Valerie Richardson

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis urges state’s 5.7M residents to wear facial masks in public

Nobody would accuse Colorado Gov. Jared Polis of being a fashion icon, but he's hoping to set a new statewide trend by urging Coloradans to start wearing facial masks. The governor donned a colorful cloth face mask festooned with state logos at the end of his Friday press conference as he asked the state's 5.7 million residents to wear non-medical facial coverings when they leave home to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

April 4, 2020

FDA gives emergency authorization to first coronavirus antibody test

The Food and Drug Administration has issued its first emergency-use authorization for a rapid blood test to detect antibodies against COVID-19 circulating in the bloodstream of those who have recovered from the illness.

April 3, 2020

David Bernhardt halts prison labor in national parks

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Thursday called a halt to the use of prison labor in the national parks after a federal investigation found inmates obtained knives and other contraband after working unsupervised at a campground.

April 2, 2020

FDA relaxes donation guidelines for gay men as nation’s blood supply dwindles

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued Thursday revised blood-donation guidelines that relax the waiting period for sexually active gay men, citing "the significant shortage in the supply of blood" created by the novel coronavirus crisis.

April 2, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine rated ‘most effective therapy’ by doctors for coronavirus: Global survey

An international poll of more than 6,000 doctors released Thursday found that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine was the most highly rated treatment for the novel coronavirus.

April 2, 2020

‘Historic figure’: Gingrich predicts Trump will be hailed for defeating virus, rescuing economy

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted Thursday that President Trump would be remembered by future generations as a "historic figure" for his response to the coronavirus crisis.

April 2, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine, malaria drug, ignites coronavirus treatment debate

A 65-year-old drug used mainly for treating malaria has suddenly become the world's most hotly debated pharmaceutical, thanks to the novel coronavirus and President Trump.

April 1, 2020

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer changes course, asks feds for Trump-touted drugs

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the federal government for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, days after her administration came under criticism for a statewide crackdown on the drugs touted by President Trump for the novel coronavirus.

April 1, 2020

Carmen Best, Seattle police chief,: report ‘racist name-calling’ to 911

Police across the nation have their hands full dealing with coronavirus pandemic, but in Seattle, Police Chief Carmen Best wants cops to investigate reports of "racist name-calling."

March 31, 2020

Idaho law bans transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports

Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt played basketball at Idaho State University and went on to coach on Division I women's teams, but her career might have been over before it started if she had been forced to compete against transgender athletes.

March 31, 2020

Lindsey Graham calls on China to shut down ‘absolutely disgusting’ wet markets

Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, on Tuesday called for China to shutter its "gross" wet markets, threatening to leverage U.S. trade unless the communist government moves to prevent the spread of deadly viruses originating in such venues.

March 31, 2020

EPA warns to flush toilet paper only as hoarding takes toll on sewer systems

The frantic coronavirus-spurred run on the nation's toilet paper supply has begun to take its toll on America's sewage systems.

March 30, 2020

FDA gives emergency approval for antimalarial drugs in treating coronavirus patients

Former coronavirus patients like actor Daniel Dae Kim swear by it, but even after receiving emergency FDA approval, the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine still has an image problem on the left after being touted by President Trump.

March 30, 2020

Florida, Texas seek to keep New York residents from spreading coronavirus

Gothamites seek to escape from New York are increasingly running into resistance from federal officials and governors worried about the out-of-staters bringing the coronavirus with them.

March 29, 2020

Kate Brown Oregon coronavirus ad campaign: ‘Don’t accidentally kill someone’

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown isn't pulling any punches with her state's newly launched coronavirus public-awareness campaign promoting social distancing.

March 29, 2020

Chuck Todd asks Joe Biden: ‘Do you feel a little bit frustrated and powerless’?

In an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," host Chuck Todd asked former Vice President Joseph R. Biden: "Do you feel a little bit frustrated and powerless right now?"

March 29, 2020

Larry Kudlow: Coronavirus economic fallout to last weeks or months — ‘hopefully weeks’

National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow said Sunday the economic fallout from the U.S. coronavirus crisis could last weeks or months, warning that he "can't wave a magic wand" to repair the financial damage.

March 29, 2020

Larry Hogan, Maryland governor: D.C. metro area will look ‘a lot more like New York’ by Easter

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Sunday he doubts the state will be able to loosen its coronavirus restrictions in the next two weeks, saying the Maryland-D.C.-Virginia area at that point will be "looking a lot more like New York."

March 29, 2020

Jake Tapper grills Bill de Blasio as ‘go about your lives’ coronavirus calls haunt NYC mayor

For weeks, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to "go about your lives" as fears of the novel coronavirus spread, advice that has come back to haunt him as the pandemic takes a deadly toll on the Big Apple.

March 29, 2020

Nancy Pelosi rips Donald Trump for coronavirus response

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unloaded Sunday on President Trump for his response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying his "denial at the beginning was deadly" and that people are dying as he "fiddles."

March 29, 2020