Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Lunch lady accused of stuffing bra with kids’ cash — $1.8M in 8 years
This is hardly the lunch lady of Adam Sandler lore. A former Rialto, Calif., school district accountant with access to kids' lunch money was reportedly captured on video stuffing her bra with bills and charged with ultimately racking up $1.8 million of stolen food fees over the span of eight years. Published October 9, 2013
Jerusalem grave vandals set Christians on edge
A string of attacks in Israel against sacred Christian sites have set followers of the faith on edge, wondering if the property desecrations are going to progress into assaults against people. Published October 9, 2013
Sen. Ben Cardin to Boehner, GOP: ‘Put down the gun’
Sen. Ben Cardin said it’s quite appropriate in the current government shutdown situation to sling around words like “hostage” and “ransom,” while suggesting House Speaker John Boehner ought to surrender to Democratic demands. Published October 9, 2013
California court rules mom OK to spank with spoon
A California appeals court on Tuesday said a mother who was brought up on child abuse charges for spanking her 12-year-old daughter with a wooden spoon acted within her parental rights, and that social services had overstepped bounds. Published October 9, 2013
Marilyn Monroe’s medical records head to auction; plastic surgery proof?
An unidentified seller is taking his medical records of the late Hollywood beauty Marilyn Monroe — complete with X-rays that supposedly prove she had cosmetic surgery — and heading to the auction block. Published October 9, 2013
Rangers arrest 21 for venturing into Grand Canyon post-shutdown
Park authorities have issued citations for 21 tourists and visitors who entered Grand Canyon National Park grounds after the government shutdown started. And in response – and in the face of furloughing other workers – the park has bolstered its security team to monitor the land around the clock. Published October 9, 2013
Obama courts conservative press in closed-door, off-the-record meeting
President Obama reached out to a handful of prominent conservative journalists, meeting with them in a closed-door, off-the-record gathering to discuss executive plans and policies likely related to the government shutdown. Published October 9, 2013
Michelle Obama cancels swank fundraising soirees amid shutdown
First lady Michelle Obama will have to reschedule a planned fundraising swing through the West Coast, the latest casualty in a string of government shutdown repercussions. Published October 9, 2013
Jerry Sandusky’s son, a Cleveland Browns executive, arrested for drunken driving
Jon Sandusky, an executive for the Cleveland Browns and the son of disgraced ex-Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, was arrested early Tuesday morning in Frago, N.D., on charges of drunken driving. Published October 9, 2013
Grover Norquist: Sen. Ted Cruz owes GOP an apology
Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist has ratcheted up his criticisms of Sen. Ted Cruz, calling the Texas tea party hero a poor political planner and demanding he apologize to fellow Republicans for his relentless push to defund Obamacare. Published October 9, 2013
17 grieving families of troops killed in action decry halt of death payment
So far, 17 families have been left in the cold on death benefit payouts of $100,000 for their killed-in-action military loved ones, due to the failure of U.S. authorities to clarify how the payout should proceed during the government shutdown. And they are outraged. Published October 9, 2013
John Boehner’s order: Keep congressional gym open
Just because the government has gone into shutdown mode doesn’t mean members of Congress have to give up their exercise routines. Per order of House Speaker John A. Boehner’s office: Keep the members-only workout facility open for use. Published October 9, 2013
Iowa man calls cops: I was stiffed in a drug deal
A 57-year-old Iowa City man called police to report a theft of sorts — his friend failed to pay him for the illegal drugs he provided. Published October 9, 2013
Shutdown could delay getting new beers to market
If this is the worst pain you feel from the government shutdown, then you must be doing all right – but still. The government agency in charge of approving new breweries, recipes and labels is on furlough, leaving in limbo the ability of suds-makers to get their brews on store shelves. Published October 9, 2013
Big loser: $1M Powerball winner misses claim deadline
Easy come, easy go. A Powerball winner in Indiana missed out on a $1 million jackpot after the deadline to claim the prize came and went, and the unknown person failed to turn in the ticket. Published October 9, 2013
U.S. to scale back aid to Egypt: report
The Obama administration has been quietly preparing to scale back financial aid to Egypt, due to the ongoing violence and ouster of President Mohammed Morsi — which U.S. officials still refuse to label a coup — and will announce the amount of the cut "in the coming days," an unnamed source told CNN. Published October 9, 2013
Kentucky bans postgame handshakes for high school athletes
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s commissioner has banned school athletes from competing teams from shaking hands after the competition, putting to halt a decades-long practice in sports. Published October 9, 2013
John Bolton knocks Iran nuclear deal as ‘pure propaganda’
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton had some harsh words for the latest nuclear proposal coming out of Tehran: It’s “pure propaganda,” he said. Published October 9, 2013
Oklahoma pipeline blast sends fireball hundreds of feet high
A pipeline explosion in a rural northwestern Oklahoma town sent a fireball hundreds of feet into the air, and emergency responders on Wednesday were still at the scene, trying to extinguish the flames. Published October 9, 2013
Shutdown of military death benefits stirs national action
A nonprofit group dedicated to helping troops and Marines decided to jump in to assist families of killed military members deprived of their $100,000 death benefits after reading a Washington Times report. Published October 8, 2013
