Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
John Kerry in Paris, set for James Taylor croon: ‘You’ve Got a Friend’
Secretary of State John Kerry hit the streets of Paris on Friday, walking to the deli where four hostages were killed, to lay a wreath of flowers, to the Charlie Hebdo offices to drop off a similar arrangement, to the street median where the policeman was shot to deposit some more — and then hitting city hall for a rendition of James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend." Published January 16, 2015
Ben Carson to launch exploratory committee ‘within the next two or three weeks’
Retired neurosurgeon and possible 2016 presidential candidate Ben Carson has tapped Ryan Rhodes, a top political insider, to oversee his Iowa campaign — and he also plans to launch an exploratory committee in the coming two to three weeks, The Iowa Republican website reported. Published January 16, 2015
Mitch McConnell on immigration: GOP shouldn’t expect a miracle on repeal
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans in the House may have sent the Senate a measure that yanks President Obama's immigration orders — but it's just not going to happen because Democrats won't join the effort. Published January 16, 2015
Alex Malarkey, ‘Boy Who Came Back from Heaven,’ says he lied — ‘I did not go to heaven’
Alex Malarkey, the boy at the heart of a bestselling book, "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven," said in a letter to his publisher that he lied — he never died when he was 6 years old and went to heaven and visited with angels. Published January 16, 2015
Al Sharpton calls ‘emergency meeting’ over Hollywood’s all-white Oscar list
The Rev. Al Sharpton announced he was holding an "emergency meeting" to discuss Hollywood's all-white list of Oscar nominees and talk about possible action against the Academy Awards' powers-who-be. Published January 16, 2015
Duke University reverses plan to sound Muslim call of prayer from chapel bell tower
Duke University has decided to reverse its plan to sound the Muslim call-to-prayer from a chapel bell tower on campus after receiving a wave of backlash from Christians who called the plan unfair. Published January 15, 2015
Christian mom sounds alarm on Tennessee school bus taillight that flashes pentagram
A Christian mother in Tennessee has sounded the alarm on her town's school bus brake lights that she says form the shape of a pentagram — a pagan symbol of witchcraft and devil worship — when activated by the driver. Published January 15, 2015
Terror suspects killed in police raid in Belgium: ‘A second Paris has been avoided’
At least two suspected jihadists were killed in an anti-terror raid by Belgian police in Verviers on Thursday. Published January 15, 2015
Pope Francis: Climate change mostly man’s fault
Pope Francis said Thursday that climate change is due primarily from human activities. Published January 15, 2015
Boston in mayhem: 17 arrested as ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests shut down interstate
Protesters with the group "Black Lives Matter" caused a massive traffic backup by Boston on Thursday, shutting down Interstate-93 — a main thoroughfare for commuters — by chaining themselves to roadway railings and 1,200 pound construction barrels. Published January 15, 2015
Franklin Graham on TV tells Muslims: Convert to Christianity — ‘Christ will forgive’
The Rev. Franklin Graham told Muslims during a nationally televised interview on Fox News that they should convert to Christianity — that Jesus Christ will forgive and save them. Published January 15, 2015
American Sniper: Oscar best picture nomination
"American Sniper" may snag the highest honor in Hollywood: An Oscar for best picture. Published January 15, 2015
Rand Paul on Mitt Romney candidacy: ‘Same old, same old’
Sen. Rand Paul cautioned Republicans against supporting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for another run at the White House, saying his candidacy wasn't likely to produce anything new — that it would be pretty much business as usual. Published January 15, 2015
Afghanistan confirms Islamic State in-country; recruiter is ex-Gitmo guy
An Afghan general and governor both confirmed that the Islamic State is now in-country, flying its black flags and recruiting fighters -- and that one of the group's main recruiters is Mullah Abdul Rauf, a former U.S. captive sent to Guantanamo Bay but released in 2007. Published January 15, 2015
Pinellas County sheriff’s ‘In Dog We Trust’ rug flies under radar for weeks
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in Florida is changing out a rug that's been displayed for some weeks in its front lobby, after an alert deputy noticed a massive misprint — "In Dog We Trust." Published January 15, 2015
Secret Service reassigns four from protections detail in wake of agency scandals
The Secret Service said it's sending four senior-level officials packing into likely lower-level positions, the latest agency shake-up that comes on the heels of high-profile security lapses and widely reported sexual scandals. Published January 15, 2015
Obama loses luster on Islamic State: Almost 56 percent say he’s not up to the fight
Nearly 56 percent of Americans say President Obama doesn't have what it takes to fight Islamic terrorists, and only 33 percent think he's up to the job, a new Fox News poll showed. Published January 15, 2015
Salman Rushdie: Don’t blame Charlie Hebdo — free speech ‘indivisible’ or not at all
Salman Rushdie, the author of "The Satanic Verses" who lived for years in hiding due to a death threat from radical Islamists, said it's an outrage to blame Charlie Hebdo for the terrorist attacks on its Paris offices — that freedom and the right to speak freely is either "indivisible" or not at all. Published January 15, 2015
Tanzania bans witchdoctors in desperate try to halt murders of albinos
Tanzania authorities have issued a ban on witchdoctors as a means of stemming the surge of murders against albinos, whose body parts are sold for witching ceremonies. Published January 14, 2015
Mississippi lawmakers push to make Bible the official state book
A handful of lawmakers in Mississippi say the Bible ought to be the state's official book because it gives good guidance on how to treat people. Published January 14, 2015
