Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Justice Department sues Maine over defiance on transgender athletes in female sports
Maine earned the distinction Wednesday of being the first state to be sued by the Justice Department over its transgender-athlete policy, but the Trump administration's battle against biological males in female sports isn't stopping there. Published April 16, 2025
Organizer cites bias after losing CME credit for class on harms of ‘gender-affirming care’
Health care professionals may earn Continuing Medical Education credit for any number of classes promoting "gender-affirming care," but courses on its drawbacks are apparently a different story. Published April 4, 2025
Trump administration launches special team to handle ‘staggering volume’ of Title IX complaints
The Trump administration announced the formation of a special investigative unit to review possible violations of Title IX, responding to the "staggering volume" of complaints about biological males in female facilities, activities and sports. Published April 4, 2025
Female fencer takes knee in protest rather than compete against transgender foe
A woman who refused to compete against a transgender opponent was expelled from the tournament by USA Fencing, the national governing body for the sport. Published April 2, 2025
California Democrats kill bills to bar transgender athletes in female sports
California Gov. Gavin Newsom may be uncomfortable with biological males competing against females, but that didn't stop his fellow Democrats from defeating state legislation to bar transgender athletes from girls' scholastic sports. Published April 2, 2025
Trump administration freezes dozens of research grants to Princeton
The Trump administration has suspended dozens of research grants to Princeton University, the latest elite institution to absorb a hit to its federal funding as the government mounts a full-court press against antisemitism in academia. Published April 2, 2025
Ithaca College cites ‘misunderstanding’ after transgender athlete competes in women’s race
It didn't take long for a transgender athlete to slip past the NCAA rules barring biological males from women's sports. Published April 1, 2025
HHS hits nine Planned Parenthood affiliates with funding freeze
The Department of Health and Human Services has halted millions in grant payments to a maze of organizations, including nine Planned Parenthood affiliates, pending a review of their compliance with federal law. Published April 1, 2025
Maine gets ‘final warning’ after defying Trump’s ban on biological males in girls’ sports
The Trump administration has issued a "final warning" to Maine officials over their failure to bar male-born athletes from competing in girls' sports, saying the matter will be referred to the Justice Department unless the state takes action. Published March 31, 2025
ACLU lawyer accuses Trump of ‘lying’ for saying there are male athletes pretending to be women
The American Civil Liberties Union has long insisted that "trans women are women," and the backlash against male-born athletes in female sports hasn't changed that. Published March 31, 2025
Harvard’s federal funding in crosshairs of Trump administration’s antisemitism task force
The Trump administration has opened an examination of the government's financial relationship with Harvard University, an indication that the nation's richest college could be the next to lose its federal contracts and grants over its handling of campus antisemitism. Published March 31, 2025
Before Commander and Major, Biden’s dog Champ also attacked Secret Service agents
Commander and Major weren't the first Biden family pets with a penchant for gnawing on U.S. Secret Service agents. Published March 31, 2025
Feds go after California’s ban on schools telling parents of child’s gender transition
The Trump administration is cracking down on California schools that hide students' gender-change efforts from parents. Published March 28, 2025
First female athlete to lose NCAA title to biological male wants honors returned to women
In the annals of NCAA history, Minna Svard holds a unique distinction: She was the first female athlete to lose a women's title to a known transgender competitor. Published March 27, 2025
Kirk Cameron counters woke kids’ shows with ‘Iggy and Mr. Kirk’ on Brave+
Parents alarmed about the woke direction of children's television programming, never fear: Kirk Cameron is here. Published March 27, 2025
Illinois’ pro-abortion amendment faces religious-freedom lawsuit
The Diocese of Springfield doesn't want to hire abortion-rights activists, but the church worries that refusing to do so based on their pro-choice views may now violate Illinois law. Published March 22, 2025
Federal investigation opens into Illinois schools over transgender in girls’ locker room
Illinois education authorities were hit with a federal probe over a mother's report that her middle-school daughter and other girls were required to change clothes in the same locker room as a biological male who identifies as female. Published March 20, 2025
NCAA back on defense as female athletes blast updated transgender policy
The National Collegiate Athletic Association can't win for losing when it comes to the transgender athlete issue. Published March 20, 2025
Greenpeace found liable for nearly $700 million in damages against Dakota Access Pipeline
A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found Greenpeace liable for defamation and other claims brought by a pipeline company in connection with protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. Published March 19, 2025
Trump administration ices $175 million to Penn over transgender athletes in women’s sports
The White House announced Wednesday that it has frozen $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania for allowing transgender athletes to compete against women based on gender identity. Published March 19, 2025
