Valerie Richardson

New Mexico Democrats sink ‘extreme’ abortion bill after New York, Virginia backlash

Pro-choice advocates reeling over their unexpected defeat in the New Mexico legislature may have the uproar over late-term abortion bills in New York and Virginia to blame.

March 16, 2019

Pitzer College president rejects ‘prejudiced’ vote to drop study-abroad program in Israel

Pitzer College President Melvin L. Oliver refused Thursday to drop the school's study-abroad program in Israel, rejecting a recommendation by the college council within hours of its vote.

March 15, 2019

Youth Climate Strike sparks debate on use of students as props

Kids are fast becoming the face of the climate change movement as teenagers, 'tweens and even younger children file lawsuits, stage walkouts and lobby lawmakers. But newly released documents have raised questions about whether the students are being motivated or manipulated.

March 13, 2019

Al Gore-led group encourages students to ditch school for climate change

More than a dozen progressive advocacy groups, including one headed by former Vice President Al Gore, are encouraging students to skip school Friday in the name of climate change.

March 13, 2019

Covington Catholic teen Nicholas Sandmann sues CNN over ‘false, vicious attacks’

CNN was hit Tuesday with a $275 million lawsuit for allegedly "bullying" Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann, the second defamation complaint brought against major media outlets for their coverage of the January incident at the Lincoln Memorial.

March 12, 2019

California teachers sue union over forced deduction of dues

Special-needs instructor Bethany Mendez has been fighting for months to escape the teachers union in Fremont, California, but the school district continues to funnel a portion of her paycheck directly to the labor bank account.

March 11, 2019

Tornado decline dings climate change narrative of Bernie Sanders

In the wake of the deadly twister outbreak last week, Sen. Bernard Sanders declared that climate change is making tornadoes worse, to which researchers say: Not so fast.

March 10, 2019

Nicholas Sandmann’s attorney: ‘CNN will be sued next week’ for ‘vicious’ Covington coverage

An attorney for Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann said he plans to sue CNN for at least $250 million for what he described as its "vicious" coverage of the teen at the center of an incident at the Lincoln Memorial in January.

March 10, 2019

David DiPietro bill would divide New York into three autonomous regions

For decades, David DiPietro has watched his community in western New York state decline while Democrats from the Big Apple run the show, but when they took over both houses of the legislature in January, he said, "Enough."

March 7, 2019

Adam Kinzinger turns up heat on Democrats to eject Ilhan Omar from House Foreign Affairs

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Illinois Republican, called Thursday for Rep. Ilhan Omar to be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, turning up the heat as House Democratic leaders struggle over how to handle the latest anti-Semitism uproar.

March 7, 2019

Trump administration seeks to delist gray wolf, return management to states, tribes

Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced Wednesday the Trump administration will seek to lift endangered-species protection for the gray wolf in the Lower 48, a move long sought by state officials and ranchers that promptly ran into opposition from wildlife groups.

March 6, 2019

Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders back Ilhan Omar amid anti-Semitism uproar

Three top Democratic presidential contenders came Wednesday to the defense of Rep. Omar Ilhan, the first-term congresswoman who sparked an uproar over anti-Semitism that has the House Democratic leadership reeling.

March 6, 2019

Linda Sarsour blasts ‘typical white feminist’ Nancy Pelosi for anti-Semitism resolution

Women's March co-chair Linda Sarsour blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pushing an anti-Semitism resolution, calling her a "typical white feminist upholding the patriarchy."

March 6, 2019

Jack Phillips wins second round in transgender cake battle as Colorado drops complaint

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission dropped its latest case against Christian cakeshop owner Jack Phillips on Tuesday, handing him a second victory against state officials who have pursued him for six years over his refusal to create cakes for certain LGBT events.

March 5, 2019

House Democrats fail to mention Ilhan Omar in anti-Semitism resolution draft

The last time Rep. Ilhan Omar made comments viewed as anti-Semitic, House Democratic leaders pressured her to apologize. This time, they've drafted a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that fails to mention her by name.

March 5, 2019

Nick Sandmann attorneys blast Washington Post editor’s note on Covington: ‘Too little and too late’

Attorneys for Nicholas Sandmann said Monday they would proceed with their $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post, blasting the newspaper's recent clarification on its Covington Catholic coverage as "too little and too late."

March 4, 2019

Pelosi under pressure from Republicans, Jewish groups to drop Ilhan Omar from House Foreign Affairs

Republicans and Jewish groups ramped up their calls Monday for Democrats to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in response to the latest anti-Semitism uproar involving the first-term congresswoman.

March 4, 2019

Virginia blocks Mike Bloomberg’s climate lawyers

Virginia has become the first state to crack down on billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg's effort to embed within the attorney general's office privately funded lawyers dedicated to pursuing climate change litigation.

March 3, 2019

Ilhan Omar uses anti-Semitic trope against Nita Lowey Israel support

Rep. Ilhan Omar told a Jewish congresswoman Sunday that their constituents didn't elect either woman to have allegiance to a foreign country.

March 3, 2019

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez anti-burger narrative imperils Green New Deal

Three weeks after it was introduced, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's signature climate-change resolution has become embroiled in a debate over whether Americans should continue to have it their way when it comes to the All-American burger.

March 3, 2019