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Valerie Richardson

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Valerie Richardson

vrichardson@washingtontimes.com

Valerie Richardson covers politics and the West from Denver. She can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Valerie Richardson

An unidentified visitor wearing a U.S. military nurse uniform walks past graves at the American cemetery, in Colleville-sur-Mer, western France, on June 6, 2007, marking the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Anti-religion group gripes about lack of atheists buried at Normandy

There's just one problem with the revered Normandy military cemetery in France: Too many Christian and Jewish soldiers are buried there, and not enough atheists and agnostics.

November 14, 2014

$A worker helps monitor water pumping pressure and temperature at a hydraulic fracturing and extraction site outside Rifle, in western Colorado. (Associated Press) ** FILE **$

Fracking fluid ingredient also found in toothpaste and ice cream, study shows

A major class of fracking fluid is no more toxic than chemicals found in a typical household, according to a newly released University of Colorado study.

November 13, 2014

The original cast of "The Love Boat" christens Princess Cruises' newest ship, Regal Princess. (PRNewsFoto/Princess Cruises)

TRAVEL CRUISE: ‘Love Boat’ crew launches new Princess Cruises ship

Before "The Love Boat" set sail on its 10-year TV voyage, taking a cruise vacation was a luxury reserved for the wealthy few. Even actor Gavin MacLeod admits he had never stayed aboard a cruise ship until he was cast as the captain in the hit ABC series.

November 12, 2014

This April 2014 photo provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows a Gunnison sage grouse with tail feathers fanned near Gunnison, Colorado. (Associated Press)

Gunnison sage grouse listed as threatened species by wildlife officials

Based on the furor that resulted when the news came down, there was little doubt why the Obama administration waited until after the midterm election to grant endangered species protection to the Gunnison sage grouse.

November 12, 2014

Jeremy Tedesco of the Alliance Defending Freedom said that a Colorado school "implemented an ill-conceived ban that singles out religious speech for censorship during free time." (Alliance Defending Freedom)

Colorado Springs student sues high school for banning prayer group

A Colorado Springs student is suing his school district after he was ordered to stop gathering with friends informally during free time between classes to pray, sing and discuss religious topics.

November 11, 2014

Demonstrators rally against Colorado Senate Bill 175, in a protest led by Archbishop of Denver Samuel J. Aquila, on the steps of the state capitol in Denver, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. The bill up for debate Tuesday is described as a guarantee that state or local policies won't interfere with reproductive decisions such as abortion and contraception. Democratic sponsors say the measure is needed to protect women's rights. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Colorado Republicans claim biggest legislative win

The Colorado state Senate was one of 11 state legislative houses captured last week by Republicans, padding the GOP's advantage at the statehouse level and giving the party its largest number of legislative seats since 1920.

November 11, 2014

Sen. Mark Udall gives his concession speech at the Colorado Democrats' party at the Westin in Denver, Colo., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/The Colorado Springs Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) MAGAZINES OUT

Go-to Democratic game plan failed badly in Colorado

The so-called "Bannock Street Project," the Democratic political blueprint for attracting young- single women and turning purple states blue, faces new questions after last week's stunning loss by incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in Colorado.

November 11, 2014

Colorado Republican candidate for the House of Representatives Ken Buck speaks at a GOP election night gathering at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Denver. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) **FILE**

Republican Buck wins Colo. House seat after losing Senate race

Colorado Republican Ken Buck is going to Washington, D.C., after all, just not as a member of the Senate.

November 5, 2014

Marijuana. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Ballot propositions score big as voters approve 70 percent of a smaller pool

It turns out 2014 was a good year to run a ballot proposition: More than two-thirds of the 146 state measures that went before voters Tuesday were approved, the best winning percentage of the 21st century.

November 5, 2014

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper hugs one of his supporters at an election night gathering in Union Station in downtown Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Hickenlooper, the Democratic incumbent seeking his second, four-year term, told supporters to head home since the race against Republican banker Bob Beauprez was still undecided. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

John Hickenlooper wins re-election in Colorado over Bob Beauprez

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was declared the winner early Wednesday in his bid for reelection, one of the few bright spots for Democrats in a political year marked by a powerful Republican wave.

November 5, 2014

Republican Mia Love celebrates after winning the race for Utah's 4th Congressional District during a GOP election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Mia Love makes history by winning House seat in Utah

Utah's Mia Love made history Tuesday by becoming the first black Republican woman to win a seat in Congress, eking out a close victory over Democrat Doug Owens.

November 5, 2014

Cory Gardner, center, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado, joins supporters in waving placards on the corner of a major intersection in south Denver suburb of Centennial, Colo., early on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Gardner is facing Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Udall in a pitched battle for the seat. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Cory Gardner defeats Mark Udall in Colorado as GOP moves closer to Senate control

Republican Rep. Cory Gardner won a decisive victory in the hard-fought Colorado Senate contest Tuesday, defeating Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in a stunning turnaround in the blue-trending state.

November 4, 2014

Boulder County election official Erin Meyers receives completed, sealed and signed ballots from motorists at a drive-by ballot drop off in front of the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder's office, in Boulder, Colo., on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Judge tosses Colorado GOP lawsuit alleging sloppy, secretive vote-counting in Boulder

A Boulder County judge dismissed a complaint late Monday over vote-counting brought by Colorado Republicans, but they're still alarmed over what they see as the clerk's efforts to undermine election integrity in the Democratic stronghold.

November 4, 2014

Greg Hale leans on boxes of petitions signed by supporters of a state minimum wage increase in August at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, before submitting them to be counted. Voters in four other states — Alaska, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota — are considering whether to raise the minimum wage on their own. (Associated Press)

Ballot initiatives run gamut from marijuana to minimum wage

This may come as a surprise if you live in a state with the minimum wage, marijuana, genetically modified food labeling or election-rules measures on the ballot, but 2014 is actually a down year for state-ballot initiatives.

November 3, 2014

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., left, and his opponent U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., right, watch as 9NEWS KUSA-TV political reporter Brandon Rittiman flips a coin to determine who gets the first question, before the start of a televised debate at 9News in Denver, Wednesday Oct. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Colorado Republicans hang on to 100,000-vote lead as Democrats make final push

Republicans maintained their 100,000-vote lead in Colorado over the weekend even as Democrats mobilize their ground troops for a strong last-minute surge.

November 3, 2014

Americans believe politicos play ‘race card’ to snag votes

Voters of all races say most politicians play the "race card" to win elections rather than address actual race-related issues, according to a poll released Monday.

November 3, 2014

Houston Mayor Annise Parker participates in the Sixth Annual Washington Ideas Forum in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. The forum is presented by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic at the Harman Center for the Arts. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Thousands rally on behalf of Houston pastors hit with subpoenas

Thousands showed their support Sunday the five Houston pastors who drew national attention for challenging the city's now-withdrawn effort to subpoena their sermons.

November 3, 2014

Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst is pulling ahead of rival Bruce Braley in the Iowa race. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Republican Ernst jumps out to 7-point lead in critical Iowa Senate race

Republican Joni Ernst surged to a 7-point lead in the Iowa Poll released Sunday, moving her outside the margin of error in the high-stakes Senate race against Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley.

November 2, 2014

Campaign flier tells blacks in Alabama to vote or face the honoring of ‘klansmen’

Campaign materials aimed at getting out the black vote are featuring references to lynchings, Jim Crow-era signs, racial unrest — and, as of last weekend, the Ku Klux Klan.

November 2, 2014

Republican Mia Love speaks to reporters following her debate with Democrat Doug Owens in their race for Utah's 4th Congressional District Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in Salt lake City. The Tuesday night debate is the final one this year from the new Utah Debate Commission. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah’s Love poised to become first Haitian-American member of Congress

Fast-rising Republican star Mia Love could make history next week in her bid for a House seat from Utah, but first she'll have to beat back a surprising late surge from Democrat Doug Owens.

November 2, 2014