Valerie Richardson

Judge orders end of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

A federal judge in California on Tuesday ordered the U.S. military to stop enforcing the 17-year-old policy banning openly gay service members, the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." Published October 12, 2010

‘Tea party’ warms up to Tancredo

There's a "tea party" candidate running for governor in Colorado this fall, but with three weeks to go in the campaign, it's not entirely clear who it is. Published October 11, 2010

Mum’s the word as Brewer shuns debates

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer insists she won't participate in any more debates after her notorious brain-freeze moment in the first gubernatorial debate, but so far that doesn't seem to be hurting her with the voters. Published October 6, 2010

Voters in 3 states to consider opting out of ‘Obamacare’

After taking a beating at the hands of Missouri voters in August, "Obamacare" could be roughed up once again at the ballot box in November. Published October 3, 2010

‘Major’ stem cell development announced

A major breakthrough in stem cell development could help resolve the ongoing debate over the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. Published September 30, 2010

California initiatives do battle on ballot

The 2010 California ballot isn't just a list of traditional ballot initiatives and propositions - at times it's a toe-to-toe slugfest between the state Legislature and anyone standing in its way. Published September 23, 2010

Tancredo gets good news in polls, court

Tom Tancredo may be a third-party candidate for Colorado governor, but he's no longer coming in third. Published September 14, 2010

Fiorina refuses to run as a moderate

After Carly Fiorina won California's Republican Senate primary, many analysts expected her to shake off her conservative mantle and make a lunge for the moderate middle in the general election against liberal incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer. That's not how it has played out. Published September 12, 2010

GOP sweating out effect of governor’s race

The disaster that is the Colorado Republican gubernatorial campaign could end up dragging down the rest of the party's ticket. Or it could benefit other GOP candidates by freeing up resources and creating a sense of urgency among activists. Published September 6, 2010

Slow progress feared in stem cell study

The courts have been less than friendly to pro-life causes in the past - see Roe v. Wade - but this week's ruling came as a resounding victory for those opposed to spending federal dollars on embryonic stem cell research. Published August 26, 2010

Judge puts Obama stem cell policy on hold

A federal judge issued a temporary hold Monday on the Obama administration's new guidelines on human embryonic stem cell research, dealing the White House a serious setback in its efforts to promote the highly sensitive research with federal funding. Published August 23, 2010

Reid, Angle misfire with gaffes in Nevada Senate race

Between Democratic incumbent Harry Reid's gaffes and Republican challenger Sharron Angle's misfires, the winner of the Nevada Senate race may be the first candidate who can stop talking. Published August 16, 2010

Upstarts bench GOP’s all-star team

Less than a year ago, top party officials boasted of experienced candidates poised to breeze through their Senate primary elections and put the hurt on vulnerable Dems. After Tuesday's primary votes, not one member of the dream team will be the Republican nominee in November. Published August 11, 2010

Bennet survives, Buck wins in Colorado

Sen. Michael Bennet, President Obama's candidate, fended off a challenge from Bill Clinton favorite Andrew Romanoff on Tuesday to win the Colorado Democratic Senate primary and avoid the fate of other endangered incumbents this primary season. Published August 10, 2010

Insurgents in both parties eye upsets in Colorado primary

With Colorado's primary election a day away, the anti-establishment candidates are surging, and not just on the Republican side. Published August 8, 2010

Ruling gives boost to same-sex marriage

National recognition for same-sex marriage took a giant step forward Wednesday when, in a decision that some are comparing to Roe v. Wade, a federal judge overturned Proposition 8, California's voter-approved constitutional amendment on traditional marriage. Published August 4, 2010

Tancredo declares run against GOP

Former Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo made good on his high-noon ultimatum Monday by announcing that he would enter the Colorado governor's contest as a third-party candidate, essentially dashing the GOP's last hopes of winning the race. Published July 26, 2010