Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Colorado sues Boulder County clerk to stop her from issuing gay marriage licenses
The Boulder County Clerk's decision last week to start issuing licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of Colorado law has her in hot water with state officials. Published July 3, 2014
California grants wind industry permit to kill eagles, ruffling more than feathers
In a bid to give alternative energy sources a boost, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has quietly granted a California wind energy farm a permit to kill a limited number of endangered bald and golden eagles that get sliced up in its giant turbines. Published July 2, 2014
Poll: Colorado governor’s race locked in dead heat
Bad news for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper: A poll released Tuesday shows him running neck and neck with newly nominated Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez. Published July 1, 2014
Anti-fracking vote mixed blessing for Colo. governor
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper is a strong supporter of hydraulic fracturing, but last week's defeat of a high-profile local anti-fracking initiative wasn’t good news for him or state Democrats. Published June 30, 2014
Tie-dyed no more: At Colorado summit, marijuana industry is serious business
Those expecting to find hippies in tie-dyed T-shirts at the inaugural National Cannabis Industry Association's Cannabis Business Summit last week were in for a rude awakening. Published June 29, 2014
Colo. Dems’ push for Tancredo backfires; GOP nominates Beauprez for governor
Former Rep. Bob Beauprez won Tuesday the Colorado Republican gubernatorial nomination, overcoming Democratic efforts to promote his nearest rival, former Rep. Tom Tancredo. Published June 25, 2014
Border children fuel debate in GOP race for Arizona governor
The crush of border-crossing children being dropped off by the Obama administration in Arizona has erupted as a campaign issue in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. Published June 23, 2014
Role reversal: Col. Democrat hit as immigration hard-liner
Ordinarily it's the Republican candidate who gets hammered for being insufficiently supportive of illegal immigrants, but that's not how the dynamic is playing out in a pivotal House race here. Published June 19, 2014
Life inside a children’s warehouse: Border agents watch over illegals in limbo over their futures
Imagine running a high-security day care at a Costco, and you have a pretty good idea of the scenario unfolding along the Arizona border. Published June 18, 2014
Sen. Mark Udall embraces Obama, not pipeline
Other vulnerable Senate Democrats in tight re-election battles are embracing the Keystone XL pipeline and stiff-arming President Obama — but not Colorado's Mark Udall. Published June 16, 2014
Bans on fracking in Colorado would hurt family farms, elderly
When foes of fracking complain about moneybags billionaires profiteering from "Big Oil," they're probably not thinking of people like Bob and Cristy Koeneke. Published June 12, 2014
Colorado unveils Obamacare tax to boost struggling state exchange
Colorado will begin charging an Obamacare tax next month on all health insurance policies — even those obtained through private employers — to help prop up the state's struggling health care exchange. Published June 10, 2014
Calif. judge rules teacher tenure policies unconstitutional
In a stunning defeat for teachers' unions, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge found Tuesday that job-security policies such as teacher tenure are unconstitutional because they cause disproportionate harm to poor and minority students. Published June 10, 2014
Clinton defends Obama’s prisoner exchange
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton defended the Obama administration's hotly debated prisoner swap Sunday, saying the circumstances behind the American soldier's capture don't matter. Published June 8, 2014
Gunmen kill 13 people at airport in Karachi, Pakistan
Heavily armed gunmen attacked Pakistan’s busiest airport late Sunday, killing 13 people and touching off a gunfight with police and military commandos. Published June 8, 2014
Kerry says exchanged Taliban fighters could re-enter terror war — at ‘enormous risk’
Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Sunday that the five Taliban prisoners recently released in a prisoner exchange may re-enter the battle, but warned that they face "enormous risk" if they do. Published June 8, 2014
Koch brothers donate to college fund; Steyer’s money aimed at climate change
This year's best-known politically active billionaires — liberal Tom Steyer and the libertarian Koch brothers — drew headlines Friday for a pair of hefty charitable contributions, but that's where the similarities end. Published June 8, 2014
Kochs give to United Negro College Fund while Steyer offers climate-change aid
This year's best-known politically active billionaires — liberal Tom Steyer and the libertarian Koch brothers — drew headlines Friday for a pair of hefty charitable contributions, but that's where the similarities end. Published June 8, 2014
Dems try to manipulate Colorado GOP primary against Bob Beauprez with pro-Tancredo ads
Democrats really don't want former Rep. Bob Beauprez to win this month's Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary, so they're hitting the airwaves with television ads aimed at boosting his nearest rival, former Rep. Tom Tancredo. Published June 7, 2014
Remote town sues feds over blocked road project
The Aleut community of King Cove, Alaska, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Interior Department over its refusal to allow the construction of a 10-mile gravel road to an all-weather airport. Published June 4, 2014
