Valerie Richardson

No war on Christmas: In many communities, officials opt to surrender

There was no flap this year over the "Merry Christmas" sign in Bethlehem, New York, because the town never displayed it, opting to avoid the possibility of a legal fight even in a community named for the birthplace of Jesus.

December 21, 2015

House Republicans blast Interior Dept. for bowing to pressure from greens on lease sales

House Republicans are calling out the Interior Department for delaying a recent spate of oil-and-gas lease sales, accusing the department of kowtowing to pressure from environmentalists.

December 17, 2015

EPA use of social media to tout own program broke law: GAO

When the Environmental Protection Agency launched a social media blitz touting its hotly contested proposal to expand its water regulatory authority, Republicans accused the agency of breaking the law by spreading propaganda on the public dime.

December 15, 2015

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ censored by Kentucky school district over religious lines

A Kentucky school district is being urged to reconsider after censoring "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and other programs by removing all references to religion.

December 15, 2015

California’s Privacy for All ‘bathroom bill’ challenged with Personal Privacy Protection Act

Give voters a chance and they will overturn California's landmark coed bathroom law in November, conservatives say -- just as voters in Houston did last month with an ordinance requiring transgender restroom access.

December 13, 2015

Most Americans favor GOP plan to defund Planned Parenthood, says poll defying narrative

A little-noticed poll is challenging the widely touted narrative that most Americans oppose GOP efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

December 12, 2015

ACLU Colorado Springs official resigns after threat to ‘shoot’ Trump voters before election

The co-chair of the American Civil Liberties Union's Colorado Springs chapter has resigned after announcing on Facebook that he would "shoot" supporters of Republican Donald Trump before election day.

December 11, 2015

Army-Navy game an all-American tradition ‘bigger than football’

It's the biggest college football game of the year, featuring a 2-9 team, a hopelessly lopsided rivalry in which one team has won 13 years in a row and a field full of players who will in all likelihood never play in the NFL.

December 10, 2015

Sally Jewell, Interior Secretary, unaware of any punishments for EPA toxic mine spill

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday she is unaware of anyone being fired, fined or even demoted for the Gold King Mine spill, prompting Republicans to accuse her of taking the EPA off the hook for the toxic blowout.

December 9, 2015

Senate Democrats steamed over Ted Cruz hearing disputing climate-change science

Even before it began, Sen. Ted Cruz's subcommittee hearing Tuesday challenging the accuracy and objectivity of the science behind climate doomsday scenarios drew a heated rebuke from Senate Democrats.

December 9, 2015

Retired police officers frustrated by barriers to concealed carry

It's hard to complain about living in Hawaii, unless, like Tom Fratinardo, you're a retired police officer trying to obtain concealed carry authorization under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

December 8, 2015

Republicans move to undermine Obama on Paris climate change deal

As Obama administration officials confer Tuesday at the climate talks in Paris, a who's who of top climate change doubters will be testifying before a Senate subcommittee at a hearing convened by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

December 7, 2015

Global-warming activists ask U.N. to banish skeptics from Paris Climate Conference

Climate-change activists are calling on the United Nations to revoke the credentials of global-warming skeptics at the ongoing Paris Climate Conference, or COP21.

December 7, 2015

Muslim Reform Movement decries radical Islam, calls for equality

It takes courage to stand up publicly to radical Islam, even if you're Muslim. Maybe especially if you're Muslim.

December 6, 2015

California Gov. Brown says looser gun laws in Arizona, Nevada create opening for terrorists

California Gov. Jerry Brown took a swipe Saturday at the gun laws of neighboring states, saying looser restrictions in Arizona and Nevada created a "gigantic back door" for terrorists to enter California.

December 5, 2015

Larry Hogan: Gun control isn’t working in California, Maryland

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Friday that California's strict gun-control laws failed to prevent the San Bernardino mass shooting, and that lawmakers need to seek "better answers."

December 5, 2015

Barbara Boxer: ‘Sensible gun laws work; we’ve proven it in California’

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer drew hoots Thursday after saying California's tough firearms restrictions show that "sensible gun laws work," the day after a mass shooting in San Bernardino.

December 4, 2015

Legally armed citizenry seen as mass-shooting, terrorism deterrent

Democrats ramped up their push Thursday for more firearms restrictions even as alarm over recent mass shootings, including one linked to Islamic terrorism, fueled calls for citizens to play a greater role in their own protection.

December 3, 2015

Gun-control fans mock Republicans for ‘thoughts and prayers’ after San Bernardino shooting

Gun-control advocates slammed Republicans calling for "thoughts and prayers" in the aftermath of the horrific San Bernardino shooting, prompting accusations of "prayer shaming" on the right.