Valerie Richardson

California curbs lawn size for new homes to save water

Those planning to buy new homes in California will have to make do with less lawn.

July 15, 2015

Sweet Cakes by Melissa crowdfunder breaks record with $352K

A crowdfunding campaign for the Oregon bakery Sweet Cakes by Melissa has set a site record by raising $352,500 in about two months after being kicked off the GoFundMe website, far exceeding the initial goal of $150,000.

July 14, 2015

Mini ice age likely from 2030 to 2040, European scientists say

A team of European researchers says the Earth is likely to experience a "mini ice age" from 2030 to 2040 as a result of decreased solar activity.

July 12, 2015

Gun Owners of America calls background checks ‘utter failure’ after failing to flag Dylann Roof

That Dylann Roof was able to purchase a firearm despite a drug arrest comes as evidence that background checks have been an "utter failure," says a leading gun-rights group.

July 11, 2015

George Soros-backed death penalty foes spend big in bid to block Nebraska vote

Opponents of the death penalty rejoiced when the Nebraska Legislature voted in May to abolish capital punishment, hailing a breakthrough win in a certifiably red state.

July 9, 2015

Sally Jewell rebuffs Colorado pleas to appeal Colowyo coal mine decision

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has rebuffed the entreaties of Colorado lawmakers urging her to appeal a federal judge's order that threatens to shut down the Colowyo coal mine.

July 9, 2015

Tom Steyer’s NextGen Climate Action still looks like one-man band

DENVER -- Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer plowed $5 million into his NextGen Climate Action in the last reporting period, which was $4,997,543 more than all other donations combined.

July 8, 2015

Kathryn Steinle killing gun belonged to federal agent: report

The federal agent's gun used to kill Kathryn Steinle was taken from the agent in an auto burglary in June, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

July 7, 2015

Dianne Feinstein blames San Francisco sheriff’s department in Kathryn Steinle death

Sen. Dianne Feinstein blasted the San Francisco Sheriff's Department on Tuesday for releasing an illegal immigrant with a felony record, saying the woman he shot last week would still be alive if the department had notified federal immigration authorities.

July 7, 2015

Nobel-winning physicist who backed Obama: Prez ‘dead wrong’ on global warming

A Nobel laureate who supported President Obama in his first presidential campaign now says the Democratic president is "dead wrong" on global warming.

July 7, 2015

Kathryn Steinle killing fuels outrage over Democrats’ deportation opposition

The Democratic campaign to relax national, state and local deportation policies is fueling outrage ignited by the shocking slaying of a woman in San Francisco by an oft-deported illegal immigrant with seven felony convictions.

July 6, 2015

Edwin Lee, San Francisco mayor defends, sanctuary city policy after fatal shooting

San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee said Monday he was "concerned" about the release of an illegal immigrant with a criminal record who killed a woman last week but defended the sanctuary city policy.

July 6, 2015

California Congressional Dems had urged Jerry Brown to sign 2013 anti-deportation bill

Congressional Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, pushed California Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the 2013 bill that made it more difficult to deport illegal immigrants.

July 6, 2015

Francisco Sanchez admits shooting woman, knew San Francisco would not detain him

Francisco Sanchez had been deported to Mexico five times before he says he shot and killed a woman last week on Pier 14, but he knew San Francisco was a sanctuary city where immigration authorities would not detain him.

July 6, 2015

Gay-rights advocate: Going to same-sex weddings optional for Christian business owners

When Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson said Sunday that Christian merchants aren't required to attend same-sex weddings in order to serve them, he was apparently overlooking photographers like Elaine Huguenin.

July 5, 2015

Donald Trump’s comments on illegal immigrants divide 2016 GOP hopefuls

Several Republicans moved to distance themselves from billionaire Donald Trump's comments on illegal immigrants fueling crime even as Mr. Trump doubled down, citing last week's San Francisco shooting to bolster his case.

July 5, 2015

Rick Perry, ex-Texas governor, says Donald Trump ‘does not represent the Republican Party’

Rick Perry said Donald Trump is unaware of Texas's record on immigration and "does not represent the Republican Party."

July 5, 2015

Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator, calls Hillary ‘the candidate of the Democratic establishment’

Bernie Sanders said he is not surprised by the lack of support from other members of Congress for his presidential bid because former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is "the candidate of the Democratic establishment."

July 5, 2015

Sweet Cakes by Melissa owners owe $135,000 in damages for gay wedding refusal

The owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa are still required to pay $135,000 in damages for "emotional suffering" to a lesbian couple based on Thursday's final order from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.

July 2, 2015

California vaccine bill battle erupts into all-out political war

Those people clad in white keeping silent vigil in front of the California state Capitol have a message for Democratic legislators: The thousands who opposed the stricter vaccination mandates signed into law Tuesday aren't backing down.

July 2, 2015