Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Rick Perry, ex-Texas governor, says Donald Trump ‘does not represent the Republican Party’
Rick Perry said Donald Trump is unaware of Texas's record on immigration and "does not represent the Republican Party." Published July 5, 2015
Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator, calls Hillary ‘the candidate of the Democratic establishment’
Bernie Sanders said he is not surprised by the lack of support from other members of Congress for his presidential bid because former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is "the candidate of the Democratic establishment." Published July 5, 2015
Sweet Cakes by Melissa owners owe $135,000 in damages for gay wedding refusal
The owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa are still required to pay $135,000 in damages for "emotional suffering" to a lesbian couple based on Thursday's final order from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. Published July 2, 2015
California vaccine bill battle erupts into all-out political war
Those people clad in white keeping silent vigil in front of the California state Capitol have a message for Democratic legislators: The thousands who opposed the stricter vaccination mandates signed into law Tuesday aren't backing down. Published July 2, 2015
Ballot campaign launches to allow public ‘marijuana bars’ in Denver
The same pro-pot advocates who brought legalized recreational marijuana to Colorado launched Thursday a ballot campaign to allow adult "marijuana bars" in Denver. Published July 2, 2015
Jerry Brown signs bill requiring vaccines for all but medical reasons
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a sweeping vaccination law Tuesday eliminating all but the medical exemption for schoolchildren over the objections of the state's vocal parental-choice advocates. Published June 30, 2015
Jim Webb emerges as conservative summit’s favorite Democratic candidate
DENVER -- Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb won the Western Conservative Summit Democratic presidential straw poll Sunday, running well ahead of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Published June 28, 2015
Christian farm family penalized in gay wedding refusal decries ‘orchestrated set-up’
When Melisa Erwin called the Giffords about using their upstate New York property for a same-sex wedding ceremony, she apparently knew in advance that they would refuse. For one thing, she and her fiancee recorded the conversation. Published June 28, 2015
Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina top Western Conservative Summit’s GOP presidential straw poll
Ben Carson repeated Sunday as the winner of the Western Conservative Summit's Republican presidential straw poll, but Carly Fiorina stole the show. Published June 28, 2015
Log Cabin Republicans hail Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage at conservative conference
DENVER -- The Supreme Court's decision in favor of gay marriage made it all but impossible for the Log Cabin Republicans to fly under the radar at their first-ever booth appearance at the Western Conservative Summit. Published June 28, 2015
Rick Perry defends Colorado’s ‘right to be wrong’ on marijuana
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry may not agree with Colorado's decision to legalize recreational marijuana, but he said Saturday he will defend the state's right to make a hash of things. Published June 27, 2015
Carly Fiorina on Obamacare: Rich getting richer, while middle-class getting squeezed
Obamacare is fueling "crony capitalism" by driving out small providers and ensuring that only the largest insurance companies and hospitals can survive, says Republican presidential contender Carly Fiorina. Published June 27, 2015
Mike Huckabee: Conservatives can ignore gay marriage ruling like Lincoln ignored Dred Scott
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee suggested Saturday that conservatives treat the Supreme Court's gay marriage decision like Abraham Lincoln treated the high court's pro-slavery ruling in Dred Scott: Ignore it. Published June 27, 2015
Rick Santorum blasts Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling as ‘based on a lie’
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum said Friday that the Supreme Court's decision in favor of same-sex marriage is "based on a lie," namely that the only argument against such unions is a hatred of gays. Published June 27, 2015
Western Conservative Summit: ‘Not the Supreme Court appreciation party’
The Western Conservative Summit's kick-off Friday gave attendees a golden opportunity to vent their frustrations over this week's Supreme Court decisions in favor of Obamacare and gay marriage. Published June 26, 2015
Multibillionaire Bill Gates rejects calls to divest from fossil fuels
World's richest man Bill Gates may be a climate-change guy, but it turns out he's not a divestment guy. Published June 25, 2015
In a shift, fracking’s foes face a losing streak
After scoring a statewide ban last year on hydraulic fracturing in New York, anti-fracking activists talked excitedly about following up in a major fossil fuel-producing state — Colorado, maybe, or California. Published June 24, 2015
Judge postpones Obama administration’s fracking rule from taking effect
A federal judge agreed Tuesday to postpone the Obama administration's tough new hydraulic fracturing restrictions just hours before they were scheduled to take effect. Published June 23, 2015
Cal State Christian groups to allow non-believers to hold leadership posts
Two Christian groups booted last year from California State University for insisting that their student leaders must be Christian are scheduled to return in the fall after making what could be described as a leap of faith. Published June 23, 2015
Black gun rights advocate challenges Obama’s call after church shooting for fewer firearms
President Obama and other black leaders called for tighter access to firearms last week in reaction to the mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, but not Kenn Blanchard. Published June 21, 2015
