Valerie Richardson

Ukrainian prime minister accuses Putin of moving to restore Soviet Union

Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to restore the Soviet Union, first by annexing Crimea and then by swallowing the Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine. Published April 20, 2014

Critics rail against liberal bias for commencement speakers

This year's Democratic commencement speakers outnumber their Republicans counterparts by more than 2 to 1, according to a survey by Campus Reform. Published April 18, 2014

Harry Reid blasts Bundy ranch supporters as ‘domestic terrorists’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called supporters of rancher Cliven Bundy "domestic terrorists" Thursday, turning up the rhetorical heat on the already tense situation at the Nevada cattle operation. Published April 18, 2014

‘Culture of intimidation’ seen in Nevada ranch standoff

Sending scores of armed agents along with helicopters and dogs to confront an elderly Nevada rancher over grazing fees may seem like overkill, but critics say it's not inconsistent with the federal government's recent approach to environmental enforcement. Published April 15, 2014

Defiant Reid vows Bundy ranch confrontation ‘not over’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid weighed in on the Nevada ranch standoff, warning that even though federal agents retreated over the weekend, "it's not over." Published April 14, 2014

Nevada Bundy ranch standoff could leave dirt on Harry Reid reputation

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said little as federal agents seized and then released cattle last week from the Bundy ranch, but there is little doubt that the highly charged episode was threatening to become a political headache for the Nevada Democrat. Published April 13, 2014

Court rules bias at University of North Carolina-Wilmington against conservative professor

It took seven years of court battles, but conservative academic Mike Adams is now a full professor at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Published April 9, 2014

Colorado Dems have gender pay problems of their own

Democratic lawmakers may preach paycheck equality, but it turns out their female staffers are still coming up short compared to their male counterparts. Published April 9, 2014

Alaska to sue Interior Department for road to reach medical aid

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell announced Monday that the state will sue the Obama administration to allow construction of a 10-mile road to give residents of a remote fishing village access to emergency medical flights at an all-weather airport. Published April 7, 2014

High court declines photographer’s appeal in gay marriage case

The Supreme Court refused Monday to jump into the raging debate over whether artisans must participate in same-sex weddings, allowing to stand a New Mexico high court against a photographer who declined to take pictures at a commitment ceremony. Published April 7, 2014

Calls rise after Fort Hood to allow carrying firearms on base

Fort Hood may seem worlds apart from Sandy Hook Elementary School, but they have at least two things in common: Both have been victimized recently by horrific mass shootings, and neither allows the carrying of firearms. Published April 5, 2014

Details emerging in Fort Hood massacre

An armed female security officer confronted Fort Hood gunman Spc. Ivan Lopez minutes after his deadly rampage began, firing off a round before he put his .45-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. Published April 3, 2014

Another risky Alaska flight, courtesy of Obama administration regulations

Another seriously injured patient has been required to undergo a risky flight by medevac in treacherous conditions from King Cove, Alaska, the result of the Obama administration’s refusal to allow the construction of a 10-mile road. Published April 2, 2014

The Steyer Brothers: GOP finds Koch rivals who finance Democrats

While Democrats hammer away at the influence of the Koch brothers, conservatives are swinging back by pointing to the liberal campaign activism and free-spending ways of the wealthy Steyer brothers, Jim and Tom. Published April 1, 2014

Democrats behaving badly: Scandals taint party in a tough election year

A flood of corruption scandals involving state and local Democratic Party lawmakers is threatening to muddy the party's image as it enters what was already a tough election cycle. Published March 30, 2014

College’s pick of pro-choice speaker sparks outcry

Barnard College’s decision to select Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards as its graduation speaker has triggered a backlash from conservative students. Published March 28, 2014

NRA ad targets disgraced California Dem Yee

Disgraced California state Sen. Leland Yee is the new poster boy in a social media ad campaign released Thursday by the National Rifle Association. Published March 28, 2014

NRA aims social-media ad at Calif. state Sen. Leland Yee

Disgraced California state Sen. Leland Yee is the new poster boy in a social-media ad campaign released Thursday by the National Rifle Association. Published March 28, 2014

In wild West, growing battle of man vs. nature

The deadly mudslide in Washington state offers a grim perspective on an issue bedeviling the West: homebuyers who move beyond the suburbs and build their houses up against, and even into, the wilderness. Published March 27, 2014

Alaskans battle for survival against feds’ protection of migratory birds

Washington's refusal to allow a 10-mile gravel road between King Cove and the airport at Cold Bay is a matter of life or death for Alaskans who rely on quick access to airports and hospital flights as much as migratory birds rely on the eel grass that the Interior Department would rather preserve. Published March 26, 2014