Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Gresham, Oregon, Portland sparks flap after raising Black Lives Matter flag over city hall
The Portland suburb of Gresham, Oregon, has sent ripples through the community by flying a Black Lives Matter flag over city hall. Published July 23, 2020
Kate Brown, Ted Wheeler, Oregon Democrats AWOL as Portland riots rage, Republicans say
Democrats have been lambasting President Trump for sending in officers to protect federal buildings in Portland, but Republicans are increasingly asking where Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler are. Published July 22, 2020
Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer: ‘Portland, Oregon, is not out of control’
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Democrat, insists that the protest chaos in Portland isn't as bad as it looks, despite some "inappropriate and unlawful" behavior. Published July 22, 2020
Ted Cruz seeks to hold hands-off local officials liable for protest, rioting damage
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, has a plan on how to douse the protest violence in Portland, Seattle and elsewhere: Hold local officials responsible for failing to stop it. Published July 22, 2020
California parents sue Gavin Newsom to reopen schools
A group of California parents sued Tuesday to reopen the schools for in-person learning, arguing that shutdown is discriminatory and scientifically unsound, given that children are at least risk from the novel coronavirus. Published July 21, 2020
Portland decries federal agents’ ‘invasion’ as riots rage
Democrats and mayors escalated their calls Tuesday for federal law enforcement to withdraw from Portland, but if they did, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad F. Wolf said violent mobs would raze the federal courthouse -- and local authorities would do nothing to stop them. Published July 21, 2020
Calls to boycott Major League Baseball trend after players kneel during national anthem
Calls to boycott Major League Baseball spiked Tuesday after the league posted a photo of some San Francisco Giants players kneeling during the national anthem prior to an exhibition game. Published July 21, 2020
Rand Paul rips Anthony Fauci praise of New York coronavirus response
Sen. Rand Paul, himself a physician, offered a second opinion Monday on Dr. Anthony Fauci's praise for New York's novel coronavirus response. Published July 20, 2020
Coronavirus mask confrontations escalate across U.S.
Deaths from the coronavirus may have plunged, but if viral videos are any indication, mask-shaming is spiking as more states and localities enact face-covering orders aimed at slowing the spread of the infection. Published July 20, 2020
Larry Elder’s Black conservative film ‘Uncle Tom’ takes top spot for documentaries
"Uncle Tom," a film about Black conservatives hosted by Larry Elder, has become a surprise hit, topping the industry documentary charts despite little publicity outside the right-of-center media sphere. Published July 20, 2020
Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho puts initiative on one ballot
Rural Oregonians are ready to bolt for Idaho after nearly two months of daily protests and rioting in Portland. Published July 19, 2020
Only 29% of Americans want to drop ‘Redskins,’ half want to keep it: Poll
Only 29% of U.S. adults want the NFL's Washington Redskins to retire its nickname, while half favor keeping it, even as the team moves forward under corporate pressure to drop the long-disputed logo and moniker. Published July 18, 2020
Florida Democrats call for Gov. DeSantis to enact another stay-at-home order
Florida Democrats Friday called on Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue targeted stay-at-home orders and a statewide mask mandate, insisting that "dramatic, science-based" action was needed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Published July 18, 2020
African American museum removes ‘whiteness’ chart over claims of backhanded racism
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture has removed a "whiteness" graphic that ascribed traits such as "hard work," "self-reliance," "delayed gratification," being on time, and politeness to "white culture." Published July 17, 2020
Kanye West qualifies for Oklahoma ballot as independent presidential candidate
It remains to be seen how serious music mogul and entrepreneur Kanye West is about running for president, but he's on the ballot in Oklahoma. Published July 16, 2020
Andrew Cuomo coronavirus victory lap on Jimmy Fallon slammed
Even though he presides over the state with the most novel coronavirus cases and deaths, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken a victory lap this week to trumpet his state's success in fighting the infection. Published July 15, 2020
Black Lives Matter protesters turn rage to churches, religious statues
It would be quite a stretch to blame churches for George Floyd's death, police brutality or Confederate memorials, yet houses of worship and religious statues are coming under attack in the protest mayhem. Published July 15, 2020
George Floyd’s family files civil lawsuit against Minneapolis, four officers involved in arrest
The family of George Floyd announced the filing Wednesday of a federal lawsuit against Minneapolis and the four officers charged in his death, alleging that the city permitted a culture of racism and excessive force within the police department. Published July 15, 2020
Court allows Dakota Access pipeline to keep delivering oil during legal fight
A federal court blocked late Tuesday the emptying of the Dakota Access pipeline, allowing the continued delivery of crude oil as the legal battle plays out over a judge's shutdown order. Published July 15, 2020
Coronavirus splits U.S. along party lines
The coronavirus knows no party affiliation, but the response to the U.S. epidemic is increasingly splitting along political lines. Published July 14, 2020
