Valerie Richardson

Remote town sues feds over blocked road project

The Aleut community of King Cove, Alaska, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Interior Department over its refusal to allow the construction of a 10-mile gravel road to an all-weather airport.

June 4, 2014

California counties split on whether to pursue new state of Jefferson

California voters in two northern rural counties split the difference Tuesday on two ballot measures aimed at carving out a 51st state called Jefferson, but the half-loaf result hasn't discouraged the movement's organizers.

June 4, 2014

In Idaho hometown, Bowe Bergdahl’s legacy in limbo

The initial euphoria in Idaho over Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release is turning to alarm over reports that the long-held prisoner of war may have been a deserter.

June 3, 2014

Labor unions mobilize as California counties weigh secession

Having once dismissed the movement, state labor unions and Democrats are scrambling to snuff the growing 51st state movement in Northern California, campaigning against two county measures that go before voters Tuesday.

June 2, 2014

Media ‘hedging’ on climate change?

Global warming activists say that man-made climate change is "settled science" backed by almost all researchers, but a new Colorado study finds that rising doubts are creeping into the coverage of the issue in the press.

June 2, 2014

Obama’s Energy Secretary Moniz: Oil boom boosted economy — but we’re focused on ‘global warming’

The booming oil industry has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise sluggish economy, but Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says that the days of fossil fuel are numbered as the administration focuses on climate change.

May 31, 2014

Unsettling: House panel hears debate on climate change science

Liberals have been piling on Rep. Lamar Smith and his fellow House Republicans for failing to hold more committee hearings on climate change, but Thursday's often-heated testimony probably wasn't what the movement had in mind.

May 29, 2014

University appeals bias ruling for conservative prof

A North Carolina university that lost a seven-year legal battle against a conservative professor Mike Adams has decided to file an appeal, citing the “potentially excessive” cost of reimbursing him for attorneys’ fees.

May 29, 2014

Native Hawaiians would be ‘Indians’ under Obama plan

The Obama administration is quietly moving again to bypass Congress on yet another policy issue, this time by enacting the much-disputed bill that would grant tribal sovereignty to Native Hawaiians.

May 28, 2014

Bipartisan calls increase for Holder to investigate ‘level of criminality’ in VA scandal

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Illinois Republican, called on Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to investigate accusations that the VA submitted fake waiting list times in order to bolster its numbers while keeping secret lists of the actual wait times for patients.

May 25, 2014

Tom Steyer’s targets fire back after green billionaire announces $100M campaign push

It didn't take long for San Francisco environmentalist-billionaire Tom Steyer to become a campaign issue after unveiling this week his hand-picked slate of seven Republican candidates he is vowing to defeat in November.

May 22, 2014

New Mexico fence impasse deepens as county weighs sanctions against feds

New Mexico ranchers are plenty mad over the U.S. Forest Service's refusal to open a gate blocking their cattle from reaching water, but all sides say they are working hard to avoid an armed showdown reminiscent of Nevada's Bundy ranch skirmish any time soon.

May 21, 2014