Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Colorado Republicans blast Obama’s latest national monument as land grab
Not everyone was thrilled by President Obama's plan to designate another national monument in Colorado, this time a 21,000-acre area around the Arkansas River called Browns Canyon. Published February 18, 2015
Condoleezza Rice for Senate, California voters say
She's been out of public life for years, she's never run for office and she's a Republican, but Condoleezza Rice is now the first choice of California voters to replace Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016. Published February 18, 2015
Michael Hancock, Denver mayor, supports police chief’s decision regarding memorial vandalism
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock put himself at odds with rank-and-file officers Monday by standing behind Police Chief Robert White, even as the drumbeat for his resignation intensified after protesters were allowed to throw red paint on a police memorial. Published February 17, 2015
Fossil fuel divestment movement struggles to build momentum on college campuses
Climate change activists spent Valentine's Day weekend wooing supporters for fossil fuel divestiture with their first-ever Global Divestment Day, but not everyone was feeling the love. Published February 16, 2015
Global Divestment Day’s push against fossil fuels meets with cold shoulder
Climate-change activists spent Valentine's Day weekend wooing support for fossil-fuel divestiture with their first-ever Global Divestment Day, but not everyone was feeling the love. Published February 16, 2015
Colo., N.M. lawmakers try to slam brakes on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants
Lawmakers in Colorado and New Mexico are attempting to execute a U-turn on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants with bills to defund or revoke the programs. Published February 13, 2015
James Comey, FBI director: Don’t scapegoat all police when wider race problems exist
It's easy to blame police racism for the deaths of young black men at the hands of law enforcement, but that narrative is increasingly facing pushback from those who say it's not so simple. Published February 12, 2015
Sam Brownback cancels protected status for Kansas gay, transgender employees
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback rescinded Tuesday a 2007 executive order signed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius extending protected-class anti-discrimination status to gay and transgender state employees. Published February 10, 2015
Majority of Americans support lifting 40-year-old ban on oil exports: poll
Most Americans support lifting restrictions on oil exports to countries that are trade partners, saying that the change would have a positive effect on the U.S. economy. Published February 10, 2015
Vaccine exemption bills introduced amid measles outbreak, underscoring anti-vaxxers’ strength
State legislatures are dealing with a rash of legislation to tighten vaccination rules in reaction to the Disneyland measles outbreak, but not every bill is aimed at making sure children get their shots. Published February 9, 2015
Colorado GOP tries to ban ‘welfare for weed’ against Democrats’ wishes
Everyone in Colorado from Republicans to marijuana moguls wants to stop welfare cash from being used to buy recreational pot, but standing in their way are the state's formidable legislative Democrats Published February 8, 2015
Massachusetts, Maryland most Democratic states; Wyoming, Utah most Republican
It turns out the conventional wisdom is right: Massachusetts and Maryland rank as the nation's most Democratic states, while the most Republican states are Wyoming and Utah. Published February 4, 2015
Obama-linked group files complaint against Netanyahu party, alleges ‘incitement’
A campaign organization guided by a top Obama political strategist and working to defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has filed a police complaint alleging "incitement" against his ruling Likud party. Published February 4, 2015
Hillary Clinton, Obama entangled in vaccines debate as old comments resurface
Democrats were gleeful when Republicans Chris Christie and Rand Paul got tangled this week in the debate over the Disneyland measles outbreak, until similar words from the pasts of President Obama and 2016 front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton came out. Published February 3, 2015
Peter Kirsanow of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights fights bigotry of good intentions
Thirteen years ago liberals fought to keep Peter Kirsanow off the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, a legal brouhaha that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Published February 1, 2015
Benjamin Netanyahu rivals accused of taking illegal U.S. campaign finance dollars
President Obama's strained relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took another hit Sunday amid reports from Israel that a former Obama political strategist is working to unseat Mr. Netanyahu in the March election. Published February 1, 2015
Loretta Lynch’s hard-line stance on marijuana is making Colorado sweat
Nobody in the Colorado marijuana industry is panicking, but those involved are sweating a little over the hard line taken by Loretta Lynch, President Obama's pick to be the next attorney general, on legalization during this week's Senate confirmation hearing. Published February 1, 2015
Ayotte blasts ‘politically correct’ White House for refusal to call out Islamic extremism
Sen. Kelly Ayotte calls out the Obama administration for refusing to identify enemy combatants in the Middle East as Islamic extremists. Published February 1, 2015
John McCain: U.S., Israeli relations have ‘never been worse’
The relationship between the United States and Israel has “never been worse” than it is now under the Obama administration, says Sen. John McCain. Published February 1, 2015
Mike Huckabee tells critics to lighten up over Megyn Kelly ‘trashy’ interview
Mike Huckabee says critics need to get a sense of humor about his tongue-in-cheek interview with Fox News host Megyn Kelly over New Yorkers and profanity. Published February 1, 2015
