Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Wyoming becomes first state to outlaw abortion pills
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill making it illegal to prescribe or dispense abortion pills, making his state the first to place an outright ban on what has become the nation's most common method of pregnancy termination. Published March 18, 2023
Kirk Cameron draws protesters in drag for children’s book reading at Arkansas library
Kirk Cameron drew another large crowd and some protesters at a reading of his children's book in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the latest stop on his national library tour offering an alternative to drag queen story hours. Published March 18, 2023
Massachusetts trans athlete runs into opposition after helping girls’ team win track title
Another outcry over transgender athletes is brewing, this time in Massachusetts over a student who helped Brookline High School win a girls' state track-and-field championship after transitioning from male to female. Published March 16, 2023
Sen. Cruz wants Texas bar to scrutinize Stanford applicants who heckled conservative judge
Passing the bar in Texas could become that much more difficult for the Stanford Law School students who shouted down a conservative federal judge. Published March 16, 2023
Texas judge hears arguments in challenge to FDA’s approval of abortion drug
A federal judge in Texas heard arguments but did not rule Wednesday on whether to block the Food and Drug Administration's approval of a pregnancy-termination drug, a case viewed as the most significant legal battleground on abortion since the fall of Roe v. Wade. Published March 15, 2023
Cruz calls on Stanford to fire diversity dean, discipline students who shut down federal judge
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, called on Stanford officials to reprimand the students who last week shouted down a speech by a conservative federal judge, as well as fire the administrator who scolded the guest speaker instead of the agitators. Published March 15, 2023
‘Cut the check’: San Francisco board urged to adopt reparations report with $5M payouts
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors came under pressure Tuesday to accept a draft proposal on reparations that includes $5 million for each eligible Black adult resident, a budget-busting figure increasingly embraced by supporters as the baseline. Published March 15, 2023
DeSantis defends ban on ‘mutilation of minors’ after Biden rips Florida’s ‘cruel’ trans policies
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came out swinging after President Biden blasted Florida's initiatives on transgender youth as "cruel" and "close to sinful." Published March 14, 2023
Ex-transgender ‘detransitioners’ raise red flags about ‘gender-affirming care’
They may never have a week named in their honor or a flag flown outside a federal building, but formerly transgender people switching back to their original sex are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore. Published March 14, 2023
DeSantis moves to revoke hotel’s liquor license over ‘sexually explicit’ drag show open to kids
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is hitting entertainment venues where it hurts, threatening their liquor licenses over bawdy Christmas drag performances with children in attendance. Published March 14, 2023
Ted Cruz rips Stanford for ‘trying to train Antifa’ after students heckle conservative judge
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, accused Stanford Law School of training "left-wing radicals" and "Antifa" after a student mob shouted down a conservative federal judge. Published March 13, 2023
Blaming the car? Minnesota AG Ellison targets Kia, Hyundai over rising auto thefts
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is seeking to combat a surge in vehicle thefts by going after auto manufacturers, prompting Republicans to accuse him of blaming cars for being stolen. Published March 10, 2023
Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin stokes 2024 presidential chatter with CNN town hall on education
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin raised his national profile at a CNN town hall on education, fielding thorny questions in hostile territory with sunny optimism while fueling speculation about a possible 2024 presidential bid. Published March 10, 2023
West Virginia asks Supreme Court to allow ban on biological males in female sports
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state to enforce its ban on biological males in female sports, offering the high court its first opportunity to take up the fierce debate over fairness versus inclusion in girls' and women's athletics. Published March 9, 2023
Oscars under pressure to replace actor, actress awards with gender-neutral honors
The winner of this year's Oscar for best actress could be the last as the entertainment industry marches toward gender neutrality, eliminating sex-specific honors in a bow to the gender-identity movement. Published March 9, 2023
Judge denies bail to all suspects in ‘Cop City’ attack — except Southern Poverty Law Center lawyer
A Southern Poverty Law Center lawyer charged with domestic terrorism was released Tuesday on bail, the only one of 22 suspects to be granted bond by a magistrate judge in the violent attack on "Cop City," a future police training center near Atlanta. Published March 7, 2023
Lawyer charged in riot at planned ATL police training center was ‘legal observer,’ says SPLC
The Southern Poverty Law Center defended a staff lawyer charged with domestic terrorism during the violent Antifa-style siege on the planned Atlanta police training center, saying he was serving as a "legal observer" for the leftist National Lawyers Guild. Published March 7, 2023
Newsom: California won’t do business with Walgreens over abortion-pill stance
California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged Monday to stop conducting business with Walgreens after the pharmaceutical retailer said it would not distribute abortion pills by mail in states where attorneys general have threatened legal action. Published March 6, 2023
Southern Poverty Law Center lawyer charged with domestic terrorism in ‘Cop City’ attack
The Southern Poverty Law Center may want to look a little closer to home in its quest to expose violent extremism. Published March 6, 2023
Civil-rights commissioners call on Congress to update Title IX to specify ‘biological sex’
The four conservatives on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights urged House Republicans to battle the Biden administration's effort to give female-identifying male students access to girls' restrooms and locker rooms, which could include amending Title IX to include "biological sex." Published March 6, 2023
