Valerie Richardson

On Election Day ballots: Food labeling, marijuana taxes and casino gambling

Ballot questions are taking center stage in the Nov. 5 elections as voters in a half-dozen states grapple with issues including marijuana taxes, genetically modified foods and casino gambling.

Incumbents could be in trouble in 2014

Colo. governor asks gun-control groups to stay away from latest recall

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has a message for out-of-state gun-control groups: Stay away from the next Colorado recall. Please.

California gun grab: Brown signs lead-ammo bill but vetoes ban on hunting rifles

California Gov. Jerry Brown split the difference Friday on the pile of gun-control bills sitting on his desk, opting to sign five but veto seven, including a bill that would have banned the sale of many popular hunting rifles.

EPA facing fire for armed raid on Alaska mine

The Environmental Protection Agency is coming under increasing fire for a raid conducted in Alaska this summer by armed agents seeking violations of the Clean Water Act.

L.A. Times nixes letters from climate change deniers

The Los Angeles Times has stirred a dust-up over global warming with a newly announced policy barring letters to the editor that deny the existence of man-made climate change.

Colorado finds no floodwater pollution from fracking

The environmental disaster forecast by anti-fracking activists after last month's epic Colorado flooding didn't quite materialize.

Colorado voters go after third pro-gun-control Democrat via recall

Disaffected Coloradans have launched a third recall effort, this time against a Democratic legislator whose seat could determine the balance of power in the state Senate.

In Hawaii, Mormons try a more muted strategy against gay marriage

With the Hawaii Legislature poised to usher in the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appears to be shifting its approach from offense to defense.

Recalled over guns, loser fires parting shot

Two Republicans were sworn in Thursday to replace ousted Democratic state Sens. Angela Giron and John Morse, capping Colorado's history-making recall elections and signaling a shift in the state's political direction.

NRA threatens suit over Calif. gun bill

The National Rifle Association plans to sue the state of California if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill restricting the sale of some commonly used hunting rifles, raising the stakes as the deadline approaches for the governor's decision.

Colo. flood relief snared in shutdown debate

Democrats are sending mixed messages over whether the government shutdown will hamper Colorado's flood-recovery efforts.

Iran position on Holocaust doesn’t signal thaw with Israel

The Iranian foreign minister condemned the Holocaust as a "heinous crime" Sunday in what was seen as the latest step by Iran to improve its hostile relations with the U.S.

Cruz puts blame for shutdown at the feet of Reid, Democrats

He spent 21 hours last week debating and denouncing Obamacare on the Senate floor, but it turns out Sen. Ted Cruz wasn't finished.

Pro-frackers try to stem leak claims

Anti-fracking groups drumming up alarm over oil leaks from last week's epic Colorado floods are running into pushback from those who say the activists are overstating the problem to advance a political agenda.

Gun owners surrender to Starbucks, respect anti-firearms policy

Gun owners are devoted to the Second Amendment, but it turns out many of them are also fans of caramel macchiatos.

California’s great gun grab: State’s sweeping gun control bills target firearms, ammo — and hunting

Breaking new ground in the state-level battle over firearms, the Democratic-dominated California state legislature has taken gun control into uncharted territory with a flurry of new bills that target not just firearms and ammunition, but also recreational hunting.

Civil rights panel members urge rejection in Hawaiian tribal status fight

Members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights are urging President Obama to reject Democratic requests to grant tribal status to Native Hawaiians by executive order, saying the unilateral move would be "unwise and unconstitutional."

After the floods, a ‘stronger’ Colorado

Colorado officials drew inspiration from the Denver Broncos as they vowed Monday to rebuild the state's infrastructure better than it was after epic flooding destroyed homes, roads and bridges along the heavily populated Front Range.

Flood-rocked Colorado finds inspiration in Peyton Manning, Broncos

Colorado officials drew inspiration from the Denver Broncos as they vowed Monday to rebuild the state's infrastructure better than it was after epic flooding destroyed homes, roads and bridges along the heavily populated Front Range.