Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Greater sage grouse kills Oregon wind-energy project
After years of creating headaches for the oil-and-gas industry, the greater sage grouse is now standing in the way of renewable energy. Published April 20, 2017
Louis Marinelli, Yes California leader, plans move to Russia
The Calexit movement was thrown into turmoil this week after the leader of the secession referendum effort to split California from the U.S. himself split -- to Russia. But to others, the dream of an independent California is going nowhere. Published April 19, 2017
Stacey Eugene Johnson win Arkansas execution delay
A fourth Arkansas convicted killer has won a last-minute bid to delay his execution, further disrupting the state's plan to put to death eight inmates before the April 30 expiration of a key lethal-injection drug Published April 19, 2017
Louis J. Marinelli Yes California founder withdraws independence proposal
The Calexit movement was thrown into turmoil after the leader of the secession ballot referendum split -- to Russia -- but the dream of a California nation isn't going anywhere. Published April 19, 2017
Progressives take on establishment Democrats at town halls
Those rowdy progressives shouting down Republicans at town-hall meetings are starting to train their sights on establishment Democrats. Published April 19, 2017
Arkansas battles to keep executions on track after first two inmates elude death
Arkansas officials vowed to keep the state's remaining five executions on track after Monday came and went without either of the state's two scheduled executions taking place. Published April 18, 2017
Judge Wendell Griffen barred from death penalty cases over activism
A state judge who railed against the death penalty at protest rallies while he blocked executions in his courtroom ran afoul of the Arkansas Supreme Court on Monday as the legal fight over a planned spate of executions continued into the night. Published April 17, 2017
Wendell Griffen, Arkansas judge who stopped executions, has long history of left-wing advocacy
The Arkansas judge who blocked the state's April executions on the same day he joined death-penalty protests isn't shy about sharing his views on hot-button topics . Published April 17, 2017
Arkansas fights court orders blocking executions as time runs out on lethal injection drug
A last-minute spate of court orders has derailed Arkansas' unprecedented eight-men-in-11-days execution schedule, sending the state into a race against the clock to reverse the rulings before a key lethal injection drug expires April 30. Published April 16, 2017
Arkansas fights to put convicted killer Bruce Ward back on April execution list
Arkansas officials want convicted murderer Bruce Earl Ward back on the list of executions planned for this week. Published April 16, 2017
Arkansas judge joined death-penalty protests on same day he blocked executions
An Arkansas judge attended two death-penalty protests on the same day that he issued an order blocking the state's multiple executions, at one point allowing himself to be strapped to a cot in a simulation of an inmate slated to die by lethal injection. Published April 15, 2017
Asa Hutchinson, Ark. governor, defends rapid execution timetable, cites victims’ ‘25-year nightmare’
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that the state has waited long enough, in some cases more than two decades, to execute the seven men slated to die before the end of the month. Published April 14, 2017
Republican town halls on health care draw hostile crowds
For someone who had just braved nearly two hours of booing, shouting and heckling from an audience of rowdy Obamacare fans, Rep. Mike Coffman was taking it rather well. Published April 13, 2017
Rebecca Petty, Arkansas lawmaker whose daughter was murdered, sees executions as end of long wait
The Arkansas plan to execute multiple murderers over 11 days before a lethal injection drug expires has been condemned as a reckless rush to judgment, but that's not how Rebecca Petty sees it. Published April 12, 2017
Tufts student senate divestment vote sparks outrage
Student government at Tufts University in Massachusetts stoked outrage this week by approving an anti-Israel divestment measure on the eve of Passover, spurring accusations that the timing was intended to minimize opposition from the Jewish community. Published April 11, 2017
Bill Nye’s March for Science role helps stir political activists
An early indication that next week's March for Science may be more about politics than the periodic table is the brouhaha over Bill Nye, the Science Guy. Published April 10, 2017
Dead body found near former Dakota Access Pipeline protest camps
An apparent Dakota Access Pipeline activist missing since October has been found dead floating in the Cannonball River near the site of the former protest camps. Published April 10, 2017
Body of man linked to Dakota Access protest found in river near campsite
An apparent Dakota Access pipeline activist missing since October was found dead Sunday floating in the Cannonball River near the site of the former protest camps. Published April 10, 2017
Democratic Party’s anti-Trump front splits over U.S. airstrikes on Syria
The left's united anti-Trump front has fractured over the airstrikes on Syria, dividing establishment Democrats and antiwar progressives. Published April 9, 2017
Lindsey Graham: U.S. airstrikes on Syria show ‘there’s a new sheriff in town’
Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that the U.S. airstrikes on Syria demonstrate that "there's a new sheriff in town." Published April 9, 2017
