Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Obama faces mixed reception in Colorado over gun fight
When President Obama arrives here Wednesday to cheer the state's newly passed gun control laws, don't expect Colorado's county sheriffs to join in the celebration. Published April 2, 2013
Holmes faces death penalty in theater shooting
Prosecutors said Monday they will seek the death penalty for James Eagan Holmes, the accused shooter in the deadly Aurora, Colo. theater massacre last summer. Published April 1, 2013
Lawsuit over health care tax could kill ‘Obamacare’
"Obamacare" looks increasingly inevitable, but one lawsuit making its way through the court system could pull the plug on the sweeping federal health care law. Published March 31, 2013
Colorado gun bills spark state hunting boycott; visitors pledge to head elsewhere
A national boycott movement is aimed at Colorado's $1.8 billion hunting industry, launched by gun rights supporters last week after Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law three gun control bills. Published March 27, 2013
Colorado recall effort takes aim at Democrats after gun bills
Colorado gun-rights advocates, furious about last week's signing of three hotly debated gun control bills, are launching recall drives against at least four Democratic legislators and possibly the governor. Published March 26, 2013
Colorado legislature snuffs bill to repeal death penalty
Colorado may follow Maryland in abolishing the death penalty this year, but the repeal will have to come at the hands of voters, not the state legislature. Published March 26, 2013
Colorado governor irks gun-rights backers for publicizing prayer
Colorado gun-rights advocates who met with Gov. John Hickenlooper after a protest rally Saturday may have prayed for him, but that doesn't mean they support his stance on firearms or that they appreciate his making that fact public. Published March 25, 2013
Colorado governor is friends with father of suspect in prison chief’s slaying
In a bizarre twist, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper confirmed Friday that he is good friends with the father of a parolee suspected in the murder of the state's corrections chief, but denied intervening on the son's behalf while he was in prison. Published March 23, 2013
Gunmaker packs up after Colo. control bill signed
No sooner had Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control bills into law Wednesday than the economic backlash began. Published March 21, 2013
Guns accessories manufacturer Magpul leaving Colo. amid new laws
No sooner had Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control bills into law Wednesday than the economic backlash began. Published March 21, 2013
Colorado shocked by prison chief’s murder
An emotional Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper reflected Wednesday on the death of state corrections chief Tom Clements, who was shot and killed at his home Tuesday night after he answered the door. Published March 20, 2013
Colo. governor signs slew of restrictive gun laws
An emotional Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three sweeping gun control bills into law Wednesday, hours after learning that state corrections Chief Tom Clements had been fatally shot at his home. Published March 20, 2013
Colo. governor’s defining moment
Colorado Gov. John W. Hickenlooper has positioned himself as a problem-solver who steers clear of extremes, but sitting on his desk are three gun control bills that threaten to redefine his image and even his political future. Published March 19, 2013
House Speaker John Boehner: Talk of tax increases is ‘over’
Republicans presented a united front on debt and taxes Sunday, ruling out tax increases as a way of reaching a "grand bargain" on the budget despite President Obama's recent efforts to pour on the charm. Published March 17, 2013
Colorado draws up rules for legal pot
A Colorado marijuana task force presented its proposed regulations to the state Legislature on Wednesday that the group's chairman says should alleviate the federal government's concerns about allowing states to legalize adult recreational marijuana. Published March 13, 2013
University of Colorado names first-of-its-kind scholar in conservative thought
One of the nation's most liberal universities has announced it has successfully completed its quest to hire a conservative professor. Published March 13, 2013
Judge enters not guilty plea for Aurora theater-shooting suspect
A judge entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday on behalf of Aurora theater shooting suspect James Eagan Holmes after rejecting a request from his attorneys for more time to formulate a plea. Published March 12, 2013
Bloomberg vows to fight reversal of NYC soda ban
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's landmark ban on big sugary sodas fell flat Monday after a state judge invalidated the rule. Published March 11, 2013
Outdoor Channel striking tents in Colo. if gun bill passes
Colorado stands to lose its status as a premier hunting and sports-shooting destination if the governor signs gun-control bills now rolling through the state legislature, according to an executive producer for the Outdoor Channel. Published March 9, 2013
Ex-DEA chiefs, czars urge action against states legalizing pot
The Obama administration is facing rising national and international pressure to nullify efforts in Colorado and Washington state to implement new laws legalizing recreational marijuana use. Published March 5, 2013