Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Joe Manchin to vote for Biden pick Tracy Stone-Manning despite her role in tree-spiking plot
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin III plans to vote in favor of embattled Bureau of Land Management nominee Tracy Stone-Manning, despite disclosures about her role in a tree-spiking case that have rocked her nomination. Published July 20, 2021
Ben & Jerry’s boycott of settlements condemned by Israel officials
Ben & Jerry's announced Monday it would stop selling its ice cream in the West Bank settlements, handing a significant victory to the anti-Israel boycott movement and spurring scathing condemnations from Israeli officials. Published July 19, 2021
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends masks in school for everyone, vaccinated or not
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all staff and students over the age of 2 wear facial coverings during the 2021-22 school year, including those who are fully vaccinated for the novel coronavirus. Published July 19, 2021
‘Hell, yeah, I would leave’: Lindsey Graham backs taking cue from Texas Dems to halt spending bill
The Texas House Democrats who fled Austin to stop the Republican majority from approving an elections bill have given Sen. Lindsey Graham an idea. Published July 19, 2021
Two-thirds of likely voters say VP Harris not ready to be president, poll shows
Vice President Kamala Harris apparently has some work to do with the voters before she seeks the top job. Published July 19, 2021
Number of Texas House Democrats testing positive for COVID-19 rises to five
Two more of the Texas House Democrats who absconded to Washington, D.C., to prevent a vote on election legislation have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total to five. Published July 19, 2021
Biden official sees return of mask mandates as ‘very reasonable’
The U.S. surgeon general predicted Sunday that surging coronavirus cases would trigger another round of local mask mandates even as Los Angeles County faced pushback on its order requiring facial coverings for the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike. Published July 18, 2021
Minnesota Democrat denies ‘deeply disturbing’ allegations, refuses to resign
A first-term Minnesota Democratic legislator rebuffed mounting calls to resign by Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz, over domestic-assault allegations that surfaced after a high-profile traffic stop. Published July 18, 2021
COVID-19 positive Texas Democrat says illness shows ‘sacrifice’ for ‘cause of democracy’
A Texas House Democrat who came down with the coronavirus after fleeing to the nation's capital said Sunday that her diagnosis shows the "sacrifices we are willing to make for the cause of democracy." Published July 18, 2021
‘It’s not punishment’: Los Angeles County supervisor defends latest mask mandate
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis defended the decision to bring back the masks to counter a spike in coronavirus cases, calling it prevention, not punishment. Published July 18, 2021
Former surgeon general calls CDC’s relaxing of mask guidance ‘premature’
Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams said that the CDC's relaxing of its mask guidance was "premature" and "wrong." Published July 18, 2021
Klobuchar: Justice Breyer should leave ‘sooner rather than later’ if he’s going to retire
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday that if Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer is planning to retire, "it should be sooner rather than later." Published July 18, 2021
CNN’s Dana Bash asks Biden official if Fox News is ‘killing people’ with vaccine commentary
CNN anchor Dana Bash took a direct shot at Fox News, asking Surgeon General Vivek Murthy if Fox was "killing people" with its COVID vaccination commentary. Published July 18, 2021
Los Angeles County sheriff refuses to enforce latest mask mandate
Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he won't enforce the county's renewed mask mandate, which went into effect at one minute before midnight Saturday. Published July 18, 2021
Three runaway Texas Democrats test positive for COVID after fleeing to Washington
In a Saturday statement, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said that a member of the caucus reported testing positive Friday for COVID-19, and that two more legislators received positive test results Saturday after taking the rapid test. Published July 17, 2021
Minnesota GOP, Democrats call on Democratic legislator to resign over domestic assault cases
The Minnesota Democratic and Republican parties both called Saturday for the resignation of Democratic state Rep. John Thompson, who recently accused an officer of racial profiling, over multiple allegations of domestic violence. Published July 17, 2021
‘Get back to work’: Republican ad targets wayward Texas Democrats
The Texas Democratic legislators camped out in the nation's capital to stymie a new voting bill back home show no sign of returning to Austin, so Republicans are giving them a nudge. Published July 16, 2021
Minnesota Democrat lands in political mire after racial-profiling allegation
Minnesota state Rep. John Thompson won election in November on the strength of his reputation as a racial-justice activist, but his latest racism allegations against a police officer now threaten his budding legislative career. Published July 15, 2021
Black Lives Matter blames Cuba unrest on U.S.; Cruz, Rubio fire back
Black Lives Matter responded to the pro-freedom protests in Cuba by blaming the U.S. government for the unrest, calling for the removal of the economic embargo and blasting U.S. efforts to "crush this Revolution." Published July 15, 2021
‘Not an innocent bystander’: Ex-agent disputes Biden nominee’s tree-spiking account
A former federal agent has challenged the account of President Biden's pick to head the Bureau of Land Management over her role in a controversial 1989 tree-spiking plot, saying that she knew she was under investigation and refused to cooperate until she was threatened with an indictment. Published July 15, 2021
