Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
White House taps Mideast expert to bolster Gulf relations
The White House quietly announced it was bringing on board a Middle East expert with a background in forging peace deals, a late-hour move to help President Obama smooth relations with key regional leaders that comes as he's poised to visit Saudi Arabia. Published February 20, 2014
Ted Cruz slams GOP for ‘trickery’ on debt ceiling vote
Sen. Ted Cruz issued a strongly worded rebuke against his fellow Republican colleagues regarding a recent debt ceiling vote that he saw as all show, zero substance and outright "trickery" to the American public. Published February 20, 2014
American flags made in China now banned in U.S. military
U.S. troops can no longer cart around American flags that were made in China, thanks to legislation written by Rep. Mike Thompson. Published February 20, 2014
McDonald’s worker sent packing after paying firefighters’ meals
A McDonald's worker who had been on the job for eight years was told to go home — that her services were no longer needed — the day after she paid $92 out of her own pocket for firefighters who came in to eat. Published February 20, 2014
NSA slap-down: Feds lose court try to curb mocking T-shirts
A Minnesota man who was sent a cease-and-desist letter by the federal government over his sales of merchandise, which mocks the National Security Agency's citizen surveillance activities, has won his legal battle. Published February 20, 2014
White House to sniff out newsrooms: ‘Troubling and dangerous development’
The Obama administration is pushing forward with a Federal Communications Commission project that would send government researchers into newsrooms across the country — and First Amendment advocates want to know why. Published February 20, 2014
University of Maryland data breach leaves 300,000 staff, students exposed
A data breach at the University of Maryland has left some 300,000 staff members and former and present students exposed, with their personal information — including Social Security numbers — stolen and floating around unknown locations. Published February 20, 2014
20 journalists on trial in Egypt for terror charges
Twenty journalists — including four foreigners — are set for trial Thursday in Egypt on charges related to terror, a case that's being watched closely by free press advocates around the world. Published February 20, 2014
15 injured as second floor of Mississippi church crumbles
At least 15 were injured when the second floor of a Mississippi church collapsed during a youth service, the pastor said. Published February 20, 2014
Net neutrality rears as GOP fears government grab
The Federal Communications Commission announced Wednesday that it will overhaul net neutrality regulations that were overturned in court and bring them back to the Internet. Published February 19, 2014
MillerCoors hikes beer alcohol level to entice younger drinkers
Regular beer may have a 5 percent alcohol content level -- but MillerCoors is bringing out the booze for the millennials, upping the alcohol level to 6.9 percent to hopefully compete with the spirit-consuming crowd. Published February 19, 2014
Scott Brown, Fox News renew contract deal
Former Mass. Sen. Scott Brown and Fox News renewed a contract deal that puts the ex-politico back on air as an official contributor, a cable network executive said Wednesday. Published February 19, 2014
U.S. to demand partial Israeli settlement freeze: report
The United States is poised to demand Israel freeze part of its disputed settlement activity as part of the framework peace deal being forged by Secretary of State John Kerry, an Army Radio report said on Wednesday. Published February 19, 2014
Green groups warn Obama: Keystone is the unforgivable
Environmental activists have put President Obama on notice: Thanks for the call for $1 billion for a climate change resiliency fund. But if you backtrack on Keystone, we'll still unleash a political fury. Published February 19, 2014
Scott Brown breaks from Fox, sparking new Senate talk
Former Sen. Scott Brown broke ties with Fox News just a year after coming aboard as an official contributor, fueling more talk of a new bid for political office. Published February 19, 2014
Florida sheriff sued for manhandling woman who recorded traffic stop
The Broward Sheriff's Office is facing legal trouble from a Florida woman who claims she was physically removed from her car and thrown in jail for a night — all for what the sheriff's deputy described as the "felony" crime of recording their traffic stop conversation. Published February 19, 2014
Armed elderly woman scares off snow shoveler trying to shake her down
A Massachusetts woman, 79, got sick and tired of a persistent man who was trying to shovel driveways for money and sent him fleeing — by brandishing a gun. Published February 19, 2014
Norse myth predicts world to end this week
Y2K has passed. The Mayan apocalypse has passed. But we're not out of the woods, yet, it would seem. Norse mythology predicts that the world will end this Saturday, when the Earth will split open and unleash the "inhabitants of Hel," one newspaper reported. Published February 19, 2014
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new ‘behavior’ changer: Drop speed limit by 5 mph
New York City's newest mayor, Bill de Blasio, wants to reduce the speed limit on city streets by 5 miles per hour, from 30 mph to 25 mph. Published February 19, 2014
U.S. military subs electric brain shocks for coffee on test soldiers
U.S. military researchers are shocking troops' brains to see if electricity jolts could be substituted for coffee and energy drinks, a couple of newspapers reported. Published February 19, 2014
