Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Former Greenpeace insider Patrick Moore who questions climate change says he can stand the heat
As a former Greenpeace insider, Patrick Moore wasn't surprised by the heated reaction from the left on his explosive testimony about climate change last week before a Senate committee. Published March 4, 2014
Pot shot: GOP candidates see hit to Colorado’s image from legal weed
Colorado may be the first state with a retail marijuana market, but that doesn't mean the next governor has to like it. Published March 3, 2014
Arizona veto likely to chill other religious freedom bills
The uproar over the religious freedom bill vetoed Wednesday by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to have a chilling effect on the handful of similar bills making their way through other state legislatures. Published February 27, 2014
Alaska marijuana-legalization initiative clears signature hurdle to qualify for ballot
An Alaska initiative to legalize recreational marijuana qualified Wednesday for the August primary ballot after gathering more than 36,000 valid signatures. Published February 27, 2014
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes controversial religious freedom bill
The Republican governor's decision came amid a national outcry against Senate Bill 1062, led by gay-rights leaders who said the bill essentially legalized discrimination against homosexuals. Published February 26, 2014
Colorado GOP switches candidates in effort to oust Sen. Udall
Rep. Cory Gardner will run for the Republican Senate nomination instead of seeking reelection, according to Republicans. At the same time, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said he will drop out of the Senate race and instead pursue the GOP nod for Mr. Gardner's House seat. Published February 26, 2014
Health links hyped to drive fear of fracking despite studies that fail to back up claims
Environmentalists are still waiting for proof that hydraulic fracturing makes people sick, but that's not stopping them from whipping up anxiety over public health. Published February 25, 2014
Gov. Jan Brewer feeling heat over Arizona religious freedom bill
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is feeling the heat after returning Tuesday to Phoenix from the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., and it's not just the change in the climate. Published February 25, 2014
Proposal to split California into 6 states launches signature drive
The Silicon Valley venture capitalist behind the "six Californias" proposal announced Monday that his campaign has launched its petition drive to place the measure on the November ballot. Published February 24, 2014
U.S. warns Russia to keep its military out of Ukraine
The Obama administration warned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday not to react too aggressively to the fast-moving developments in Ukraine, where pro-Western demonstrators forced the nation's Moscow-backed president from power over the weekend. Published February 23, 2014
GOP rivals agree states need freedom to craft policy
Three potential rivals for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination said Sunday the nation could learn from its GOP governors. Published February 23, 2014
Walker says newly released emails show nothing new or incriminating
Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin dismissed Sunday as “old news” questions about whether he knew public employees were doing campaign work during his tenure as Milwaukee County executive. Published February 23, 2014
Rice: Russian involvement in Ukraine would be ‘grave mistake’
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a couple of blunt warnings from U.S. policymakers Sunday over his involvement in the protest-wracked Ukraine. Published February 23, 2014
Susan Rice: ‘Not 100 percent correct’ on Benghazi, but no regrets
National Security Adviser Susan Rice insisted Sunday she used "the best information we had at the time" when she described the deadly Benghazi attack as a spontaneous protest in 2012 — but Sen. John McCain wasn't buying it. Published February 23, 2014
Sen. Mark Udall feeling heat over ties to climate change billionaire
Not all Coloradans were impressed by Sen. Mark Udall's invitation to liberal billionaire Tom Steyer's exclusive Democratic Party fund-raiser. Published February 19, 2014
Secession movement in New York pushes for Big Apple to split from Upstate
A movement is afoot to split New York into two regions — upstate and downstate — to acknowledge the gaping philosophical differences and improve representation. Published February 17, 2014
Banks warned they risk prosecution if they follow Obama admin. guidance on marijuana
Banker, beware: Association says banks at risk for prosecution under Obama administration guidance on marijuana Published February 14, 2014
Montana’s John Walsh thrust into action on first day as senator
Montana Sen. John Walsh's first full day on the job came as a crash course on the perils of incumbency. Published February 12, 2014
Colorado Democrats stand ground on embattled state gun control laws
Colorado Democrats have shown no interest in reworking the gun control bills that led to last year's grass-roots revolt and historic recall elections, shooting down every Republican attempt so far to repeal or revise the measures. Published February 11, 2014
Colorado Democrats defeat attempt to undo limits on ammunition magazines
Colorado Democrats rejected Monday a chance for a do-over on last year's hotly debated gun-control bills, killing a Republican-sponsored measure to repeal the limit on ammunition-magazine capacity. Published February 10, 2014
