Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Hillary Clinton defends ‘tough’ choice to swap Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for prisoners
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered cautious defense of the White House decision to swap Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban members at Guantanamo Bay, saying President Obama was handed a "tough" decision and critics should hold back their opinions. Published June 3, 2014
Soldiers killed trying to rescue Bowe Bergdahl, branded a deserter by comrades
At least six soldiers died while searching for Sgt. Bowe Bergdhal in hostile Taliban territory when he went missing in Afghanistan five years ago. Published June 2, 2014
Family values group pushes boycott of gay activist Harvey Milk postage stamp
A family values group is pressing for Americans to boycott the latest U.S. Postal Service stamp featuring the smiling face of slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Published June 2, 2014
California counties to vote to create new state: Jefferson, a freestanding republic
Voters in a couple of California counties are set to decide Tuesday whether or not they'll secede and start their own territory -- an entirely new state called Jefferson. Published June 2, 2014
‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ emerges as White House foreign policy doctrine
Just as former President Bill Clinton had a working mantra to help him keep his eyes on what was important to Americans — "It's the economy, stupid" — the White House under President Obama seems to have adopted its own message on foreign affairs: "Don't do stupid stuff." Published June 2, 2014
Polar bear stats fudged ‘to satisfy public demand,’ researchers say
Polar bear population counts are estimates only, derived from the most "rudimentary" of scientific knowledge and made up largely to meet the expectations of the public, researchers said in an email to a science blogger. Published June 2, 2014
George Clooney moves onto political stage with potential run for office
Hollywood star George Clooney, 53, fresh off an announced plan to wed his British human rights attorney-girlfriend Amal Alamuddin, 36, now says he's going to turn his attention away from acting and on to something with a more service oriented slant: Politics and political office. Published June 2, 2014
Donald Sterling takes Sunday sidestep into black church service
Donald Sterling, the embattled owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who shocked national headlines for racial comments he was overheard making to his female friend on audio, took a time-out from the basketball scene to to go to church services in his home city — at a facility that's attended primarily by black people. Published June 2, 2014
‘SlutWalk’ march against sexual abuse goes forth in Jerusalem, Toronto
The third annual "SlutWalk" went forth in Jerusalem and in Toronto this weekend with hundreds of attendees dressed in various shades of shocking attire striding through the city streets, protesting a culture they see as fostering sexual assaults against women. Published June 2, 2014
Taliban leader touts Gitmo prisoner swap as ‘great victory’
Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar said the group's negotiated release of five prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was a huge win and that fellow Afghan Muslims ought to pat themselves on the back. Published June 2, 2014
Violinist who refused to check $250K instrument tossed from plane
A violinist carting an instrument valued at more than $250,000 said he was given an option by the crew of his US Airways plane that was traveling to Fayetteville, Arkansas: Put your precious cargo in the checked baggage pile or leave. Published June 2, 2014
Wisconsin air show ends in tragic crash that kills pilot, 47
A 47-year-old pilot in a Wisconsin air show was killed after his plane spun out of control and crashed in a wooded site located next to Stevens Point Municipal Airport. Published June 2, 2014
Justin Bieber says he’s sorry after teen joke with racial slur punchline surfaces
Pop-star sensation Justin Bieber said he's sorry — a joke he made about black people years ago that just surfaced via video online was hurtful and inappropriate, and he wishes he never said it. Published June 2, 2014
V. Stiviano, who captured Donald Sterling on audio, claims 2 men assaulted her
V. Stiviano, the woman at the heart of the Donald Sterling racial-based controversy, said through her attorney that she was assaulted by two men in New York City. Published June 2, 2014
NSA grabs millions of images for facial recognition data daily, Snowden documents show
Top secret documents released by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden reveal that the federal government has been capturing millions of images each day to feed into its facial recognition database program. Published June 2, 2014
Russian war games to include high-precision missile launches
Russia's Defense Ministry announced its days-long military exercises will include the launch of high-precision missiles. Published June 2, 2014
Most chivalrous cities: Dallas, followed by Washington, D.C.
When it comes to chivalry, men in Washington, D.C., are tops — well, nearly. Published May 30, 2014
Michael Bloomberg bashes liberal bias at Harvard commencement address
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who now presses for nationwide gun control via his Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, took to the commencement podium at Harvard University's graduation ceremonies to issue some scathing criticism about the politics of academia, circa 2014: The atmosphere is way too liberally charged, he said. Published May 30, 2014
Patricia Heaton cites root of Hollywood success: ‘God had a hand’
Emmy-award winning actress Patricia Heaton — who plays the beloved but beleaguered wife on both hit series' "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "The Middle" — said without God, she wouldn't have seen so much career success. Published May 30, 2014
Gun background checks get $19.5M boost as House reacts to Calif. shooting
The House took quick action on last week's mass shooting and stabbing that left seven — including the suspect — dead in Santa Barbara, Calif., and passed a provision to pay the FBI another $19.5 million to bolster its National Instance Criminal Background Check System, with the hope this will prevent the mentally ill from obtaining guns. Published May 30, 2014
