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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

August 4, 2021