Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
GOP lawmakers join fight to save cross at California war memorial
A group of Republican lawmakers has joined the fight to stop a federal court from ordering the removal of a giant white cross that has loomed for decades over the Mount Soledad Veterans War Memorial in San Diego. Published August 22, 2013
Most Colorado voters oppose new gun laws: poll
A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows that most Colorado voters oppose the state's newly passed gun-control laws, refuting Democratic lawmakers' insistence that the gun bills enjoy popular support. Published August 22, 2013
Secessionist ‘51st state’ movement gains steam in rural Colorado
Colorado's secessionist "51st state" movement gained steam Wednesday as commissioners in an eighth rural county agreed to add the question to their November ballot. Published August 21, 2013
Rural Coloradans to vote on forming new state
Voters in several rural Colorado counties will be asked whether they want to form a new state tentatively named Northern Colorado in the November election, a reaction to the Democrat-controlled state legislature's "war on rural Colorado." Published August 19, 2013
Paul and King highlight GOP’s great divide on surveillance
Republicans Rand Paul and Peter T. King sparred Sunday over the National Security Agency's domestic-surveillance program, illustrating the party's divide on the federal government's monitoring of private data in the interest of national security. Published August 18, 2013
Calls grow louder in Congress to make good on threat, cut aid to Egyptian military
Calls to cut U.S. aid to Egypt gained steam Sunday as members of Congress on both sides of the aisle urged the Obama administration to suspend support in the aftermath of deadly clashes between the military and Islamist protesters. Published August 18, 2013
Colo. plumbers push to recall anti-gun lawmaker in online ads
They probably aren't going to win any awards, but the low-budget ads released this week by the plumbers running the effort to recall an anti-gun lawmaker have a homegrown feel. Published August 16, 2013
On climate change, Obama, EPA plan action without Congress
EPA chief Gina McCarthy said Wednesday the Obama administration is finished waiting for Congress to act on climate change and plans to bypass the legislative branch in developing a federal response. Published August 14, 2013
George W. Bush critics howl over honor from University of Denver
DENVER | The debate over George W. Bush's legacy has erupted into a brawl at the University of Denver over whether to present the former president with an award for his humanitarian work. Published August 10, 2013
Pro-gun plumbers unclog political system, gather support for historic recall votes in Colorado
In one of the more unlikely insurgencies of the year in American politics, three young plumbers from Pueblo have stunned Colorado's political establishment by doing what many campaign veterans insisted was impossible. Published July 28, 2013
Sen. Ted Cruz triumphs in 2016 presidential straw poll
Sen. Ted Cruz hasn't said whether he has presidential ambitions, but Sunday he won one of the first straw polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. The Texas Republican captured 45 percent of the 504 votes cast by attendees at the Western Conservative Summit, a day after drawing several standing ovations during his luncheon speech at the fourth annual conference. Published July 28, 2013
Sen. Cruz: Defund Obamacare before Americans become ‘addicted’ to subsidies
Sen. Ted Cruz urged conservatives Saturday to join a petition drive to defund Obamacare, calling it their last chance to stop the national health-care plan before its implementation in January. Published July 27, 2013
GOP stars head to Western Conservative Summit, debate strategy for success
This isn't an election year, but you wouldn't know it from the number of potential Republican presidential candidates rubbing shoulders in swing-state Colorado this weekend. Published July 27, 2013
Sex, money and lies: ‘Culture of Corruption’ boomerangs on Democrats as scandals blossom nationwide
The Democratic Party is battling scandals from New York to San Diego and from city hall to Capitol Hill, as the party finds itself on the defensive over embarrassing lapses ranging from sexual misconduct to multiple scandals ensnaring the Obama administration. Published July 24, 2013
Alaska voters to weigh oil production slide vs. costly tax incentives
A fight over a tax cut is morphing into a battle over Alaskans' sense of themselves and of an energy-based economy that has long distinguished Alaska from the Lower 48. Published July 22, 2013
Detroit’s mayor sees other cities facing bankruptcy
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing warned Sunday that his may be the first major city to declare bankruptcy, but that it won't be the last. Published July 21, 2013
Prominent black leaders split on Trayvon verdict, calls for Florida boycott
A member of the Congressional Black Caucus moved Sunday to dampen calls for an economic boycott of Florida in reaction to the Trayvon Martin verdict, saying the effort could wind up hurting black communities. Published July 21, 2013
Aurora shooting anniversary speakers make push for more gun laws at vigil
Speakers at a vigil marking the one-year anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting Friday urged lawmakers to approve tougher firearms laws while gun-rights supporters watched from the wings. Published July 20, 2013
Latest win for Colorado gun-rights activists: Recall election set Sept. 10
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper set Sept. 10 as the date for the state's first-ever legislative recall election Thursday after a judge rejected a lawsuit aimed at stopping the recalls of two Democratic state legislators. Published July 18, 2013
Gun-rights group unwelcome at Friday memorial for Aurora shooting victims
Plans by a gun-rights group to participate in ceremonies on Friday marking one year since the Aurora theater shooting have drawn criticism from some participants who say the group doesn't belong. Published July 18, 2013