Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Oscar Pistorius murder trial placed on hold
The murder trial of former Olympian Oscar Pistorius was postponed on Friday, after the judge said her legal assistant had taken ill. Published March 28, 2014
Baghdad bombing in busy market leaves 4 dead
At least four were confirmed killed Friday in a triple bombing that rocked a busy Baghdad market area, Iraqi authorities reported. Published March 28, 2014
Steven Seagal’s new bestie: Vladimir Putin, ‘a friend’ and ‘brother’
Hollywood action star Steven Seagal has gone gaga over Russia's President Vladimir Putin, calling the ex-KGBer in a lengthy interview with a government-run newspaper in Bucharest simply one of the best leaders in all the wide world. Published March 27, 2014
U.N. climate author withdraws because the report has become ‘too alarmist’
One of the authors of a U.N. draft report on climate change pulled out of the writing team, saying his colleagues were pulling too far to the left and issuing unfounded "alarmist" claims at the expense of real solutions. Published March 27, 2014
Calif. state Dem Leland Yee, anti-gun crusader, arraigned for gunrunning
A California Democratic state senator with a reputation for clamping down on Second Amendment freedoms was arrested and arraigned on a range of federal charges late Wednesday — among them, for alleged gunrunning. Published March 27, 2014
Russell Crowe hits ‘Noah’ critics: ‘Bordering on absolute stupidity’
"Noah" star Russell Crowe harshly rebuked critics for judging the film sight unseen — especially those in the Christian community railing against the atheist roots of both the director and storyline. Published March 27, 2014
Rep. Barbara Lee slams Bill O’Reilly for ‘code words’ that hide racism
Fox News' Bill O'Reilly's comments about those in the black community who don't want to talk race, but rather only profit and advance their agenda using racism as a springboard, didn't sit well with Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. Published March 27, 2014
Taco Bell taps into Ronald McDonald to sell new breakfast fare
Taco Bell has taken more than a page from McDonald's marketing strategies — it's tapped into the power of the leading character, the Ronald McDonald clown. Published March 27, 2014
Donald Trump slams Obama for ‘dumbest statements’ ever
Billionaire businessman Donald Trump had some harsh words for President Obama this week, calling the White House leader's remarks about a nuclear disaster in downtown New York City one of the dumbest ever. Published March 27, 2014
Putin at 80 percent popularity: Obama, below 50
President Putin's popularity is on the rise. Fully 80 percent of Russians see the former KGB agent in a favorable light, while only 18 percent disapprove of his leadership, a new study from the Levada Center shows. Published March 27, 2014
Minnesota girl wins $70K from school that tapped her Facebook posts
A school district in Minnesota will pay $70,000 in settlement fees for unlawfully demanding a student, now 15, hand over her Facebook and email passwords so administrators could check out her postings. Published March 27, 2014
Connecticut makes history passing $10.10 minimum wage
Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to pass a bill that hikes the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour — the same level touted by President Obama as his wish for federal law. Published March 27, 2014
Obama on Crimea: It’s not a Cold War — it’s a ‘contest of ideas’
President Obama summed out the situation in Crimea this week with a simple assessment: The West and the world are not headed back to any Cold War with Russia. Rather, we're only engaging in a clash of ideals. Published March 27, 2014
Bank of America to pay $9.3B to make federal dispute go away
Bank of America agreed to pay $9.33 billion to put to rest a long-running mortgage securities dispute with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which accused the lender of falsely representing loans that went south when the housing bubble burst. Published March 27, 2014
Harry Reid in hot water for $17K campaign dole-out to granddaughter
Sen. Harry Reid — under pressure from the Federal Election Commission — revealed that he gave about $17,000 in campaign cash to his granddaughter in two separate payments that were recorded in his books as "holiday gifts." Published March 27, 2014
German airports grind to a halt as workers strike for more money
Air travel through Germany has come to a virtual halt as workers went on strike Thursday to demand more money. Published March 27, 2014
Navy poised to give cigarette sales the boot from bases
The U.S. Navy is about to ban all sales of cigarettes and other tobacco items from its bases and ships, Defense Department sources said on Tuesday. Published March 25, 2014
Donald Rumsfeld slams Obama on Afghanistan: ‘Trained ape’ could do better
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sure didn't mince words this week when he slammed President Obama and his administration for their handling of Afghanistan: A "trained ape" could do better, he said. Published March 25, 2014
John Bolton bursts on PAC scene with $800K: ‘We’re evaluating candidates’
John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is jumping into the upcoming elections with both feet forward, pledging to pump the $800,000 that his political action committee raised in 2013 to help those candidates he sees as best fits for America's future. Published March 25, 2014
Drone-shy U.S. to give Yemen 10 modified planes for ‘targeted killing’
The Obama administration is poised to give the Yemen Air Force a fleet of two-seater propeller planes — akin to what's used to dust crops — that have been modified so they can carry laser-guided missiles and a high-tech intelligence system. Published March 25, 2014
