Valerie Richardson

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes controversial religious freedom bill

The Republican governor's decision came amid a national outcry against Senate Bill 1062, led by gay-rights leaders who said the bill essentially legalized discrimination against homosexuals.

February 26, 2014

Colorado GOP switches candidates in effort to oust Sen. Udall

Rep. Cory Gardner will run for the Republican Senate nomination instead of seeking reelection, according to Republicans. At the same time, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said he will drop out of the Senate race and instead pursue the GOP nod for Mr. Gardner's House seat.

February 26, 2014

$A worker uses hand signals to communicate with a co-worker over the sound of massive pumps at an Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. hydraulic fracturing and extraction site, outside Rifle, in western Colorado. Environmentalists are still waiting for proof that hydraulic fracturing makes people sick, but that's not stopping them from whipping up anxiety over public health. (Associated Press)$

Health links hyped to drive fear of fracking despite studies that fail to back up claims

Environmentalists are still waiting for proof that hydraulic fracturing makes people sick, but that's not stopping them from whipping up anxiety over public health.

February 25, 2014

Gov. Jan Brewer feeling heat over Arizona religious freedom bill

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is feeling the heat after returning Tuesday to Phoenix from the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., and it's not just the change in the climate.

February 25, 2014

Proposal to split California into 6 states launches signature drive

The Silicon Valley venture capitalist behind the "six Californias" proposal announced Monday that his campaign has launched its petition drive to place the measure on the November ballot.

February 24, 2014

U.S. warns Russia to keep its military out of Ukraine

The Obama administration warned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday not to react too aggressively to the fast-moving developments in Ukraine, where pro-Western demonstrators forced the nation's Moscow-backed president from power over the weekend.

February 23, 2014

GOP rivals agree states need freedom to craft policy

Three potential rivals for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination said Sunday the nation could learn from its GOP governors.

February 23, 2014

Walker says newly released emails show nothing new or incriminating

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin dismissed Sunday as “old news” questions about whether he knew public employees were doing campaign work during his tenure as Milwaukee County executive.

February 23, 2014

Rice: Russian involvement in Ukraine would be ‘grave mistake’

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a couple of blunt warnings from U.S. policymakers Sunday over his involvement in the protest-wracked Ukraine.

February 23, 2014

Susan Rice: ‘Not 100 percent correct’ on Benghazi, but no regrets

National Security Adviser Susan Rice insisted Sunday she used "the best information we had at the time" when she described the deadly Benghazi attack as a spontaneous protest in 2012 — but Sen. John McCain wasn't buying it.

February 23, 2014

Sen. Mark Udall feeling heat over ties to climate change billionaire

Not all Coloradans were impressed by Sen. Mark Udall's invitation to liberal billionaire Tom Steyer's exclusive Democratic Party fund-raiser.

February 19, 2014

Secession movement in New York pushes for Big Apple to split from Upstate

A movement is afoot to split New York into two regions — upstate and downstate — to acknowledge the gaping philosophical differences and improve representation.

February 17, 2014

Banks warned they risk prosecution if they follow Obama admin. guidance on marijuana

Banker, beware: Association says banks at risk for prosecution under Obama administration guidance on marijuana

February 14, 2014

Montana’s John Walsh thrust into action on first day as senator

Montana Sen. John Walsh's first full day on the job came as a crash course on the perils of incumbency.

February 12, 2014

Colorado Democrats stand ground on embattled state gun control laws

Colorado Democrats have shown no interest in reworking the gun control bills that led to last year's grass-roots revolt and historic recall elections, shooting down every Republican attempt so far to repeal or revise the measures.

February 11, 2014

Colorado Democrats defeat attempt to undo limits on ammunition magazines

Colorado Democrats rejected Monday a chance for a do-over on last year's hotly debated gun-control bills, killing a Republican-sponsored measure to repeal the limit on ammunition-magazine capacity.

February 10, 2014

Conservative court to consider doctor’s Obamacare challenge

Dr. Steven Hotze faces a grim choice as he grapples with rising insurance costs under Obamacare: Reduce the hours worked by the 97 employees at his Houston wellness center or jack up prices on his patients.

February 10, 2014

Alaska primed to become third state to legalize retail marijuana

Alaska is poised to become the third state to legalize retail marijuana after pro-pot advocates this week cleared the signature hurdle to place an initiative on the August ballot.

February 6, 2014

Endangered mighty mouse cripples Colorado flood-recovery efforts

As Coloradans try to rebuild after record floods devastated the state last year, some here are claiming a 9-inch, slug-eating mouse with an impressive vertical leap is standing in the way.

February 6, 2014