Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Colo. court upholds illegals’ privacy rights
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that authorities violated the constitutional privacy rights of illegal immigrants when they seized their tax records in an identify-theft investigation, a decision that infuriated illegal-immigration foes. Published December 14, 2009
University of Colorado bans Nerf guns
Shortly after Colorado State University voted to ban firearms, the University of Colorado decided to get rid of simulated toy weapons. Published December 11, 2009
Colo. college shoots down Nerf gun use
It was a rough week for gun rights in Colorado. Published December 9, 2009
Abortion re-emerges as top issue
Those who remember the 1980s must be experiencing deja vu: Meryl Streep is the toast of Hollywood, Michael Jackson's latest release debuted at the top of the charts, and abortion is the hot-button political topic in Washington. Published December 8, 2009
Tancredo rouses gun rights advocates
DENVER | Former Rep. Tom Tancredo, best known for his tough stand in Congress against illegal immigration, has taken up a new cause since his retirement from the House last year: defending American gun owners against international treaties. Published December 4, 2009
Delayed Pap test proposal, breast cancer report fuel health fight
A leading medical group added new fuel to a budding health care controversy on Friday by recommending that women delay their first cervical-cancer screening until age 21 instead of starting the test three years after becoming sexually active. Published November 21, 2009
Tribe battles to keep logo for Fighting Sioux
The most prominent defenders of the University of North Dakota's right to call its teams the Fighting Sioux are neither alumni nor hockey fans. Published November 20, 2009
Sebelius shuns new mammogram report
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius rejected an independent panel's advice that breast-cancer screenings be delayed for women in their 40s in the face of a backlash by Republicans, who argued the report is a taste of things to come under a Democratic health care system. Published November 19, 2009
Colorado joins trend to tax medical marijuana
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. on Tuesday directed the state's medical-marijuana dispensaries to pay sales tax and obtain retail-sales licenses, bringing the once-taboo product closer to mainstream respectability. Published November 18, 2009
Washington Blade closes; new paper for gays planned
The Washington Blade stopped the presses Monday after 40 years, but another publication serving the gay community may rise in its ashes. Published November 17, 2009
Washington Blade newspaper shutters
The Washington Blade newspaper has shut down after 40 years, but staffers say they plan another publication to serve Washington's gay community. Published November 16, 2009
‘Balloon boy’ parents set to plead guilty
The Colorado parents accused of perpetrating the "balloon boy" hoax were charged with felony and misdemeanor counts Thursday and have agreed to plead guilty Friday as part of a plea agreement. Published November 13, 2009
Lawyer: Balloon boy parents to plead guilty
The Colorado parents accused of masterminding the "balloon-boy" escapade plan to plead guilty Friday to both felony and misdemeanor charges and could serve light jail terms as part of a plea agreement designed to keep the family together, according to their attorney. Published November 12, 2009
Gay rights movement sees few gains
Gay rights advocates took some comfort in small victories from Tuesday's elections after suffering a major defeat in Maine, where voters rejected a state same-sex marriage law. Published November 5, 2009
Maine gay marriage ban locked in vote
The vote on whether to affirm or reject same-sex marriage in Maine remained too close to call in Tuesday's early election returns. Published November 4, 2009
Aborted fetus cells used in beauty creams
A San Francisco cosmetics company has ignited an outcry among pro-lifers for including an unexpected ingredient in its anti-aging creams: skin-cell proteins from an aborted fetus. Published November 3, 2009
Historic vote on same-sex unions in Maine
Maine voters will make history next month when they cast their ballots on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the state — one way or another. Published October 27, 2009
‘Balloon-boy’ dad told sons to lie, police say
Richard Heene instructed his children to lie to police and involved them in possible felony criminal behavior as part of last week's "balloon-boy" hoax, law enforcement authorities say. Published October 21, 2009
Slew of mayoral races spice up election season
More than a dozen big and mid-sized cities are electing mayors on Nov. 3. Published October 20, 2009
Colo. sheriff bursts story of ‘balloon boy’
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden concluded fairly early on that the "balloon boy" saga was nothing but hot air, yet he continued to state publicly that he believed the Heenes were telling the truth. Published October 19, 2009
