Valerie Richardson

San Francisco’s anti-circumcision vote cut from ballot

A judge has snipped from San Francisco's November ballot a proposal to ban circumcision, ruling Thursday that state law preempts the city from regulating medical professionals.

July 28, 2011

For failed Obama nominee, a consolation prize

University of California at Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu was nominated Tuesday to the California Supreme Court, a scant two months after his candidacy for a federal judgeship was derailed by Republican objections to his left-leaning legal philosophy.

July 26, 2011

Border hawk fights for job in Ariz. recall

He's an Arizona state senator who probably wouldn't be recognized on the street outside of Mesa, yet the recall election of Russell Pearce is poised to become the biggest race of the 2011 cycle.

July 19, 2011

Colo. proposal would impose parameters on day care centers

A 98-page proposal to intensify regulations governing Colorado child care centers would require a previously unseen level of detail, including specifications for the number of crayons, paintbrushes and blocks per art kit, the racial composition of dolls and the number of nature scenes per classroom.

July 13, 2011

Democrats lead GOP 2-0 in 2011 special elections

The score after two 2011 special congressional elections: Democrats 2, Republicans 0. But Republicans have a chance to even the score with two more special elections, both scheduled for Sept. 13.

July 13, 2011

From Broadway to the Beltway, Mormons in the spotlight

It's not exactly hip to be Mormon, but you wouldn't call them square, either. At least not right now.

July 11, 2011

‘Give Me Your Cash’ may cost Calif. Democrat some votes

The hot issue of Tuesday's special runoff election for an open House seat in Los Angeles isn't the economy, immigration or Medicaid — it's gangs, thanks to what may be the most jaw-dropping political attack ad ever run.

July 11, 2011

Colorado tops U.S. as least-obese state; District finishes 2nd

Not only does Colorado have the nation's thinnest air, it's also home to the country's skinniest people.

July 7, 2011

Couple’s case against EPA to be heard

Mike and Chantell Sackett are still waiting to be heard by the Environmental Protection Agency, but now they've got a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.

June 28, 2011

Justices void Arizona campaign-finance law

The Supreme Court struck down a key provision of an Arizona campaign-finance law that provided matching funds for publicly funded candidates, further solidifying the court's record of opposition to election reforms that limit speech.

June 27, 2011

Idahoans: EPA ruling all wet

When Mike and Chantell Sackett bought a half-acre lot in the Priest Lake area of Idahos Panhandle, their plan was to build a home in which they could raise a family.

June 26, 2011

San Francisco ban on circumcision a cut too deep for the faithful

A ballot measure to ban circumcision in San Francisco has become a national punch line, but it's being taken seriously by religious groups who see the proposal as an attack on their faith.

June 13, 2011

Ruling soon on gay judge in California same-sex case

A ruling is expected within a day or two on whether former U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker should have disqualified himself from presiding over the trial on California's same-sex marriage ban because he was involved in a gay relationship.

June 13, 2011

Chaffetz mulls bid for Hatch’s seat in Senate

A veteran Utah Republican senator faces a primary challenge from a young conservative with the backing of the Club for Growth. Sound familiar?

June 5, 2011

Dissenters in GOP rethink Electoral College

A once-sleepy movement that would upend the Electoral College, reverse two centuries of constitutional practice and elect presidents by direct popular vote has quietly picked up momentum in recent days, with Republican Party leaders scrambling to stanch a steady stream of defections by GOP state lawmakers to the plan.

June 2, 2011

House members in the know score ‘abnormal’ stock profits, study says

It's no secret that members of Congress are political insiders, but an extensive new survey suggests they may also be insiders when it comes to trading stocks.

May 25, 2011

Birth papers hit book sales

The release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate may have failed to satisfy hard-core skeptics, but it did drive a dagger through the initial sales of "Where's the Birth Certificate? The Case That Barack Obama Is Not Eligible to Be President," by Jerome Corsi.

May 18, 2011