Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Legislature overrides Indiana governor’s veto to bar male-born athletes from girls’ sports
The Indiana Legislature overrode Tuesday the Republican governor's veto of a bill barring male-born athletes from participating in girls' sports, drawing an immediate legal challenge on the hot-button issue. Published May 24, 2022
State Farm drops plan to donate LGBTQ books for kids to libraries, teachers after backlash
State Farm has cut off its partnership with the GenderCool Project to donate LGBTQ-themed books aimed at children as young as five after a backlash over the program. Published May 24, 2022
Colorado legislators wrestle with drug penalties as fentanyl deaths surge
Colorado's landmark 2019 law reducing penalties for most drugs was hailed by supporters as a triumph of treatment over punishment. Then more people started dying. Published May 24, 2022
Greater Idaho trims plan for Oregon annexation with focus on eastern areas
The Greater Idaho movement announced Monday that it has scaled back its plan for a mass Oregon exodus to Idaho, opting to concentrate for now on the eastern counties after a pair of electoral defeats last week in the southwest. Published May 23, 2022
Male-born Australian surfer wins women’s title three years after taking men’s crown
The gender-identity debate has surfaced in competitive surfing after an Australian surfer made history last week by winning a women's championship, just a few years after taking the men's crown in the same event. Published May 20, 2022
Frustration builds as Biden administration blows deadline on offshore drilling program
The Interior Department said Thursday that it will propose an offshore drilling program too late to replace the previous version before it expires, frustrating energy advocates who accused the administration of dragging its feet on domestic fossil fuel production. Published May 19, 2022
Eric Swalwell’s snarky anti-GOP tweet on church shooting blasted after news of China motive emerges
Rep. Eric Swalwell's swipe at House Republicans over the deadly California church shooting appears to have backfired, thanks to a connection the Golden State Democrat had with a woman believed to be a spy for the People's Republic of China. Published May 17, 2022
South Carolina governor signs bill barring male-born athletes from female sports
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed legislation barring male-born athletes from girls' and women's scholastic sports, drawing kudos from advocates for fairness in female athletics and criticism from the gender-identity movement. Published May 17, 2022
California church shooting under investigation as an anti-Taiwan ‘hate incident’
Authorities said Monday that the deadly California church shooting is being investigated as a hate crime fueled by the suspect's reported anti-Taiwan animus. Published May 16, 2022
Judge nixes California law setting quotas for female members on corporate boards
A Los Angeles judge has struck down California's first-in-the-nation law requiring corporate boards to adhere to gender quotas, calling the measure unconstitutional. Published May 16, 2022
House Pro-Choice Caucus rejects ‘choice’ as Dems struggle with abortion messaging
They caved to the left on "woman" and "mother," and now Democrats are prepared to abandon a time-honored triumph of political branding: the word "choice" as shorthand for "abortion." Published May 16, 2022
California church members hogtied suspect in deadly shooting
Congregants hog-tied the suspect in Sunday's deadly California shooting and confiscated both of his firearms, an act of bravery credited by authorities with saving lives. Published May 15, 2022
‘Never say never’: Melania Trump teases 2024 run, calls Vogue ‘biased’ after snub
Former first lady Melania Trump may never appear on the cover of Vogue, but she isn't closing the door on another stint in the White House. Published May 15, 2022
Bette Midler slammed after telling women to ‘try breastfeeding’ amid baby formula shortage
Entertainer Bette Midler came under criticism Friday after telling mothers to "try breastfeeding" in response to the nationwide baby formula shortage. Published May 13, 2022
Texas Supreme Court allows state to pursue gender-transition child-abuse investigations
The Texas Supreme Court has lifted a halt on state child abuse investigations when minors undergo gender-transition treatment. Published May 13, 2022
Most battleground voters oppose ‘transgender agenda’ on education, sports, medicine: poll
Most voters in battleground states oppose key priorities of the transgender-rights movement, including allowing male-born athletes in female sports and gender-transition medical treatment for children, according to a newly released poll. Published May 12, 2022
Frustration builds over DOJ’s lackluster response to protests at Supreme Court justices’ homes
A few hours after Attorney General Merrick Garland promised to beef up Supreme Court security, it was business as usual in front of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's house. Published May 12, 2022
Protester says Amy Coney Barrett, who gave birth five times, doesn’t understand pregnancy
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has given birth five times, but a protester in front of her house said the conservative jurist doesn't realize what it's like to undergo a full-term pregnancy. Published May 12, 2022
U.S. Marshals ordered to protect Supreme Court justices amid rising protests
Attorney General Merrick Garland has ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to help protect Supreme Court justices amid rising Republican outrage over abortion-rights activism targeting their homes. Published May 11, 2022
Manchin joins Senate Republicans in blocking Democratic abortion bill
Senate Democrats came up short Wednesday in their bid to pass legislation erasing abortion limits as Republicans stood firm in a display of political theater triggered by last week's leaked Supreme Court draft showing that Roe v. Wade is living on borrowed time. Published May 11, 2022
