Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
EPA’s move to raise ethanol mix in gasoline fuels alarm over engine damage
The Environmental Protection Agency's move to add more ethanol to gasoline will wreak havoc on lawn mowers, snow blowers, boats and even cars, say critics. Published May 20, 2016
California tribes’ casino wealth draws Congress into local zoning disputes
As far as Rep. Lois Capps is concerned, the ongoing skirmish over development fueled by tribal gambling in her Santa Barbara County district is a local matter -- not a platform for lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who lives hundreds of miles away. Published May 19, 2016
‘Redskins’ offensive even if most Native Americans disagree, critics say
Opponents of the Washington Redskins name struggled to justify their opposition Thursday after an independent poll showed that fully 90 percent of American Indians surveyed said the name doesn't offend them. Published May 19, 2016
California tribes use status to circumvent zoning and taxes, angering neighbors
For years, Fess Parker, the actor best known as television's Daniel Boone, was thwarted in his efforts to develop 1,400 acres of rolling green hills known as Camp 4 nestled in the lush Santa Ynez Valley. Shortly before he died in 2010, however, Parker sold the property to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for $42 million. Published May 18, 2016
Mark Zuckerberg continues to deny bias after Facebook meeting with conservatives
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg continued to deny that company employees suppressed right-of-center topics on the platform even after meeting Wednesday with more than a dozen leading conservatives. Published May 18, 2016
House Republicans launch free-speech probe into prosecutors targeting climate skeptics
House Republicans this week launched an investigation into the 17 attorneys general pursuing fraud allegations against climate change skeptics, citing concerns about the campaign's impact on free speech and scientific inquiry. Published May 18, 2016
Exxon ‘climate deceit’ lawsuit threatened
An environmental group with ties to a broad coalition against Exxon Mobil Corp. announced Tuesday that it plans to sue the company for "climate deceit," the latest effort to use the legal system to punish dissenters of climate change. Published May 17, 2016
Facebook’s algorithm bias only as neutral as their creators
It turns out the algorithms that govern the internet can be as biased as the people who create and update them. Published May 16, 2016
Think tank asks court to fine Virgin Islands A.G. after he agrees to pull climate subpoena
The Competitive Enterprise Institute asked a federal court Monday to fine the Virgin Islands Attorney General over his investigation into the free-market nonprofit's climate-change dissent after he agreed to withdraw his subpoena. Published May 16, 2016
Texas, Alabama AGs call on court to end climate-change ‘fishing expedition’ against Exxon
The Alabama and Texas attorneys general called Monday for a state court to end a climate-change investigation into ExxonMobil, describing the Virgin Islands probe as an abuse of prosecutorial power driven by ideology. Published May 16, 2016
#NeverTrump third-party search a ‘suicide mission,’ Reince Priebus warns
The Republican Party and Donald Trump inched toward unity Sunday as Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus moved to squelch efforts by #NeverTrump conservatives seeking a third-party alternative. Published May 15, 2016
Climate skeptic RICO pushers tried to hide records, emails suggest
It turns out that the George Mason University professors calling for a federal racketeering probe into climate skepticism engaged in a little colluding of their own. Published May 15, 2016
Nate Silver, 538 founder, gives Donald Trump 25% chance of beating Hillary Clinton in November
Political prognosticator Nate Silver said Sunday that he gives Republican Donald Trump a 25 percent chance of winning the 2016 presidential election. Published May 15, 2016
Newt Gingrich says he’d probably say yes if asked to run as Donald Trump’s veep
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he and his wife, Calista, "could be lured into a new path" if presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump were to ask him to join the ticket. Published May 15, 2016
Reince Priebus, RNC chairman: Voters don’t care about flaps over Donald Trump’s taxes, publicist
Those attacking Donald Trump over his tax returns and his publicist fail to realize that most voters don't care, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Sunday. Published May 15, 2016
Paul Manafort, Trump strategist: House Speaker Paul Ryan didn’t ask Donald Trump to ‘change’
Paul Ryan did not ask Donald Trump to "change" during their meeting with Republican leaders last week on Capitol Hill, a top Trump aide said Sunday. Published May 15, 2016
Man who choked girl in women’s restroom stokes alarm over transgender access
The attack by a man on an 8-year-old girl in a women's restroom last week in a Chicago restaurant is raising alarm about opposite-sex access to public facilities in the name of transgender rights. Published May 14, 2016
Exxon climate change ‘fraud’ probe recalls tobacco windfall
After winning an $800 million settlement last year against Hess Oil, Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude E. Walker was eager to find what he described as other litigation "targets." Published May 12, 2016
EPA rocks fossil-fuel industry with tougher methane regs aimed at climate change
The Obama administration rocked the energy sector Thursday by unveiling a finalized methane standard even tougher than the one proposed last year in the name of combating climate change. Published May 12, 2016
Donald Trump winning over Republicans as Ben Sasse’s third-party pitch falls flat
Far from irreparably fracturing the GOP, Donald Trump is quickly winning the backing of many of the party's top elected officials, with senators returning to Washington this week pledging their support for him as their nominee. Published May 10, 2016
