Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Venezuelan health care system collapsing; doctors call it a crisis
Venezuela's government-run health care system is in shambles, with doctors sending cancer patients home and ill citizens suffering everything from tumors to glaucoma. Published November 8, 2013
Swedish movies to rate gender bias: So long, ‘Lord of the Rings’
Swedish movie mavens, ever mindful of gender-related sensitivities, are putting a new rating system in place for film-goers that alerts to bias against females. Published November 8, 2013
Tehran TV documentary tells how to attack Israel
Note to Iran: If you’re trying to assure world leaders that the new president brings messages of peace and compromise, you might not want to broadcast a lengthy documentary about attacking Israel with missiles. Published November 8, 2013
iPad explodes, setting Australian store customers fleeing
A brand new iPad Air that was supposed to be used for a demonstration model for customers exploded and burst into flames, forcing the Australian store to close so firefighters could clear the scene. Published November 8, 2013
Obama has ‘head handed to him’ in secret Iran sanction deal amid nuclear talks
For all the tough talk on the international front the United States has quietly been easing some of the financial restrictions on Iran, a new investigation reveals. But, as one source suggested, the talks may have backfired — and now the White House is feeling vulnerable. Published November 8, 2013
Obama, White House earn top liar labels from Obamacare fact checkers
Add two popular fact-checking sites to the growing list of individuals and organizations that say President Obama outright lied about his promises to the American people — that Obamacare wouldn't take away their existing health care plans. Published November 8, 2013
Dad dubbed unfit parent for refusing son’s pleas for McDonald’s meals
A Manhattan father going through court proceedings with his estranged wife is coming out swinging after a court-appointed counselor, tasked with helping to decide custody, labeled the dad unfit for refusing to take his son to McDonald's for dinner. Published November 8, 2013
Toronto’s crack-smoking mayor in video tirade: ‘He dies, or I die’
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, already facing a public relations nightmare from recent admissions of smoking crack, has a new hit to deal with — a video that's making the media rounds that shows him in a drunken rage, threatening to kill an unknown individual. Published November 8, 2013
76-foot Connecticut Christmas tree heads to NYC’s Rockefeller Center
A 76-foot Norway spruce, the chosen Christmas tree from a Connecticut grower to grace Rockefeller Center, headed to midtown Manhattan on Friday. Published November 8, 2013
Pope Francis poised to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin to bolster church ties
Pope Francis is going to meet with President Vladimir Putin in hopes of bolstering relations and tamping down accusations that the Catholic Church proselytizes in Russia. Published November 8, 2013
U.S. loses voting rights at key U.N. body, UNESCO
Beginning Friday, the United States will no longer be able to cast a ballot in key global matters vetted through the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, due to a dispute over dues. Published November 8, 2013
Cruz bill offers $5M reward for Benghazi info
Sen. Ted Cruz just brought forward a bill that would award $5 million to anyone who could provide information that leads to the capture of a suspect in the Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attack that left four Americans dead. Published November 8, 2013
Philippines battered by typhoon: ‘We just have to pray’
Philippines is under massive storm attack, and millions of people Friday were fleeing winds that were hitting upwards of 200 miles per hour. Published November 8, 2013
California lawmakers get $5K raise, to $95,291
Call it an early Christmas gift. Lawmakers in California — already the highest paid of all state legislatures — have just received a pay boost of $5,000. Published November 7, 2013
Al Gore: NSA guilty of ‘crimes against the U.S. Constitution’
Al Gore, the former vice president and famous climate-change believer, said in a speech this week that he's sure glad for Edward Snowden and the fugitive's National Security Agency leaks. Published November 7, 2013
ESPN panelist decries pre-game national anthem as ‘war anthem’
A panelist who appeared on a segment of ESPN’s “Around the Horn” discussion said sports games would be a lot better if they didn’t open with the National Anthem. Published November 7, 2013
Google ordered by court to remove prostitute party pics of ex-Formula 1 head
In what’s shaping to become a crucial test of Internet freedom, a French court has ordered the world’s best-known search engine, Google, to remove all links and evidence of images of a former British Formula 1 boss partying with prostitutes. Published November 7, 2013
CIA pays AT&T $10 million a year for phone data: report
The Central Intelligence Agency has been paying communications giant $10 million annually for access to the company’s massive database of telephone records, which contains international and domestic calls, government sources said. Published November 7, 2013
Rep. Ted Yoho tells town hall: GOP working to impeach Eric Holder
A Republican lawmaker told his Florida constituents at a town hall meeting in his district this week that moves are afoot by the GOP on Capitol Hill to impeach Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. for the Fast and Furious debacle that left a border patrol agent — and hundreds of Mexican civilians and innocents — dead. Published November 7, 2013
Pope Francis calls for ‘courage’ and blesses disfigured man
A photograph of Pope Francis laying tender hands on the head of a man with horrific disfigurations has gone viral — and no wonder: To many, the shot is the epitome of what some regard as true Christianity and the display of grace, humility, compassion and the like. Published November 7, 2013
