Valerie Richardson

Employers can fire workers for marijuana use, Colorado Supreme Court rules

Coloradans have a right to use medical marijuana with a doctor's approval, but that doesn't mean they can't be fired for it.

June 15, 2015

Colorado coal town uses beer boycott to fight Colowyo Mine closure

Jana Venzke is fighting the war on coal here in northwest Colorado -- one bottle of craft beer at a time. Last week, she pulled every New Belgium and Breckenridge label from the shelves at her store, A1 Liquors, after finding their names on a list of businesses that contribute to WildEarth Guardians, the anti-coal group whose lawsuit threatens to shutter the local Colowyo Mine, taking 220 jobs with it.

June 14, 2015

‘White Appreciation Day’ at Rubbin Buttz BBQ makes colorful statement

The only thing Steve Adams knew about the Rubbin Buttz BBQ is that its Hispanic owners were hosting "White Appreciation Day" on Thursday, but that was enough to persuade him to make the hourlong drive for lunch.

June 11, 2015

California to tighten vaccine law

The rash of tough pro-vaccine bills that infected state legislatures after the Disneyland measles outbreak has largely faded, and based on the uproar in California, it's not hard to see why.

June 10, 2015

Colorado school district cuts free period after lawsuit on prayer, religion talk

A Colorado Springs school district that was sued after banning students from praying and discussing religion during a free period has resolved the issue by eliminating the free period.

June 9, 2015

Climate activists give cold shoulder to Georgetown’s move to divest only from coal

Student activists were lukewarm on Georgetown University's resolution to divest its $1.5 billion endowment from coal, characterizing it as a symbolic move that will have little impact on the institution or the climate.

June 5, 2015

Jerry Brown rejects California fracking ban, risks alienating environmentalists

An unusual schism has opened up on California's politically dominant left flank, where Gov. Jerry Brown, a longtime favorite of the state's environmentalists, has refused to give in to the climate change movement's demand for a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing.

June 2, 2015

New York Times accused of hypocrisy for allowing dung-covered Virgin Mary but not Muhammad art

Critics are crying double standard over The New York Times's decision to run an image last week of the Virgin Mary smeared in elephant dung after refusing to print sketches of the prophet Muhammad.

June 1, 2015

Christopher Driscoll, Lehigh religion professor, hands down ‘10 Cracka Commandments’ for whites

A Lehigh University assistant professor is coming under criticism for issuing rules for white people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement called "The Ten Cracka Commandments."

June 1, 2015

Jerry Brown in cross-hairs as Prop 13 foes push ‘split roll’ in California

Ever since Proposition 13 ignited a nationwide tax revolt in 1978, the California measure has been regarded as politically untouchable -- until now.

May 31, 2015

No show of suspicion of ABC’s George Stephanopoulos among presidential candidates

If presidential candidates other than Hillary Rodham Clinton are leery of being questioned by ex-Clinton aide-turned-ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, so far they're not showing it.

May 31, 2015

Western states decry Obama plan to save greater sage grouse

DENVER | There's one big problem with the Bureau of Land Management's newly released federal habitat plan for the greater sage grouse: It's federal.

May 28, 2015

Forecast sees milder-than-average hurricane season

Those who dispute the theory that global warming is producing more extreme weather events received a boost Wednesday with the release of a federal forecast indicating another milder-than-average hurricane season.

May 27, 2015

California water crisis could leave Democrats high and dry in 2016

Wherever he goes, Tom Del Beccaro asks California voters which they would prefer: high-speed rail or more water. Invariably, the answer is the same.

May 27, 2015

Terry McAuliffe ices talk of Virginia divestment from fossil fuels

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe wants to fight climate change but not by divesting.

May 27, 2015

NRA: Gun rights advocates fight to change Colorado’s limits on ammunition magazines

There is nothing that infuriates Colorado firearms owners more than the 15-round ammunition magazine limit enacted two years ago by Democrats, but a proposal to raise the limit to 30 rounds has split the states gun rights movement.

May 19, 2015

Freddie Gray Baltimore police death sparks outrage as black-on-black murders go unnoticed

Former Baltimore cop Peter Moskos understands the anger over Freddie Gray's death, but he wishes there were a little more outrage over the deaths of men like Kareen George, Andre Hunt and Tierell Wilder.

May 10, 2015

Gary Hart apologizes to Cory Gardner for barbs during Colorado Senate campaign

Former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart publicly apologized Friday to newly elected Sen. Cory Gardner for making "disparaging comments" about him during last year's hard-fought Senate campaign.

May 9, 2015

Rubbin’ Buttz BBQ, Hispanic-owned restaurant, hit with bomb scare over ‘White Appreciation Day’

The Hispanic restaurant owners who ignited an uproar over their plans to hold White Appreciation Day next month were forced to evacuate their barbecue joint late Friday after a bomb scare.

May 9, 2015

Hispanic barbecue owners to host ‘White Appreciation Day’ at Colorado eatery

Black History Month is February. Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. And at one Colorado barbecue joint, June 11 is White Appreciation Day.

May 8, 2015