Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Steve and Bridget Tennes of Country Mill Farm fight East Lansing to stay out of gay-wedding business
All Steve and Bridget Tennes want is to sell their apples, peaches and blueberries at a Michigan farmers market without being required to get into the same-sex wedding business, and they are hoping for an assist from Colorado baker Jack Phillips. Published April 11, 2019
National Popular Vote catches fire in blue states as Democrats seek to upend Electoral College
After seven failed attempts in 12 years, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact suddenly caught fire this year in Oregon, finally winning passage in the Democrat-controlled state Senate. Published April 10, 2019
Washington Post denies ‘anti-Trump bias’ in bid to dismiss Nick Sandmann defamation lawsuit
The Washington Post has asked a federal court to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed by Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann, disputing his counsel's allegation that the newspaper's coverage of his face-off with a Native American man was tainted by "an anti-Trump bias." Published April 10, 2019
Maxine Waters grills banks on student loan crisis even though feds took over in 2010
House Financial Services Committee chairwoman Maxine Waters was brought up short Wednesday after she targeted banking chiefs over the student loan crisis, even though the federal government took over student lending in 2010. Published April 10, 2019
Cliven Bundy’s federal lands claim rejected by Nevada judge, calling it ‘simply delusional’
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by cattle rancher Cliven Bundy seeking to have the 59 million acres of federal land within Nevada's borders declared state property, calling the legal argument "simply delusional." Published April 10, 2019
Bobby Rush calls National Fraternal Order of Police ‘sworn enemy of black people’
The National Fraternal Order of Police called Tuesday for Democrats to denounce Rep. Bobby Rush after he disparaged the officers' union as the "sworn enemy of black people" at a press conference for Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx. Published April 9, 2019
Jody Hice pushes House vote on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal
Rep. Jody Hice, Georgia Republican, said Tuesday he plans to introduce a discharge petition to force a House vote on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, saying that voters "need to know where their representatives stand." Published April 9, 2019
Devin Nunes sues McClatchy newspaper chain for $150M alleging defamation, conspiracy
Rep. Devin Nunes, California Republican, filed Monday a $150 million defamation lawsuit against McClatchy newspapers, alleging that the media company engaged in a conspiracy to destroy his reputation and derail his committee's Clinton and Russia investigation. Published April 9, 2019
Jared Polis, Colorado Democrats face recall effort over leftist agenda
The last time Colorado Democrats held the governor's office and both legislative houses, the party's aggressive progressive agenda on gun control touched off a voter revolt that culminated in the recalls of two state senators. Published April 8, 2019
Presidential Committee on Climate Security must be independent, skeptics say
If you're going to set up a presidential panel to review federal climate research, say supporters, it should probably consist of people other than federal climate researchers. Published April 8, 2019
Republican Party in Humboldt County, California, plagued by broken windows, ‘random’ vandalism
The random acts of vandalism against the Humboldt County Republican Party headquarters are starting to look less random. Published April 8, 2019
Socialists to outnumber Republicans on Chicago City Council after leftist wave
Published April 5, 2019
Massachusetts tribe moves forward on casino push without Elizabeth Warren’s support
A Massachusetts tribe seeking to build a $1 billion casino resort has renewed its push for a congressional boost, but this time without the conspicuous support of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who may have done more to hurt the effort than help it. Published April 4, 2019
Racial bias claims hit Southern Poverty Law Center’s status as arbiter of hate
Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, has called for the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the tax-exempt status of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the liberal civil-rights group now struggling with allegations of racism and sexism. Published April 3, 2019
California bans state-funded travel to South Carolina, bringing total to 10 states
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday added South Carolina to the growing list of states banned from state-sponsored travel, citing the Palmetto State's 2018 budget bill allowing faith-based adoption and foster-care services to operate according to their religious beliefs. Published April 2, 2019
Planned Parenthood funding squeezed by Title X abortion reforms
Republicans have a long way to go in their bid to defund Planned Parenthood, but the Trump administration has leveraged a federal family-planning grant program to put the squeeze on the reproductive health care and abortion giant. Published April 2, 2019
House Republicans seek to force vote on infanticide bill after being blocked 25 times
House Republicans said Tuesday they would file a discharge petition to force a vote on an anti-infanticide bill after Democratic leaders blocked the measure from being debated on the floor 25 times. Published April 2, 2019
Joe Biden accused by second woman, Amy Lappos, of unwanted touching
A Connecticut woman came forward Monday to say that former Vice President Joseph R. Biden engaged in unwanted, inappropriate contact with her, grabbing her head and rubbing noses with her. Published April 1, 2019
Joe Biden was being supportive, not creepy, in viral encounters, friends say
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden's camp sought Monday to squelch the "creepy touching" narrative spurred by a former Democratic lawmaker's allegation of unwanted contact, arguing that two previous viral encounters were falsely characterized. Published April 1, 2019
Lucy Flores’ Joe Biden accusation force #MeToo questions from Democrats
A former lawmaker's accusation of unwanted touching by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden forced Democrats to revisit the #MeToo issue over the weekend as one of their own made it clear that she is unwilling to stay quiet for the good of the team. Published March 31, 2019
