Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Veteran Hatch gets challenger
For all the talk of Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's political vulnerability, the veteran Utah Republican had managed to deflect all serious challengers until Wednesday, when state Sen. Dan Liljenquist entered the primary race. Published January 4, 2012
New laws: No caffeine in beer, shark fins in soup
Starting Jan. 1, getting shark fins, caffeinated beer, cough syrup or a tan is going to be tougher than it was in 2011. Published December 26, 2011
Three Denver Muslims lead cheers for Tebow
This is the story of three sports-loving Muslim brothers and how they boosted the career of the NFL's most famous Christian. Published December 22, 2011
Colorado to challenge school-funding ruling
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Wednesday that he would appeal a budget-busting court ruling on school finance to the state Supreme Court. Published December 21, 2011
Judge: Colo. fails to provide enough for schools
That sound you don't hear is Colorado lawmakers holding their breath over a court case that could upend the cash-strapped state's budget and tax structure. Published December 19, 2011
Press turns out a recent glut of ‘rare bipartisan’ breakthroughs
In the sharply divided 112th Congress, bipartisan support for anything seems rare - but perhaps not as "rare" as has been advertised. Published December 15, 2011
Tebow fever grips Denver
Coloradans — even the non-football fans — are as shocked and awed as anyone by the miracle occurring in their own backyard with the rise of Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback and quite possibly the most famous Christian bachelor to walk the Earth in the past 2,000 years. Published December 12, 2011
N.Y., Calif. governors press tax hike on rich
In the space of a few days this week, the Democratic governors of California and New York have backed a bet that voters will embrace the idea of raising taxes on the rich to solve their states' budget woes. Published December 7, 2011
Brown takes tax-the-rich plan directly to California voters
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday unveiled a tax-the-rich ballot initiative aimed at staving off budget cuts to education and public safety. Published December 5, 2011
In Oregon, a new debate on halting executions
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says he intended to start a debate about the death penalty when he announced at an emotional news conference last week that he would block all executions for the remainder of his term. Published November 30, 2011
Bricks-and-mortar stores aim to nail down sales tax
Buying online, especially when it comes to jewelry, cameras, computers and other high-end electronics, can save consumers a hefty chunk of change since no sales tax is charged. But the costs to traditional retailers, not to mention state and local governments, are mounting. Published November 24, 2011
Arpaio is next marked man for recall by ‘posse’ in Arizona
The same Arizona group that took down the state's leading immigration hard-liner is now gunning for its best-known lawman. Published November 23, 2011
Gay-marriage foes win ruling in California
Supporters of traditional marriage scored a crucial victory Thursday as the California Supreme Court ruled that sponsors of Proposition 8 and other ballot measures are entitled to defend the initiatives in court when state leaders refuse to do so. Published November 17, 2011
Elections give GOP a solid hold on South
The South, once solidly Democratic, is more solidly Republican than ever after the 2011 elections. Published November 15, 2011
Texas faces suit after nixing Rebel license plates
A Texas board voted unanimously Thursday to deny an application for specialty license plates featuring the Confederate battle flag, setting the stage for a legal showdown. Published November 10, 2011
Anti-immigration lawmaker ousted in recall
Foes of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce declared a new day in Arizona on Wednesday as they celebrated the recall defeat of the nationally known immigration hawk who was the primary architect of the state's tough anti-illegal-immigrants law. Published November 9, 2011
Mississippi voters reject ‘personhood’ amendment
A Mississippi initiative stating that life begins at conception, known as the "personhood" amendment, was handed an unexpected defeat in Tuesday's off-year election balloting. Published November 9, 2011
Costco in spirited bid to privatize liquor sales
The campaign for Washington state's Initiative 1183 is based on the belief that Costco shoppers should be able to pick up a fifth of Jack Daniels along with their family pack of hot-dog buns and three-pound tubs of mixed nuts. Published November 6, 2011
Chasm wide on Grand Canyon uranium mining
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and a mile deep, which is roughly the size of the gap between the Obama administration and Western Republicans on the issue of uranium mining in Northern Arizona. Published November 3, 2011
Blizzard of ‘no’ in Colorado kills tax hikes for schools
A fast-moving blizzard unloaded a foot of snow on the Denver area Tuesday night just as Colorado voters were dumping cold water on President Obama's re-election strategy. Published November 2, 2011