Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Climate change ‘denier’ scientist funding investigation countered by ‘warmist’ probe
A Democrat-led congressional investigation into the funding sources of scientists skeptical of climate-change doomsday scenarios has triggered another scientific law — to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction — from the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Published March 11, 2015
Petition to rename Buffalo, N.Y., used as critique of Redskins controversy
For the record, Mark Beasley doesn't really want the city of Buffalo to change its name. But his petition isn't exactly a joke either. Published March 9, 2015
Benjamin Netanyahu troubled by U.S. offers of a ‘nuclear umbrella’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that "troubling questions" are raised if reports are accurate that the White House is offering Arab states a "nuclear umbrella" to protect them from Iran. Published March 8, 2015
Hillary Clinton email scandal intensifies as Benghazi investigators find ‘huge gaps’
The Hillary Rodham Clinton email scandal picked up steam Sunday as the lead Republican investigator on Benghazi said there are "huge gaps" between emails received so far from her private server, and even a top Senate Democrat urged Mrs. Clinton to be more forthcoming. Published March 8, 2015
Ferguson mayor vows to hold biased police accountable
The mayor of Ferguson said city officials will hold accountable anyone involved in the targeting of the minority community for tickets and arrests revealed in last week’s Justice Department report. Published March 8, 2015
Ex-ambassador alleges ‘different standard’ at State Department on private emails
Former U.S. Ambassador Scott Gration, who lost his Kenya post in part over a private email account, said Sunday that a "different standard" was applied to his case and that of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Published March 8, 2015
More voters side with Benjamin Netanyahu than Obama on Iran nuclear deal: poll
That speech before Congress may have worked: More U.S. voters appear to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tougher approach over President Obama's more conciliatory strategy when it comes to negotiations with Iran. Published March 6, 2015
Sheriffs in three states sue to weed out recreational marijuana in Colorado
A dozen sheriffs and county attorneys from three states sued Thursday to overturn Colorado's recreational marijuana law, the latest in a string of lawsuits targeting the nation's first legalized retail pot market. Published March 5, 2015
Democrats press on despite heat over ‘witch hunt’ into climate scientists’ funding
Democrats may be flustered after a week of being accused of engineering an anti-science "witch hunt," but they aren't backing down from their investigations into the financial backing of climate change researchers who challenge the movement's doomsday scenarios. Published March 5, 2015
Omar Trevino Morales, Zetas cartel capo ‘Z-42,’ arrested in pre-dawn raid
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's low-key approach to fighting the country's bloody drug wars wasn't supposed to be focused on capturing drug kingpins, and yet somehow they keep landing in jail. Published March 4, 2015
Utah officer punished for resisting performing in gay-pride parade speaks out
As a police officer, Eric Moutsos had no problem with working security at a gay-rights parade, but he did have a problem with kicking off the festivities by performing a choreographed routine as part of the department's motorcycle squad. Published March 4, 2015
Civil rights commissioners: Rein in education admin. on ‘unlawful’ bullying, sexual assault policies
Two federal civil-rights commissioners are calling on Congress to nix a proposed budget increase for the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, charging it with enacting overreaching and even unlawful policies on school discipline, sexual harassment and bullying. Published March 4, 2015
North Dakota counters plunging oil prices with $1.1 billion infrastructure ‘surge’
No state among the lower 48 has been hit harder by the drop in oil prices than North Dakota, which is why Gov. Jack Dalrymple, a Republican, has taken a page from U.S. military tactics in Iraq and signed off last week on a $1.1 billion "surge" designed to buck up the state's infrastructure needs as it adjusts to changing times. Published March 1, 2015
Black pastors to Congressional Black Caucus: Skipping Netanyahu a ‘slap in the face’ to Israel
The message from a dozen prominent black pastors this week to the Congressional Black Caucus was loud and clear: Don't skip out on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuhu's speech. Published February 27, 2015
Most Americans agree bakers, florists should be able to opt out of gay weddings: poll
An overwhelming majority of Americans support the right of business owners to "follow their beliefs about marriage," even as courts increasingly rule against bakers, florists and others who resist providing services for same-sex weddings. Published February 25, 2015
Benjamin Netanyahu backers hint at consequences for Democrats who boycott speech
Team Barack started strong, but Team Bibi is showing it knows how to finish, as supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pick up steam against those urging a boycott of his speech next week before Congress. Published February 23, 2015
Washington florist rejects state’s deal requiring her to cater to gay weddings or none at all
Washington Attorney General Bib Ferguson has offered florist Barronelle Stutzman a deal: She can cater to same-sex weddings or she can stop doing weddings altogether. Published February 22, 2015
Authorities: Explosion near NAACP office targeted accountant
The man arrested for planting a small bomb outside a Colorado Springs building said he was targeting a tax preparer, not the NAACP. Published February 20, 2015
Climate change activists dismiss fossil fuel divestment movement as waste of time, resources
Paul Hamill isn't what you'd call a climate denier. Far from it. But he's also not a fan of pressuring academic institutions to sell off their fossil fuel stocks. Published February 19, 2015
Colorado marijuana law faces RICO lawsuit
A Colorado hotel franchise and two property owners filed lawsuits Thursday to bring a halt to the state's legalization of recreational marijuana, citing violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Published February 19, 2015
