Valerie Richardson

Hayworth to battle ‘moderate’ McCain

After coming within a few million votes of the presidency, John McCain is suddenly facing the toughest re-election fight of his nearly 24-year Senate career. Published February 15, 2010

Moderate Republicans crash tea party

"Tea party" Republicans aren't the only candidates poised to make inroads this year - moderate Republicans are surging from Illinois to California, and in several instances proving they can best tea-party-powered conservatives at the polls. Published February 11, 2010

Prop. 8 trial stirs questions, emotions

The trial on the federal constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban, has been in many respects a tale of two trials. The question is, which trial was U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker watching? Published February 8, 2010

Cash-strapped states avoid word ‘taxes’

Faced with severe budget shortfalls after a steep economic recession, state legislatures and governors are trying to raise money without raising taxes — at least not technically. Published February 3, 2010

U.S. raises $500 million for Haiti

Even when money's tight, Americans can be counted on to lend a hand in the midst of a disaster, as witnessed by the U.S. response to the devastation wrought by the Haiti earthquake. Published January 27, 2010

Fight on right enlivens Utah Senate race

On the list of endangered congressional incumbents this year, Sen. Robert F. Bennett is one of the last names you'd expect to see. Yet Mr. Bennett is in trouble, according to both the polls and the prevailing political winds, which are blowing from the right. Published January 25, 2010

Haiti appeal from Planned Parenthood hit

Pro-life groups are accusing Planned Parenthood of taking advantage of the humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti to promote a pro-choice agenda. Published January 22, 2010

Federal health care foes plot for state opt-outs

Congress can pass a federal health care bill and President Obama can sign it, but that doesn't mean the states plan to abide by it. Published January 19, 2010

Denver mayor aims for open governor’s seat

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper jumped into the Colorado governor's race Tuesday, an unsurprising decision that immediately made him the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee. Published January 13, 2010

Cameras blocked at Prop 8 trial

The Supreme Court on Monday temporarily blocked a federal judge's decision to allow cameras in the courtroom during the trial on the constitutionality of California's same-sex-marriage ban. Published January 12, 2010

Salazar won’t run for Colo. governor

DENVER | Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Thursday he won't run for Colorado governor in 2010 and instead threw his support behind Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for the job. Published January 8, 2010

Colo. governor won’t seek 2nd term

UPDATED: Colorado Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter announced Wednesday that he will not seek a second term, saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Jeanne, and four children. Published January 6, 2010

Gay-marriage foes slam plans to televise Prop 8 trial

Supporters of traditional marriage are outraged over a California judge's efforts to bring television cameras into court next week to cover a trial challenging Proposition 8, California's initiative against gay marriage. Published January 6, 2010

Feisty Pombo will run again

Former Rep. Richard Pombo, the feisty California Republican known for his black cowboy hats and his epic battles with environmentalists, announced Tuesday that he will run again for Congress. Published January 6, 2010

Native Hawaiian tribal rights bill spurs row

The next time President Obama vacations in his native Hawaii, there could be something new on the island: an Indian tribe. Published January 5, 2010

Drug skeptics fear Colorado going to pot

When Colorado voters passed an amendment in 2000 allowing medical marijuana use, it was not clear that they were giving the go-ahead to launch hundreds of over-the-counter pot shops across the state. Yet that's the reality. Published January 4, 2010

Retailers judged naughty or nice on Christmas theme

The Gap is naughty, Target is nice, and Dick's Sporting Goods is a little of both, according to results of Focus on the Family's Stand for Christmas project, which invites shoppers to evaluate retailers based on Christmas-friendliness. Published December 24, 2009

Balloon-boy hoax parents get jail terms

The Fort Collins, Colo., parents behind the balloon-boy hoax received short jail sentences for falsely reporting that their young son had floated off in a homemade balloon in order to gain publicity for a reality television show. Published December 24, 2009

‘Balloon boy’s‘ parents get jail time

The mastermind of the "balloon boy" hoax, Richard Heene, was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail for his role in triggering an international panic by falsely reporting that his son had floated off in a balloon. Published December 23, 2009

Colo. court upholds tax privacy for illegals

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that authorities violated the constitutional privacy rights of suspected undocumented workers when they seized their tax records in an identity-theft investigation. Published December 15, 2009