Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Shutdown shame: Hiker nearly killed when park route closed
A hiker who had gone missing for five days at a state park in Texas was just found alive — naked, dehydrated and nearly dead, telling rescuers that she got lost when the government shutdown led authorities to close the only route she knew. Published October 8, 2013
Michigan lawmaker incensed: Give beer drinkers what they pay for — a full pint
Lawmakers in Michigan are fighting for the rights of beer drinkers, demanding bar owners quit ripping them off and pour the full 16 ounces, when it’s the full 16 ounces that are purchased. Published October 8, 2013
White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer’s ‘unfortunate’ tweet slings the ‘n-word’
Twitter poster Elise Foley perhaps said it best: "Dan Pfeiffer, check your Twitter." That came shortly after the White House senior adviser posted a most unfortunate message, complete with the dreaded "n-word." Published October 8, 2013
North Korea on high alert, threatens U.S. ships with ‘horrible disaster’
Pyongyang's military commanders have put their troops on high alert, warning of a looming disaster because of the entrance of U.S. ships into South Korean waters. Published October 8, 2013
RNC tries to woo Hispanic voters with 7-state campaign
Republican National Committee operatives have kicked off a seven-state campaign aimed at drawing in Hispanics and showing them the GOP is the best political home to uphold their interests. Published October 8, 2013
Ex-Auburn coach slams Condi Rice’s football role: She’s not worthy
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is poised to become the newest member of the College Football Player's selection committee — but to former Auburn coach Pat Dye, that would be a travesty. Published October 8, 2013
Veterans to stage storming of memorials, monuments
Angry and outraged military veterans are heading to Washington this weekend to stage a mass storming of the very memorials and monuments that were created in their honor but that they now cannot access because of the government shutdown. Published October 8, 2013
Boston-area school looks to back off zero tolerance
A Boston-area school with a high-crime neighborhood backdrop is bucking that national trend for zero tolerance and offering student offenders another way to serve their sentences: Talk it out. Published October 8, 2013
Shutdown outrage: Military death benefits denied to families of fallen troops
At least five families of U.S. military members killed during in Afghanistan over the weekend were given a double-whammy by federal officials: Not only have your loved ones died, but due to the government shutdown, you won’t receive a death benefit. Published October 8, 2013
California Gov. Jerry Brown says no to noncitizens serving as jurors
California Gov. Jerry Brown has turned aside a legislative attempt to let noncitizens serve on juries in state cases. Published October 8, 2013
Obama’s eyes on shutdown puts China in charge at economic summit
President Obama's flip-flop on attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and then his decision to stay in Washington to deal with the government shutdown has left America playing second fiddle to China on an important world stage. Published October 8, 2013
Wis. prof emails students: It’s the tea party’s fault you can’t do homework
A Wisconsin college professor said in an email to students that she understood if they couldn't collect all the necessary data to complete their homework — the tea party shut down the government. Published October 8, 2013
Yuck! Water served to airline passengers still frequently contaminated
Apparently, the warning to not drink the water doesn't just apply to overseas destinations — it applies to the airline transports that get you there. Numbers from the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that plane passengers are frequently served contaminated drinking water, despite federal attempts to clear the bacteria. Published October 8, 2013
Colorado gun advocates, fresh off wins, launch 3rd recall
Second Amendment supporters and activists in Colorado, buoyed by two recent recall wins, have launched another petition drive to oust a third Democrat who voted in favor of the state's much-ballyhooed new gun control laws from office. Published October 8, 2013
Catholic priests booted from bases as shutdown trickles to military
Military members around the world who align with the Catholic faith may have to go without Sunday Mass services, due to the government shutdown and the subsequent ban on contract priests on bases. Published October 8, 2013
Jesus portrait forced off school wall by ACLU lawsuit
Jesus has left the building. That’s the fate of a portrait of the savior of Christian faithful at one Ohio school, after the American Civil Liberties Union launched a lawsuit and demanded its removal. Published October 8, 2013
Jimmy Carter: Today’s middle class was my administration’s poverty level
Former President Jimmy Carter weighed in on income disparity around the nation during an impromptu interview at a Habitat for Humanity building site, calling today’s middle-class yesterday’s poverty level. Published October 8, 2013
Long Island middle school bans balls, citing student safety
So much for tossing the ball during recess — or playing tag. One middle school in Long Island has banned a list of popular playground items because the games promote roughness among the students, administrators said. Published October 8, 2013
NYT reporter calls Obama’s White House most ‘control-freak’ ever
A New York Times reporter with two decades of experience as a Washington, D.C., based journalist says that the Obama administration is far from open and has a long way to go to meet its campaign vows of a transparent government. Published October 7, 2013
Nicolas Sarkozy cleared in secret cash case, opening door to presidency
A court in France has quietly dropped from its docket a criminal investigation case against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, clearing the way for him to make a new run for the nation’s highest office. Published October 7, 2013
