Valerie Richardson

States raise tobacco buying age to 21

The movement to raise the tobacco buying age to 21 has caught fire, with recent victories in three states as anti-smoking advocates blow past critics who see the measures as another dubious undertaking of the nanny state.

August 10, 2017

Pet dogs, cats harm climate, professor says

A UCLA professor who recommended replacing dogs and cats with more climate-friendly pets in the name of global warming may have bitten off more than he can chew.

August 8, 2017

Gregory Okin, UCLA professor, blames dogs and cats for contributing to climate change

UCLA professor Gregory S. Okin concluded in a study published last week that certain pets, specifically dogs and cats, have a "significant" impact on greenhouse-gas emissions as a result of their meat-based pet-food consumption and feces production.

August 8, 2017

Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Sequel’ meets with cool reception, placing 15th at box office

Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel" drew a lukewarm response from moviegoers, ranking 15th at the box office in its first weekend of wide release and earning tepid reviews from audiences.

August 7, 2017

Sean Hannity boycott by TD Ameritrade says was drummed up by left

It was always a head-scratcher: Why would TD Ameritrade, a company founded by prominent Republican donor Joe Ricketts, throw in with George Soros-backed forces intent on driving "Hannity" off the air?

August 7, 2017

Sean Hannity boycott by TD Ameritrade says was drummed up by left

It was always a head-scratcher: Why would TD Ameritrade, a company founded by prominent Republican donor Joe Ricketts, throw in with George Soros-backed forces intent on driving "Hannity" off the air?

August 6, 2017

Republican legislatures foil liberal ballot measures in turnaround

A free market guy like the Independence Institute's Jon Caldara normally doesn't have much in common with progressives, except when it comes to ballot measures.

August 6, 2017

Jerry Brown, California governor, favors welcoming abortion foes to Democratic Party

California Gov. Jerry Brown said Sunday that the Democratic Party should be open to abortion foes.

August 6, 2017

Rod Rosenstein, deputy attorney general, denies Russia probe has ballooned into ‘fishing expedition’

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Sunday denied that the Russia investigation special counsel's probe has turned into "fishing expedition" aimed at digging up dirt on President Trump.

August 6, 2017

Bill to shield special counsel Robert Mueller from Donald Trump gets cool reception from White House

A bipartisan Senate bill to protect the Russia investigation special counsel from being fired met with a cool reception Sunday from White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.

August 6, 2017

Mike Pence blasts media hype about 2020 presidential run as ‘fake news,’ ‘categorically false’

Vice President Mike Pence called a report that he may be preparing a 2020 presidential run "categorically false" and accused the media of attempting to "divide this Administration."

August 6, 2017

Eric Bolling, suspended anchor, accused of sexual harassment by former Fox guest

A frequent Fox News guest has accused host Eric Bolling of sexual harassment hours after he was suspended for allegedly sending lewd texts.

August 6, 2017

Oregon Gov. Brown under pressure to veto sanctuary-state bill after high-profile arrest

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown faces growing pressure to veto a bill to expand the state's sanctuary status after the arrest of an illegal immigrant who had been deported 20 times in the rape of an elderly Portland woman.

August 2, 2017

Prince William and Princess Kate urged to stop having kids in name of climate change

Progressives worried about climate change and social justice have a message for Prince William and Princess Kate: Stop having children.

August 1, 2017

Joe Arpaio convicted of crime for ignoring judge’s order

Joe Arpaio was found guilty Monday of criminal contempt for defying a judge's order to stop detaining illegal immigrants, but the former sheriff isn't going down without a fight.

July 31, 2017

Leftists who once despised John McCain cheer him as hero for vote to preserve Obamacare

Not long ago, Sen. John McCain was reviled by leftists as a war-mongering hothead, but now he's their hero, thanks to his vote to preserve Obamacare.

July 31, 2017

James Lankford confronts ABC over ‘hate group’ tag: Disagreement ‘isn’t the same as hate’

Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma Republican, on Monday confronted ABC News for labeling the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom as an alleged "hate group," saying that disagreeing on the issues "isn't the same as hate."

July 31, 2017

National-anthem protests top list of reasons NFL fans tuned out last season: survey

It turns out those blaming Colin Kaepernick for last season's decline in NFL viewership have a point: A newly released study found that the national-anthem protests were the main reason disenchanted sports fans tuned out.

July 28, 2017

Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Sequel’ meets with skepticism

Nobody is more excited about Friday's release of Al Gore's sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth" than climate skeptic Marc Morano, which comes as an ill wind for the movement to stop global warming, not to mention Mr. Gore.

July 27, 2017

EPA moves to submerge Obama-era ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule by filing repeal

The Trump administration formally acted Wednesday to repeal the 2015 Waters of the U.S. rule, dealing another blow to the Obama-era environmental regulatory regime.

July 26, 2017