Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
In Ferguson, young activists emerge as movement leaders
Behind the headlines highlighting the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the New Black Panther Party in the aftermath of the Ferguson shooting, there's a group of local organizers who have emerged as the more effective voices of the movement. Published November 24, 2014
Atheist group loses lawsuit to ban Colorado Day of Prayer
The Colorado Supreme Court threw out a legal challenge to the governor's honorary Day of Prayer proclamations Monday, ruling that members of an anti-religion group lacked standing to bring the lawsuit. Published November 24, 2014
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, New Mexico Democrat, wins leadership post despite ethnic slur
A New Mexico Democratic legislator won back her leadership position Saturday despite losing it two years ago after calling Republican Gov. Susana Martinez "the Mexican on the fourth floor." Published November 24, 2014
American University the latest to reject fossil-fuel divestment demand
The American University Board of Trustees rejected Friday an option to withdraw fossil-fuel investments from the $550 million endowment, infuriating student activists and handing another defeat to the campus divestment movement. Published November 21, 2014
Ferguson poll: Few think Darren Wilson should be indicted; 81 percent predict violent reaction
Only 1 in 4 Americans believe that white police officer Darren Wilson should be charged with murder by the grand jury in the shooting death in of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, according to a poll released Friday. Published November 21, 2014
2nd Vote app helps consumers apply partisanship to their purchases
Holiday shoppers worried about inadvertently supporting left-wing causes when buying that turkey or computer game, take heart: There's an app for that. Published November 20, 2014
Harvard students sue to force divestment from fossil fuels
Harvard University students unable to convince administrators to divest the $36.4 billion endowment from fossil fuel stocks are taking their case to court. Published November 19, 2014
Fossil fuel divestment to fight climate change loses steam on college campuses
A much-touted campaign to get the nation's colleges and universities to sell their holdings in the fossil fuel industry as a way to fight climate change has mostly been drilling a dry hole since its launch three years ago. Published November 18, 2014
Jay Nixon swears in Ferguson Commission ahead of jury verdict
Tensions remained high Tuesday in Missouri as police, protesters and policymakers prepared for unrest in anticipation of the grand jury's verdict in the August shooting death of teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer. Published November 18, 2014
Republicans counter Democrats’ ‘war on women’ with wave of female winners
Here's another reason the Democrats' "war on women" strategy imploded in this year's midterm elections: A wave of Republican women ran for office — and won. Published November 17, 2014
Transparent Health Group aids uninsured under Obamacare
Even under the best-case scenarios, Obamacare still leaves tens of millions of people uninsured. That's where Betty Heiman comes in. Published November 16, 2014
Anti-religion group gripes about lack of atheists buried at Normandy
There's just one problem with the revered Normandy military cemetery in France: Too many Christian and Jewish soldiers are buried there, and not enough atheists and agnostics. Published November 14, 2014
Fracking fluid ingredient also found in toothpaste and ice cream, study shows
A major class of fracking fluid is no more toxic than chemicals found in a typical household, according to a newly released University of Colorado study. Published November 13, 2014
TRAVEL CRUISE: ‘Love Boat’ crew launches new Princess Cruises ship
Before "The Love Boat" set sail on its 10-year TV voyage, taking a cruise vacation was a luxury reserved for the wealthy few. Even actor Gavin MacLeod admits he had never stayed aboard a cruise ship until he was cast as the captain in the hit ABC series. Published November 12, 2014
Gunnison sage grouse listed as threatened species by wildlife officials
Based on the furor that resulted when the news came down, there was little doubt why the Obama administration waited until after the midterm election to grant endangered species protection to the Gunnison sage grouse. Published November 12, 2014
Colorado Springs student sues high school for banning prayer group
A Colorado Springs student is suing his school district after he was ordered to stop gathering with friends informally during free time between classes to pray, sing and discuss religious topics. Published November 11, 2014
Colorado Republicans claim biggest legislative win
The Colorado state Senate was one of 11 state legislative houses captured last week by Republicans, padding the GOP's advantage at the statehouse level and giving the party its largest number of legislative seats since 1920. Published November 11, 2014
Go-to Democratic game plan failed badly in Colorado
The so-called "Bannock Street Project," the Democratic political blueprint for attracting young- single women and turning purple states blue, faces new questions after last week's stunning loss by incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in Colorado. Published November 11, 2014
Republican Buck wins Colo. House seat after losing Senate race
Colorado Republican Ken Buck is going to Washington, D.C., after all, just not as a member of the Senate. Published November 5, 2014
Ballot propositions score big as voters approve 70 percent of a smaller pool
It turns out 2014 was a good year to run a ballot proposition: More than two-thirds of the 146 state measures that went before voters Tuesday were approved, the best winning percentage of the 21st century. Published November 5, 2014
