Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Mike Huckabee defends South Carolina against racism charges over Confederate flag
The Charleston church massacre threw South Carolina's use of the Confederate flag back into play as a 2016 election issue, but Republicans presidential candidates insist the issue belongs to the state, not candidates for federal office. Published June 21, 2015
Rick Santorum say Charleston massacre shows ‘worst of America and best of America’
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum said Sunday that the massacre at a South Carolina church showed "the worst of America and the best of America." Published June 21, 2015
WildEarth Guardians loses support from breweries amid coal-town beer boycott
A slew of Colorado breweries has quit backing the WildEarth Guardians since liquor stores and bars in Colorado coal towns began boycotting labels that support the anti-coal environmental group. Published June 21, 2015
Emanuel AME Church horror would have been worse if victims were armed, Bob Shrum says
It's hard to imagine how the massacre at the Emanuel AME Church that left nine dead could have been worse, but a top Democratic strategist says the shooting would have been a "horror" if the black parishioners were armed. Published June 20, 2015
Charleston shooting prompts gun-rights supporters to call for more concealed-carry at churches
He was a young gunman bent on shooting as many worshippers as possible, but Matthew J. Murray never got as far as Dylann Roof, the suspect in Wednesday's South Carolina church massacre. Published June 18, 2015
South Carolina law banning guns in church fails to deter shooting suspect
The deadly South Carolina church led to calls Thursday for tougher gun-control laws, even though the shooting suspect was already breaking state law by bringing a firearm into a church without permission. Published June 18, 2015
George Clooney’s ‘Tomorrowland’ bombs at box office as Hollywood pushes climate fiction
Disney's "Tomorrowland" may be bombing at the box office, but on the plus side, it could win a Cliffie. The Cliffie awards go to films that exemplify "cli-fi," or climate fiction, an emerging genre heating up this year as climate change themes seep from documentaries into big-budget Hollywood features. Published June 17, 2015
Employers can fire workers for marijuana use, Colorado Supreme Court rules
Coloradans have a right to use medical marijuana with a doctor's approval, but that doesn't mean they can't be fired for it. Published June 15, 2015
Colorado coal town uses beer boycott to fight Colowyo Mine closure
Jana Venzke is fighting the war on coal here in northwest Colorado -- one bottle of craft beer at a time. Last week, she pulled every New Belgium and Breckenridge label from the shelves at her store, A1 Liquors, after finding their names on a list of businesses that contribute to WildEarth Guardians, the anti-coal group whose lawsuit threatens to shutter the local Colowyo Mine, taking 220 jobs with it. Published June 14, 2015
‘White Appreciation Day’ at Rubbin Buttz BBQ makes colorful statement
The only thing Steve Adams knew about the Rubbin Buttz BBQ is that its Hispanic owners were hosting "White Appreciation Day" on Thursday, but that was enough to persuade him to make the hourlong drive for lunch. Published June 11, 2015
California to tighten vaccine law
The rash of tough pro-vaccine bills that infected state legislatures after the Disneyland measles outbreak has largely faded, and based on the uproar in California, it's not hard to see why. Published June 10, 2015
Colorado school district cuts free period after lawsuit on prayer, religion talk
A Colorado Springs school district that was sued after banning students from praying and discussing religion during a free period has resolved the issue by eliminating the free period. Published June 9, 2015
Climate activists give cold shoulder to Georgetown’s move to divest only from coal
Student activists were lukewarm on Georgetown University's resolution to divest its $1.5 billion endowment from coal, characterizing it as a symbolic move that will have little impact on the institution or the climate. Published June 5, 2015
Jerry Brown rejects California fracking ban, risks alienating environmentalists
An unusual schism has opened up on California's politically dominant left flank, where Gov. Jerry Brown, a longtime favorite of the state's environmentalists, has refused to give in to the climate change movement's demand for a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing. Published June 2, 2015
New York Times accused of hypocrisy for allowing dung-covered Virgin Mary but not Muhammad art
Critics are crying double standard over The New York Times's decision to run an image last week of the Virgin Mary smeared in elephant dung after refusing to print sketches of the prophet Muhammad. Published June 1, 2015
Christopher Driscoll, Lehigh religion professor, hands down ‘10 Cracka Commandments’ for whites
A Lehigh University assistant professor is coming under criticism for issuing rules for white people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement called "The Ten Cracka Commandments." Published June 1, 2015
Jerry Brown in cross-hairs as Prop 13 foes push ‘split roll’ in California
Ever since Proposition 13 ignited a nationwide tax revolt in 1978, the California measure has been regarded as politically untouchable -- until now. Published May 31, 2015
No show of suspicion of ABC’s George Stephanopoulos among presidential candidates
If presidential candidates other than Hillary Rodham Clinton are leery of being questioned by ex-Clinton aide-turned-ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, so far they're not showing it. Published May 31, 2015
Western states decry Obama plan to save greater sage grouse
DENVER | There's one big problem with the Bureau of Land Management's newly released federal habitat plan for the greater sage grouse: It's federal. Published May 28, 2015
Forecast sees milder-than-average hurricane season
Those who dispute the theory that global warming is producing more extreme weather events received a boost Wednesday with the release of a federal forecast indicating another milder-than-average hurricane season. Published May 27, 2015
