Valerie Richardson

Justice’s race now a governor’s referendum

An ordinarily humdrum vote on whether to retain a Wisconsin state Supreme Court justice has exploded into a bare-knuckles referendum on Gov. Scott Walker's recently signed law curbing the power of public-employee unions. Published April 4, 2011

California looking into a $26 billion abyss

The breakdown of budget negotiations this week between California Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative Republicans leaves the state with a handful of options for handling the $26 billion deficit, none of them particularly attractive. Published March 30, 2011

Brown urges tax measure on ballot

California Gov. Jerry Brown wouldn't top anyone's list of tax-and-spend liberals. Famous for his frugality, he ushered in his latest stint as governor by replacing the sleek boardroom table in his new office with a hard, wooden picnic table. Published March 28, 2011

Same-sex marriages give polygamy a legal boost

The outlook for polygamy hasn't been this good since Abraham took Keturah as his third wife. Published March 20, 2011

Wis. governor signs bill limiting unions’ power

Capping weeks of political drama and open political warfare with the state's public-sector unions, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Friday quietly signed landmark legislation reining in the power of public-employee unions after a pitched battle over collective bargaining that shows no signs of abating. Published March 10, 2011

BYU hoops star suspended for sex acts

The same behavior that cost Brandon Davies the rest of his basketball season at Brigham Young University might have earned him an "A" at Northwestern. Published March 3, 2011

House GOP eyes DOMA defense

House Republicans and conservative groups are working together behind the scenes to fill the legal void created Wednesday when the Obama administration announced that it would no longer defend the federal law banning gay marriage. Published February 24, 2011

Obama gets out of way of gay marriage

The Obama administration announced Wednesday that it had withdrawn its legal support for the federal Defense of Marriage Act, stating that the law is unconstitutional and therefore the administration is under no obligation to defend it. Published February 23, 2011

Three states away in Colorado, union backers rally for Wisconsin

Denver was one of at least a dozen cities where labor organizations hosted solidarity rallies Tuesday in support of Wisconsin's public-sector unions and against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has proposed limiting their collective-bargaining rights and requiring members to contribute more to their pension and health care plans. Published February 22, 2011

Bingaman’s exit puts ‘safe’ N.M. seat in play

Democrats put on a brave face after Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico announced Friday that he would leave office in 2012, but it's hard to see how his retirement contains any good news for the party. Published February 20, 2011

Giffords is seen as shoo-in for Kyl’s seat

Any discussion of who's likely to succeed outgoing Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona needs to factor in the following: If Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wants the seat, it's hers. Published February 10, 2011

Colorado GOP chief won’t seek 3rd term

With some scathing words for his critics, Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams dropped his bid for a third term this week in the face of a challenge from state Sen. Ted Harvey, who said he aims to return "authentic conservative leadership to the party structure." Published February 9, 2011

S.D. GOP’s gun bill takes aim at ‘Obamacare’

Five GOP state legislators have introduced a bill that would require every South Dakotan age 21 or older to purchase a gun. Published February 7, 2011

Reagan library update grabs attention and holds it

There's nothing quite like the thought of visiting a presidential library to make the average American stifle a yawn and reach for the remote. As it turns out, the people behind the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum understand this. That's why they never stop loading the library with goodies. Published February 3, 2011

N.Y., California sing blue-state budget blues

California's Jerry Brown and New York's Andrew M. Cuomo won their gubernatorial election bids last year with strong support from public-employee unions, which puts them each in a particularly dicey position when it comes to their states' mammoth budget deficits. Published February 1, 2011

Reagan’s 100th wins a gala for the Gipper

The Great Communicator would have been 100 years old on Feb. 6, and those at the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Library here plan to do a bit more than fire up another candle. Published January 30, 2011

‘Old school’ Hatch girds for new wave in primary

Orrin Hatch has served Utah for many years — maybe too many. The political mood among Republican voters favors fresh faces with tea party connections, and while the 76-year-old Mr. Hatch may be a veritable political institution in his state, he's not exactly fresh. Published January 30, 2011

Outspoken Tucson sheriff faces recall bid

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has never lost an election, but that was before his remarks assigning blame for the deadly Tucson, Ariz., shooting to political "vitriol" and calling Arizona "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry." Published January 20, 2011

Fighting Sioux on warpath over nickname

When North Dakota's state board of higher education voted to phase out the "Fighting Sioux" last year, that seemed to signal the end of the lengthy battle over the University of North Dakota's nickname and logo. Except that it didn't. Published January 17, 2011

Psychologists view Loughner as a man with ‘serious mental issues going on’

Jared Lee Loughner isn't your typical depressed-but-angry rampage shooter, seeking vengeance for a failed marriage, a lost job, or a life that just didn't turn out the way he had planned. Published January 10, 2011