Skip to content
Advertisement

Valerie Richardson

Valerie Richardson

Valerie Richardson covers politics and the West from Denver. She can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Valerie Richardson

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2015 file photo, Dan Bender, with the La Plata County Sheriff's Office, takes a water sample from the Animas River near Durango, Colo. after the accidental release of an estimated 3 million gallons of waste from the Gold King Mine by a crew led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 that it wont pay claims totaling more than $1.2 billion for economic damages from the spill, saying the law prohibits it.  (Jerry McBride /The Durango Herald via AP, File)

Obama’s EPA refuses to pay claims from Gold King Mine spill

The Obama administration exits with an ugly environmental blot on its record after failing to hold itself financially accountable for the Gold King Mine spill, but Republicans are hoping President-elect Donald Trump will clean up the mess. Published January 19, 2017

Presidential inaugurations routinely draw protesters, such as this one in 2001, but this year could bring record-shattering crowds against Donald Trump. (Associated Press)

Donald Trump inauguration protests expected to break records

Democrats, left-wing activists and people who just don't like Donald Trump are planning to descend on Friday's inauguration ceremony and related events by the thousands in an effort to start the 45th president's term off on the wrong foot. Published January 17, 2017

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell looks from Dead Horse Point, near Moab, Utah, where President Obama designated one of two national monuments Wednesday, that have become key flash points over use of public land in the U.S. West. (Associated Press)

Obama’s public lands policy leaves legacy of conflict

With two new massive set-asides in his final weeks in office, President Obama has moved aggressively to solidify a legacy on public lands that's often put the White House at odds with state officials who want to see more local control over land use. Published January 1, 2017