to stop offering banking services to NRA, gun makers
The American Federation of Teachers has threatened to pull its business from Wells Fargo unless it severs ties with the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers, but so far the bank is resisting. Published April 9, 2018
School shooting hero blames Broward County schools, sheriff for failing to get tough on gunman
A Parkland student badly wounded while saving the lives of classmates has blamed the Florida mass shooting on the sheriff and the school district, saying the confessed gunman should have been kicked out long before the deadly rampage. Published April 7, 2018
Betsy DeVos hears from warring camps on Obama-era discipline guidance
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos heard radically different takes Wednesday on an Obama-era school-discipline advisory that, depending on who was testifying, is either working like a charm in some classrooms or creating hair-raising chaos in others. Published April 4, 2018
Betsy DeVos urged to reverse Obama ‘Dear Colleague letter’ on school discipline
While the Obama guidance has been credited with lowering suspensions, expulsions and arrests at a number of K-12 districts, it's also been accused of making schools more chaotic and dangerous as officials seek to curb discipline rates in order to avoid triggering a federal investigation. Published April 3, 2018
Independent voters push to open primaries
It's their party -- for now -- but Democrats and Republicans are increasingly coming under pressure to let in independent voters seeking a piece of the primary action. Published April 2, 2018
Only 10% of March for Our Lives ‘student’ protesters were under 18: Study
It turns out the young people reportedly flocking to last weekend's March for Our Lives were actually pretty old. Published March 29, 2018
Goodell: NFL owners focused on $90M social-justice deal, not national-anthem protests
The take-a-knee protests may have been the biggest story of the 2017 NFL regular season, but commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the topic really didn't come up much at the annual league meeting in Orlando. Published March 28, 2018
