Valerie Richardson

Wildlife agency takes aim at marijuana farms that poison species

Illegal marijuana growers in the Pacific Northwest may soon have to more to fear than federal drug agents. The bigger danger may come from wildlife biologists from the Fish and Wildlife Service. Published October 7, 2014

Scientists reject climate change link to Colorado floods

Climate change activists were quick to blame last year's unprecedented, devastating Colorado flooding on increased human-caused emissions in the atmosphere, but a study released this week says that's not the case. Published October 2, 2014

Justice Antonin Scalia defends keeping God, religion in public square

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Wednesday that secularists are wrong when they argue the Constitution requires religious references to be banished from the public square. Published October 1, 2014

Udall latest Democrat to be accused of downplaying Islamic State threat

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a television ad Tuesday accusing Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado of being soft on national security for saying during a debate that the Islamic State doesn't pose an "imminent threat." Published September 30, 2014

‘Not white’ Salt Lake officer ‘justified’ in shooting of unarmed youth

The Salt Lake County district attorney announced Tuesday that the minority police officer who fatally shot an unarmed white suspect was "legally justified," in a case that drew national attention in the aftermath of the racially charged police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Published September 30, 2014

Mitt Romney proves to be a draw in Colorado races

Luckily for Colorado Democrats, it's too late for a recount of the 2012 presidential race here, since Republican challenger Mitt Romney is proving vastly more popular on the campaign trail than President Obama. Published September 29, 2014

Boehner wants to stop ‘butting heads’ with president

House Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday he hopes to persuade President Obama after the November election to end the gridlock and tackle a host of contentious issues, including immigration reform and the Keystone XL pipeline. Published September 28, 2014

Obama says administration may have misjudged Islamic State

President Obama acknowledged Sunday that his administration misjudged the danger from the rising Islamic State, while House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, said the result is that U.S. officials may have “no choice” but to send troops back to the Middle East. Published September 28, 2014

Wealthy single women choose conservative men over liberals

Successful women seeking a love connection prefer conservative men to their liberal counterparts, according to figures released last week by an online dating service. Published September 28, 2014

Suburbs clash over solutions as residents battle coyote infestation

When Charlene Warner walks her dog each morning in her neighborhood in upscale Seal Beach, California, she’s terrified she’ll be attacked — not by muggers or gangs, but by coyotes. Published September 28, 2014

Republican Sullivan overtakes Sen. Begich in four latest Alaska Senate polls

Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan has pulled ahead of Democratic Sen. Mark Begich in four separate polls released in the last few days, lending more drama to a race that could decide control of the Senate. Published September 27, 2014

GOP doubles down with ad slamming the Udall ‘Dynasty’

Having a famous family name is usually a plus in politics, but Republicans are going populist on what they call the “dynasty” candidacy of Colorado Sen. Mark Udall. Published September 26, 2014

Climate changers criticized for taking fossil-fuel money while calling for divestment

Another climate-change group is being accused of hypocrisy for accepting fossil-fuel funding even as its leaders call for others to divest from coal, oil and natural gas. Published September 25, 2014

Colorado marijuana VIPs raise green stuff for Sen. Mark Udall

Colorado marijuana bigwigs are holding a fundraiser Friday for Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, an indication that the growing industry is moving to exercise its clout in partisan politics. Published September 25, 2014

Millennial group hits Senate Dems for supporting Internet sales tax

Two vulnerable Senate Democrats are depicted as being on the wrong side of the generation gap in a television ad released Wednesday by a millennial advocacy group. Published September 24, 2014

Climate article points up tensions for newspaper

The Los Angeles Times won’t run letters from climate-change “deniers,” so readers may have been surprised to find an article in Monday’s edition on research concluding that natural changes in the wind — not fossil-fuel emissions — are driving West Coast land and sea warming. Published September 24, 2014