Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Andy Johnson, Wyoming farmer, sues EPA over $16M fines over stock pond
Farmer Andy Johnson hasn't sent millions of gallons of gold-mine wastewater down any rivers, but he's facing more than $16 million in fines from the Environmental Protection Agency for running afoul the Clean Water Act. Published August 30, 2015
Planned Parenthood admits it manipulates rules on fetal organ sales to maximize profit
In a letter to Congress intended to defend its practices and attack its hidden-video critics, Planned Parenthood wound up lending credence to accusations that it manipulates rules on selling fetal organs to maximize profit. Published August 27, 2015
Nebraskans get more than enough signatures for vote to bring back death penalty
Nebraskans for the Death Penalty announced Wednesday that they have gathered enough signatures to force a repeal vote on the newly enacted state law eliminating capital punishment. Published August 26, 2015
EPA: Gauging mine’s water level before spill would have been ‘difficult,’ ‘expensive’
An EPA internal review released Wednesday concluded that its crew underestimated the water pressure building up behind the debris at the Gold King Mine, but that it would have been "very difficult and expensive" to figure that out. Published August 26, 2015
Planned Parenthood video shows StemExpress eager to do bulk business on fetal parts
StemExpress CEO Cate Dyer says that it isn't easy keeping up with the demand for fetal organs procured from abortions -- she could use "another 50 livers a week" -- which is one reason she relies on Planned Parenthood. Published August 25, 2015
EPA rebuked for failing to comply with House mine spill investigation
The Environmental Protection Agency came under fire Tuesday for neglecting to turn over most of the documents requested by a House committee related to the Gold King Mine spill. Published August 25, 2015
Planned Parenthood asks court to block Louisiana’s defunding effort
Planned Parenthood moved Tuesday to counter state efforts aimed at cutting off its funding by asking a federal judge Tuesday to stop Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal from cancelling its Medicaid contract. Published August 25, 2015
Lamar Smith wants Colorado mine EPA contractor to testify
The chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee wants to hear from the EPA contractor on the Gold King Mine spill after learning that the agency knew about the risk of a blowout in advance. Published August 24, 2015
EPA knew of ‘blowout’ risk at Gold King Mine
Denver -- It turns out the Environmental Protection Agency knew about the risk of a blowout from the Gold King Mine more than a year before orange toxic sludge flooded the Animas River in southwest Colorado. Published August 23, 2015
Planned Parenthood videos energize pro-life movement, fuel protests nationwide
Stephanie McKee says she has opposed abortion for years, but Saturday marked the first time she had ever attended a pro-life rally. Why now? Published August 23, 2015
Thousands rally against Planned Parenthood in massive national protest
Thousands of pro-lifers turned out in U.S. cities nationwide Saturday for a massive show of opposition against Planned Parenthood, an event billed as the largest simultaneous protest ever aimed at the embattled abortion and health-care provider. Published August 22, 2015
Pro-life center rushes to post StemExpress footage after restraining order lifted
The Center for Medical Progress posted a short video Friday showing a StemExpress executive joking about receiving intact fetal cadavers from abortions, publishing the footage shortly after a Los Angeles judge dissolved a temporary restraining order against its release. Published August 21, 2015
Planned Parenthood losing social-media war sparked by undercover videos
Planned Parenthood for America is losing the social-media war in the aftermath of undercover videos on its fetal-tissue donations from abortions, according to an analysis released Friday. Published August 21, 2015
Gina McCarthy called to testify on Animas River toxic spill
The chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee called Friday on EPA administrator Gina McCarthy to testify before the panel on the Animas River wastewater spill triggered by an EPA-led crew. Published August 21, 2015
EPA draws ire of Navajo Nation after water arrives in dirty oil tanks
The EPA spill that contaminated rivers in Colorado and New Mexico was bad enough, but now Navajo Nation officials are fuming after a delivery of water for livestock and crops arrived in dirty oil tanks. Published August 20, 2015
Mine’s owner says he tried to keep out EPA but was threatened with fines
The owner of the Colorado's Gold King Mine says he tried to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from gaining access to his property, but that he relented after the agency threatened to pound him with ruinous fines if he refused. Published August 20, 2015
EPA toxic mine spill gets Interior second probe
A second federal investigation into the EPA's accidental toxic wastewater spill into the Animas River launched Tuesday, this one conducted by the Interior Department. Published August 18, 2015
Ben Carson visits Colorado to decry EPA’s toxic spill
The EPA's massive toxic spill triggered fallout Tuesday from Republicans as presidential hopeful Ben Carson visited the site, and a key congressman disclosed that at least two House committees are planning to investigate the incident. Published August 18, 2015
Planned Parenthood targets Republican senators with ads
Planned Parenthood moved to punish its enemies Tuesday with ads that say nothing about recent allegations of wrongdoing stemming from its fetal-tissue donations from abortions, but instead target vulnerable Republican senators. Published August 18, 2015
Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation president, won’t drink Animas water after EPA spill
EPA officials have assured those living along the Animas and San Juan rivers that water quality is back to normal, but some locals can be forgiven if they don't entirely trust the federal government after its monster mining spill. Published August 17, 2015