Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Former top Obama energy official calls EPA’s Clean Power Plan ‘all pain, no gain’
A former top Obama administration energy official characterized the Clean Power Plan last week as "all pain, no gain," saying it will do almost nothing to reduce global emissions while fueling double-digit hikes in electricity costs. Published May 28, 2016
Bernie Sanders, Senate Dems urge Justice Dept. to keep up ‘climate denial’ pursuit
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders joined three fellow Democrats in urging Attorney General Loretta Lynch to continue its inquiry into "the fossil fuel industry's climate denial operation," a day after Senate Republicans called on her to cease any such probe. Published May 27, 2016
Libertarians ride wave of support into nominating convention
It's easy to tell the Democrats and Republicans from the Libertarians these days. The Libertarians are the ones with the big grins on their faces. Published May 26, 2016
Senate Republicans demand Justice Department cease probe of climate change dissent
Five Senate Republicans have demanded that Attorney General Loretta Lynch cease the Justice Department's pursuit of climate change skeptics, decrying the use of federal prosecutorial authority to "stifle private debate." Published May 26, 2016
Vulnerable Democrat Sen. Bennet makes U-turn by cozying up to GOP Sen. Gardner
As head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Michael Bennet did everything in his power two years ago to sink Republican Cory Gardner's Senate bid, but that was then. Published May 26, 2016
Lamar Smith, House Science chairman, calls on Obama administration to raise Zika travel alert
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee chairman called on the Obama administration Wednesday to raise the alert level for travel to countries with high Zika virus infection rates, despite the potential impact on attendance at the Olympic Games in Brazil. Published May 25, 2016
Greens slam Stephen Colbert’s warning that third-party candidate would weaken Hillary Clinton
Irked Green Party officials cried foul Wednesday after CBS "Late Night" host Stephen Colbert warned that voting for the Green presidential nominee would weaken presumptive Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton. Published May 25, 2016
Center for Medical Progress indictments: Prosecutor shared undercover videos with Planned Parenthood
A Houston prosecutor shared evidence with a Planned Parenthood attorney during a grand jury investigation that resulted in indictments of pro-life investigators, fueling allegations of prosecutorial abuse, according to a court document released Tuesday. Published May 24, 2016
Kamala Harris-Loretta Sanchez all-Democrat Senate race looms in California
For the first time in state history, California faces the very real possibility of a Senate election with no Republican candidate. Polls continue to show Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez -- both Democrats -- leading the packed 34-candidate primary field. Under the system approved by voters in 2010, only the top two vote-getters in the June 7 primary will appear on the November ballot. Published May 23, 2016
Virgin Islands AG revokes climate-change subpoena after being criticized for ‘abuse of power’
Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude E. Walker has withdrawn his subpoena of the Competitive Enterprise Institute after a rash of criticism over his investigation into climate-change dissenters. Published May 23, 2016
EPA’s move to raise ethanol mix in gasoline fuels alarm over engine damage
The Environmental Protection Agency's move to add more ethanol to gasoline will wreak havoc on lawn mowers, snow blowers, boats and even cars, say critics. Published May 20, 2016
California tribes’ casino wealth draws Congress into local zoning disputes
As far as Rep. Lois Capps is concerned, the ongoing skirmish over development fueled by tribal gambling in her Santa Barbara County district is a local matter -- not a platform for lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who lives hundreds of miles away. Published May 19, 2016
‘Redskins’ offensive even if most Native Americans disagree, critics say
Opponents of the Washington Redskins name struggled to justify their opposition Thursday after an independent poll showed that fully 90 percent of American Indians surveyed said the name doesn't offend them. Published May 19, 2016
California tribes use status to circumvent zoning and taxes, angering neighbors
For years, Fess Parker, the actor best known as television's Daniel Boone, was thwarted in his efforts to develop 1,400 acres of rolling green hills known as Camp 4 nestled in the lush Santa Ynez Valley. Shortly before he died in 2010, however, Parker sold the property to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for $42 million. Published May 18, 2016
Mark Zuckerberg continues to deny bias after Facebook meeting with conservatives
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg continued to deny that company employees suppressed right-of-center topics on the platform even after meeting Wednesday with more than a dozen leading conservatives. Published May 18, 2016
House Republicans launch free-speech probe into prosecutors targeting climate skeptics
House Republicans this week launched an investigation into the 17 attorneys general pursuing fraud allegations against climate change skeptics, citing concerns about the campaign's impact on free speech and scientific inquiry. Published May 18, 2016
Exxon ‘climate deceit’ lawsuit threatened
An environmental group with ties to a broad coalition against Exxon Mobil Corp. announced Tuesday that it plans to sue the company for "climate deceit," the latest effort to use the legal system to punish dissenters of climate change. Published May 17, 2016
Facebook’s algorithm bias only as neutral as their creators
It turns out the algorithms that govern the internet can be as biased as the people who create and update them. Published May 16, 2016
Think tank asks court to fine Virgin Islands A.G. after he agrees to pull climate subpoena
The Competitive Enterprise Institute asked a federal court Monday to fine the Virgin Islands Attorney General over his investigation into the free-market nonprofit's climate-change dissent after he agreed to withdraw his subpoena. Published May 16, 2016
Texas, Alabama AGs call on court to end climate-change ‘fishing expedition’ against Exxon
The Alabama and Texas attorneys general called Monday for a state court to end a climate-change investigation into ExxonMobil, describing the Virgin Islands probe as an abuse of prosecutorial power driven by ideology. Published May 16, 2016
