Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Texas House speaker signs civil arrest warrants for 52 absent Democrats
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has signed civil arrest warrants for 52 missing House Democrats directing authorities to bring them back to the chamber, which has been stymied for a month in the absence of a quorum. Published August 10, 2021
Face-off erupts over masks as virus, mandates spread
Calls for another round of mask mandates, fueled by an uptick in COVID-19 cases, have public officials going nose-to-nose on whether Americans should once again cover up. Published August 10, 2021
Setting fire to police precinct was ‘act of righteousness,’ says Minneapolis Democratic Party chair
The Minneapolis Democratic Party chair came under fire Tuesday for praising last year's torching of the Third Precinct police headquarters as an "act of pure righteousness." Published August 10, 2021
‘You threw us under the bus’: Texas House Democrats divided as some return to Austin
A feud erupted among Texas House Democrats as some trickled back to the state Capitol Monday after nearly a month in Washington, D.C., their returns coming on the heels of a court order blocking Gov. Greg Abbott from arresting them. Published August 10, 2021
Runaway Texas House Democrats mocked for ‘embarrassingly bad’ lawsuit blaming exit on GOP
A federal lawsuit filed against three Texas Republicans by the wayward House Democrats is gaining a reputation as a must-read legal document, but for all the wrong reasons. Published August 9, 2021
State Department denies Kerry flew privately for Obama’s party
The State Department denied reports Saturday that climate czar John Kerry flew privately to Martha's Vineyard for former President Barack Obama's 60th birthday party. Published August 7, 2021
‘Laurel Hubbard is a man’ tweet lands Erick Erickson in Twitter jail
Conservative Christian radio host Erick Erickson said Saturday his Twitter account was suspended over a tweet in which he described New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard as a man. Published August 7, 2021
Canadian soccer star Quinn wins Olympic gold, makes transgender history without uproar
The same people accused of being transphobic for wanting to ban male-born transgender athletes from women's sports have no problem with Canadian soccer player Quinn. Published August 6, 2021
Barrasso seeks to delay Tracy Stone-Manning vote over $100,000 loan from developer
Senate Democrats have stood behind President Biden's nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management despite her role in a tree-spiking plot, but Republicans say the six-figure loan she received as a government staffer from a wealthy Montana developer should also give them pause. Published August 6, 2021
Gov. Abbott calls Texas Democrats’ bluff with second special legislative session
The quorum-busting Texas House Democrats may have to prolong their stay in Washington, D.C. Published August 5, 2021
Ron DeSantis takes on Biden: ‘I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis swung back Wednesday after President Biden criticized his opposition to mask mandates, saying the administration should focus on stopping novel coronavirus variants from entering the country via the southern border. Published August 4, 2021
Early recall comes back to haunt Newsom as virus, mandates surge
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was riding high after a buoyant pandemic reopening in June when state Democrats decided to fast-track the gubernatorial recall vote, but what once looked like a strategic decision now looms as a huge blunder. Published August 4, 2021
Semenya redux? Mboma’s silver medal spurs testosterone debate
A Namibian teen whose high testosterone prevented her from competing in her preferred event won Olympic silver Tuesday in the women's 200m race, teeing up another round in the ongoing dust-up over fairness in female sports. Published August 3, 2021
Peter Kirsanow blasts Portland’s ‘discriminatory’ plan to give $2 million to ‘artists of color’
U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow on Tuesday urged Portland to reconsider its decision to funnel millions in stimulus funding to "artists of color," warning that distributing federal dollars based on race violates civil-rights laws. Published August 3, 2021
Canadian Olympic archer triggers clash over transgender transparency
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became Monday the first openly transgender women's Olympian to compete based on gender identity, but the key may be "openly." Published August 3, 2021
Masterpiece Cakeshop’s Jack Phillips appeals ruling over gender-transition cake
Colorado bakery owner Jack Phillips announced Tuesday that he has filed an appeal in a case brought over his refusal to create a pink-and-blue gender-transition cake. Published August 3, 2021
U.S. committee defends Raven Saunders’ ‘respectful’ podium protest at Olympics
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has come to the defense of shot putter Raven Saunders' "respectful" podium protest as the International Olympic Committee weighs whether to impose sanctions on the track-and-field star. Published August 3, 2021
American Loggers Council urges Senate to oppose Tracy Stone-Manning over tree-spiking
The American Loggers Council, described as the only national group solely dedicated to representing independent loggers and log truck contractors, said its board of directors recently voted unanimously to oppose the nomination. Published August 2, 2021
Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard fails to complete lifts in Olympic bid
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made history Monday by becoming the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the women's Olympics based on gender identity, but her bid to win a medal fell flat. Published August 2, 2021
Raven Saunders takes politics to podium with Olympic protest
U.S. track-and-field athlete Raven Saunders raised her arms in a symbolic protest Sunday after winning the silver in the women's shot put, placing her at odds with the ban on making political statements during the Olympic medal ceremony. Published August 1, 2021
