Valerie Richardson

Obama visits fire-ravaged Colorado

President Obama surveyed Friday the damage from the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, praising responders for their efforts and remarking on the enormity of the devastation. Published June 29, 2012

Court inaction on Calif. cross leaves it standing

The Supreme Court declined this week to hear an appeal in the case of the Mount Soledad cross, but that doesn't mean the iconic cross is coming down any time soon. Published June 27, 2012

Utah’s Sen. Hatch, N.Y.’s Rep. Rangel win primary challenges

Two veteran congressmen, New York's Rep. Charles Rangel and Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch, headed to victory Tuesday after early returns showed them staving off primary challenges from younger rivals. Published June 26, 2012

Arizona’s AG: Court’s ruling is ‘a 70% win’

Arizona Republicans declared victory Monday after the Supreme Court upheld the key provision of the state's immigration law requiring police to check the status of suspected illegal immigrants during a lawful stop. Published June 25, 2012

Utah challenger a thorn in Hatch’s side

If Dan Liljenquist falls short in Tuesday's Utah Republican Senate primary, it won't be for a lack of trying. The former state senator has waged a no-holds-barred campaign against six-term incumbent Sen. Orrin G. Hatch. Published June 24, 2012

California voters deal twin blows to unions

An election night that began with Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker winning his recall election grew progressively worse for public-sector unions as California voters approved steep pension-cutting measures in two major cities. Published June 6, 2012

Prop 8 may go before high court

Supporters of traditional marriage announced Tuesday they will petition to bring California's Proposition 8 before the Supreme Court after a lower federal court refused to hear an appeal in the case. Published June 5, 2012

Laundry list California ballot has Feinstein, 23 others

California voters can head to the movies Tuesday to watch "Snow White and the Huntsman," or turn up at the ballot box to see something not much different: "Dianne Feinstein and the 23 Dwarfs." Published June 4, 2012

Romney ‘answers call’ on energy in Colorado

A video from a Colorado coal town brought the Mitt Romney campaign to the community Tuesday, where he touted his pro-development energy strategy and blasted President Obama for tying the hands of the energy sector. Published May 29, 2012

After Lugar’s loss, Hatch not taking Senate race for granted

Orrin G. Hatch appeared to be coasting to victory in Utah's Republican Senate primary, and then Richard G. Lugar happened. Published May 28, 2012

Obama makes case for defense cuts

President Obama made the case for his proposed defense cuts Wednesday in his commencement speech at the Air Force Academy, calling for a leaner but better-prepared military ready to deal with a range of threats. Published May 23, 2012

Civil-unions battle uncivil in Colo.

Even with President Obama "evolving" his way to support of gay marriage, the politics of the issue are playing out in the states, with potentially large consequences for the vote in November. Published May 15, 2012

Utah’s Love looking to be first black Republican woman in House

Sooner or later, a black Republican woman was bound to run for Congress. It's just that nobody expected her to hail from Utah. Published April 23, 2012

Hatch is denied easy GOP victory to keep Senate seat

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah will face a contested Republican primary for the first time in 36 years, but that's not necessarily bad news for the six-term senator. Published April 21, 2012

Hatch’s re-election bid looking more secure

As Utah Republicans prepare to nominate a Senate candidate this weekend, it appears that Sen. Orrin Hatch may have bucked the anti-incumbent trend. Published April 19, 2012

Force behind ‘stand your ground’ bows to pressure from liberal groups

The American Legislative Exchange Council, the low-profile but high-impact force behind a wave of conservative-oriented legislative initiatives across the country, said Tuesday it was dropping the task force that helped produce some of its most contentious bills. Published April 17, 2012