Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks mask mandates in win for Abbott
The Texas Supreme Court has blocked mask mandates ordered by two of the nation's largest counties that defied Republican Gov. Greg Abbott as COVID-19 cases surge and hospitals are stretched thin. Published August 15, 2021
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine suggests ‘chestfeeding,’ ‘father’s milk’ in new guidelines
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has issued guidelines that suggest employing such terms as "chestfeeding," "human milk feeding," and "parent's milk" to promote what it calls "gender-inclusive language." Published August 13, 2021
Biden to the rescue: President seeks to boost Newsom in California recall
President Biden sought to drum up support Thursday for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, urging voters to oppose the recall amid polls showing that the Democratic governor's foes are far more energized than his fans. Published August 12, 2021
‘Stay out of the way’: Oil states urge Biden to uncork U.S. drilling instead of turning to OPEC
Republican leaders in oil-and-gas states want President Biden to get behind domestic producers instead of pleading with foreign governments to pump more crude as the administration seeks to counter surging fuel prices. Published August 12, 2021
California recall candidates blast Newsom over pandemic mandates
California Gov. Gavin Newsom handed recall supporters a highly charged political issue with his latest pandemic mandate, and not surprisingly, they're running with it. Published August 12, 2021
Loudoun County school board expands transgender rights on sports, pronouns, restrooms
The Loudoun County school board agreed Wednesday to expand the rights of transgender students, allowing them to compete in sports and use facilities based on gender identity, and requiring staff to address them by their preferred pronouns. Published August 11, 2021
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown imposes mandates on indoor masks, vaccines for state workers
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that the state will require people to wear facial coverings in indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status to combat a spike in the novel coronavirus, just six weeks after she lifted the mask mandate. Published August 11, 2021
Runaway Dems left in D.C. limbo as Congress exits, Texas threatens arrests
The fugitive Texas House Democrats were left stranded Wednesday in Washington, D.C., unable to push for federal voting-rights legislation with Congress on recess and unable to return to the Lone Star State without risking arrest. Published August 11, 2021
Erick Erickson reiterates ‘Laurel Hubbard is a man’ after Twitter unfreezes account
Conservative Christian radio host Erick Erickson had his Twitter account unfrozen Monday after deleting a tweet about transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, but the Georgia-based commentator was unrepentant. Published August 10, 2021
Texas House speaker signs civil arrest warrants for 52 absent Democrats
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has signed civil arrest warrants for 52 missing House Democrats directing authorities to bring them back to the chamber, which has been stymied for a month in the absence of a quorum. Published August 10, 2021
Face-off erupts over masks as virus, mandates spread
Calls for another round of mask mandates, fueled by an uptick in COVID-19 cases, have public officials going nose-to-nose on whether Americans should once again cover up. Published August 10, 2021
Setting fire to police precinct was ‘act of righteousness,’ says Minneapolis Democratic Party chair
The Minneapolis Democratic Party chair came under fire Tuesday for praising last year's torching of the Third Precinct police headquarters as an "act of pure righteousness." Published August 10, 2021
‘You threw us under the bus’: Texas House Democrats divided as some return to Austin
A feud erupted among Texas House Democrats as some trickled back to the state Capitol Monday after nearly a month in Washington, D.C., their returns coming on the heels of a court order blocking Gov. Greg Abbott from arresting them. Published August 10, 2021
Runaway Texas House Democrats mocked for ‘embarrassingly bad’ lawsuit blaming exit on GOP
A federal lawsuit filed against three Texas Republicans by the wayward House Democrats is gaining a reputation as a must-read legal document, but for all the wrong reasons. Published August 9, 2021
State Department denies Kerry flew privately for Obama’s party
The State Department denied reports Saturday that climate czar John Kerry flew privately to Martha's Vineyard for former President Barack Obama's 60th birthday party. Published August 7, 2021
‘Laurel Hubbard is a man’ tweet lands Erick Erickson in Twitter jail
Conservative Christian radio host Erick Erickson said Saturday his Twitter account was suspended over a tweet in which he described New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard as a man. Published August 7, 2021
Canadian soccer star Quinn wins Olympic gold, makes transgender history without uproar
The same people accused of being transphobic for wanting to ban male-born transgender athletes from women's sports have no problem with Canadian soccer player Quinn. Published August 6, 2021
Barrasso seeks to delay Tracy Stone-Manning vote over $100,000 loan from developer
Senate Democrats have stood behind President Biden's nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management despite her role in a tree-spiking plot, but Republicans say the six-figure loan she received as a government staffer from a wealthy Montana developer should also give them pause. Published August 6, 2021
Gov. Abbott calls Texas Democrats’ bluff with second special legislative session
The quorum-busting Texas House Democrats may have to prolong their stay in Washington, D.C. Published August 5, 2021
Ron DeSantis takes on Biden: ‘I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis swung back Wednesday after President Biden criticized his opposition to mask mandates, saying the administration should focus on stopping novel coronavirus variants from entering the country via the southern border. Published August 4, 2021
