Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island governor, signs late-term abortion bill minutes after passage
A Rhode Island late-term abortion bill appeared to be finished after legislators voted it down last month in committee, but it turns out the Reproductive Privacy Act wasn't going anywhere. Published June 20, 2019
Court delivers blow to Planned Parenthood by allowing Title X abortion restrictions
A federal appeals court delivered a setback Thursday to Planned Parenthood by lifting injunctions on the Trump administration's rule prohibiting family-planning funds for facilities that perform or support abortions. Published June 20, 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand abortion-racism comparison angers pro-life blacks
Nobody was more surprised or offended than black pro-life activists like Roland Warren when Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand compared their beliefs to racism. Published June 19, 2019
Tech industry slams Josh Hawley’s bill targeting internet bias, censorship
Big Tech came out swinging Wednesday against a newly proposed bill by Sen. Josh Hawley that seeks to end censorship and bias on major social-media platforms. Published June 19, 2019
Trump administration finishes off Obama-era anti-coal Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration finished Wednesday its repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the heart of the Obama-era climate legacy, replacing it with a rule that extends a lifeline to the coal industry by giving states more leeway on reducing power-plant emissions. Published June 19, 2019
Black Hat cybersecurity conference faces backlash after dropping keynote Will Hurd
A top tech-security conference has hacked off conservatives and free-speech advocates by disinviting Rep. Will Hurd -- a black Texas Republican known for expertise on cybersecurity -- as keynote speaker over his pro-life views. Published June 17, 2019
Oberlin College ordered to pay Gibson Bakery $33 million over anti-bakery protests
An Ohio jury awarded Thursday a maximum $33 million in punitive damages to a local bakery targeted by Oberlin College protesters, triple the $11 million in compensatory damages announced in last week's verdict. Published June 13, 2019
Gov. Kate Brown makes Oregon latest blue state to join National Popular Vote
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed Wednesday a bill to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, bringing to 16 the number of jurisdictions that have joined the accord to bypass the Electoral College. Published June 12, 2019
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs late-term abortion bill at celebratory ceremony
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker drew enthusiastic whoops and cheers from the crowd Wednesday at a festive ceremony that saw him sign a bill creating a "fundamental right" to abortion and clearing the way for late-term procedures. Published June 12, 2019
Jack Phillips, Colorado baker, faces new legal battle, this time over cake for transgender person
Colorado baker Jack Phillips is going to court once again over his refusal to prepare a transgender-themed birthday cake. Published June 12, 2019
Google, Facebook prompt journalism groups’ calls for congressional help
Journalists have traditionally kept an arm's length relationship with lawmakers, but as news outlets continue to shed jobs and fold, press advocates want members of Congress to step in and save the industry from Google and Facebook. Published June 11, 2019
Phil Scott, Republican Vermont governor, signs bill protecting abortion rights
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed Monday a sweeping no-limits abortion bill, creating a "fundamental right" to the procedure as a bulwark against the Supreme Court's 5-4 conservative majority. Published June 11, 2019
Linda Sarsour blasts Black-Jewish Caucus over Jewish Republican’s role
Women's March co-leader Linda Sarsour has come out swinging against the newly formed Congressional Black-Jewish Caucus, citing the involvement of a Jewish GOP congressman. Published June 11, 2019
Michael Stelzer, Missouri judge, keeps open state’s last abortion clinic for now
A state judge ruled Monday that Missouri's last abortion clinic will remain open while a battle over its application renewal unfolds, despite what the governor described as "numerous violations of state laws and regulations." Published June 10, 2019
Trump deal pressures Mexico to slow migration or face tariffs
President Trump inked a road map with Mexico, and -- contrary to some media carping otherwise -- he did win, at least on paper, some significant concessions from the nation's southern neighbor. Published June 9, 2019
Amy Klobuchar credits abortion drop to Planned Parenthood
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, on Sunday credited Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, with reducing the number of U.S. abortions. Published June 9, 2019
Martha Barcena, Mexican ambassador, denies CBS News claim she contradicted Donald Trump
Mexico's Ambassador to the U.S. Martha Barcena refuted Sunday a CBS News report saying that she contradicted President Trump during an interview on "Face the Nation," prompting the network to backtrack on its claim. Published June 9, 2019
Ron Johnson: Donald Trump leveraged tariffs ‘brilliantly’ in Mexico border deal
Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, said Sunday that President Trump negotiated "brilliantly" with Mexico by securing a border-security deal days after threatening to impose tariffs. Published June 9, 2019
Iowa poll: Beto O’Rourke in free-fall, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren rising
Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke emerged as the biggest loser in the Iowa Poll released Sunday as his support plummeted, but he insisted that he's not worried. Published June 9, 2019
Bernie Sanders: Border surge ‘serious problem,’ not ‘crisis’
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday that the arrival of record numbers of illegal immigrants on the southern border was a "serious problem," but not a crisis. Published June 9, 2019
