Valerie Richardson

Science can’t keep up with pop culture when it comes to artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence entered pop culture long before its development. Books, old-time radio shows, television and particularly movies explored the concept decades before ChatGPT gave the world its first personal look at AI for everyday public use.

December 26, 2023

Catholic women’s college backpedals on accepting transgender applicants after backlash

Foes of biological males in women's spaces received an early Christmas present when an all-women's Catholic college walked back on considering transgender applicants after opposition from alumnae and religious leaders.

December 21, 2023

Plagiarism charges dog Harvard President Claudine Gay on heels of antisemitism outcry

Harvard President Claudine Gay survived an antisemitism uproar only to be engulfed by a plagiarism scandal that threatens her brief term in the top job, as well as the reputation of the nation's oldest university.

December 21, 2023

House panel widens Harvard probe to include President Claudine Gay plagiarism charges

House Republicans expanded their investigation into Harvard University to include the growing list of plagiarism charges against President Claudine Gay, raising concerns that the college is holding its students to a higher standard than its leadership.

December 20, 2023

Liberal Colorado justices come under scrutiny after booting Trump from ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court may not be the most liberal high court in the nation, but it's certainly in the conversation. All seven of the Colorado justices were appointed by Democratic governors -- not a surprise, given that the blue state has not had a Republican governor since Bill Owens left office after two terms in 2007.

December 20, 2023

Transgender activist who campaigned for Democratic governor charged with child rape

A prominent transgender advocate known for working with Pennsylvania Democrats, including campaigning alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro, has been charged with raping two young boys.

December 19, 2023

Parents sue Michigan school district for hiding daughter’s gender transition

The parents of a Michigan student have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the school district of concealing their child's gender transition from them, arguing that their parental rights trump student privacy as the battle over pronouns moves from the classroom to the courthouse.

December 19, 2023

Pro-life pregnancy center sues to derail New Jersey AG’s ‘unjustified’ investigation

Pro-life pregnancy centers targeted by Democratic state attorneys general are fighting back.

December 18, 2023

Youngest U.S. voters see Jews, Whites as ‘oppressors,’ want Israel to be ‘ended’

A majority of the nation's youngest voters see Jewish and White people as "oppressors," according to a newly released poll that offered a grim forecast on U.S. support for Israel.

December 18, 2023

Billions in Middle East donations to U.S. universities linked to campus antisemitism

The same U.S. universities that increasingly are seen as breeding grounds for antisemitism have taken billions in previously undisclosed donations from the Middle East.

December 14, 2023

Republican bill seeks to help single mothers by making fathers assist with pregnancy costs

Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, wants to encourage fathers to be more involved with their children, starting with the months before they're born.

December 13, 2023

University of Pennsylvania taps J. Larry Jameson as interim president after Liz Magill’s resignation

The University of Pennsylvania has named J. Larry Jameson as interim president to fill the vacancy left by Liz Magill, who stepped down following her disastrous appearance at a House hearing on campus antisemitism.

December 12, 2023

Planned Parenthood received nearly $2 billion in federal funds, pandemic loans in three years

Planned Parenthood affiliates raked in nearly $2 billion in federal funds from 2019-21, including millions in forgiven pandemic loans, even though Republicans contend that the nation's largest abortion provider should have been ineligible for the small-business program.

December 12, 2023

Harvard stands by President Claudine Gay despite calls for her removal

Harvard University threw its support behind President Claudine Gay in the face of growing calls for her to resign over her handling of campus antisemitism while addressing the plagiarism allegations that have compounded concerns about her leadership.

December 12, 2023

‘Unsalvageable mess’: Project Veritas CEO Hannah Giles resigns over ‘past illegality’ concerns

Hannah Giles has resigned as CEO of Project Veritas after taking over in June from James O'Keefe, saying that the guerrilla journalism outfit has become an "unsalvageable mess."

December 11, 2023

‘Antisemitic garbage’: Anti-Jewish poster found hanging outside GOP Rep. Walberg’s office

Rep. Tim Walberg, Michigan Republican and a staunch supporter of Israel, said an antisemitic sign was found hanging outside his district headquarters, marking the second time his office has been targeted.

December 11, 2023

Harvard president on shaky ground as resignation calls rise over campus antisemitism

When Rep. Elise Stefanik declared "One down. Two to go" after Penn President Liz Magill's resignation, she apparently wasn't kidding.

December 11, 2023

Tone deaf: ‘SNL’ mocks Elise Stefanik, not college presidents, in skit on antisemitism hearing

The NBC sketch-comedy show was accused of stunning tone-deafness for a skit that mocked not the Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology presidents who stepped in it during last week's House hearing, but the Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.

December 10, 2023

Julie Platt chosen as interim chair of Penn board after resignations over campus antisemitism

Julie Platt, vice chair of the University of Pennsylvania's Board of Trustees, was named interim chair by the executive committee shortly after the resignation of former Chairman Scott Bok.

December 10, 2023

Heads roll at Penn as Magill, Bok resign after disastrous House hearing on antisemitism

The University of Pennsylvania's top two leaders resigned Saturday amid an uproar over rising antisemitism on campus, calls that surged last week after President Liz Magill's widely panned testimony before a House committee.

December 9, 2023