Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
N.J. ‘Duck Dynasty’ fan drives 20 hours for Phil Robertson baptism
A New Jersey man enamored with Phil Robertson's Christian messages hopped in his car and drove about 20 hours to the "Duck Dynasty" star's Church of Christ in Louisiana, just so he could be baptized by the family patriarch. Published March 19, 2014
White House pastry chef quits: ‘I don’t want to demonize cream, butter, sugar and eggs’
Michelle Obama may have pushed the White House pastry chef a bit too far with her constant requests to replace fatty foods like cream and butter with lower-calorie options: He's quit, calling the decision "bittersweet," various media reported. Published March 19, 2014
Brooklyn recycling plant overtaken by ‘deep-seated’ fire
Fire is tearing through a recycling plant in Brooklyn, and New York firefighters say it'll probably take a while to extinguish. Published March 19, 2014
Data deleted on Malaysia jet pilot’s flight simulator at his home, investigators find
Some of the information from the flight simulator that investigators found at the home of the Malaysian plane's pilot has been deleted, the nation's transport minister reported on Tuesday. Published March 19, 2014
Rachel Canning, N.J. teen, drops suit against parents
Rachel Canning, the 18-year-old New Jersey high-schooler who left home and then sued her parents for $650 a week in support, plus college tuition, has now dropped her claim. Published March 19, 2014
Ukrainian soldier killed, another wounded in attack at base in Crimean town
A Ukrainian military member was killed Tuesday when the base he was stationed at in the main Crimean town of Simferopol came under attack, various media reported. Published March 18, 2014
N.Y. shoots down tuition for illegals in surprise Senate vote
New York has shut the door on providing taxpayer dollars for undocumented and illegal immigrants to attend school in the state, after the Republican-controlled Senate shot down the matter during a vote that fell just two ballots shy of passage. Published March 18, 2014
California sheriffs see surge in concealed carry permits
Sheriffs in California say they've been swamped with requests for concealed carry permits since last month's court ruling that residents only have to show a desire for self-defense — and little else — in order to take advantage of the right. Published March 18, 2014
Ex-Georgian leader warns: Putin won’t stop at Ukraine
Mikheil Saakashvili, the former two-term president of Georgia who now serves as a leader of the United National Movement Party, said in a column for a U.K. newspaper that Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression against the Ukraine is far from over. Published March 18, 2014
National Guardsman arrested for terrorist ties: ‘I would love to join Allah’s army’
An Army National Guardsman in California suspected of plotting to blow up the Los Angeles subway system was arrested by federal authorities for attempting to give material support to an overseas terrorist group. Published March 18, 2014
Catholic League tells faithful: Boycott Guinness, Heineken, Sam Adams
The Catholic League is sending a strong message to three different beer brewery companies that boycotted St. Patrick's Day parades over gay rights issues: We should boycott you, too. Published March 18, 2014
Bill Maher would be dead, but for God’s mercy: evangelist
If it were't for God's mercy and compassion, Bill Maher — who recently made headlines by dismissing the deity as a "psychotic mass murderer" — would be struck down, one evangelist explained. Published March 18, 2014
Kevin Trudeau, TV pitchman, gets 10 years for infomercial fraud
Kevin Trudeau, a best-selling author whose claim to fame stems from his late-night television informercial pitches, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for making what the judge described as fraudulent claims related to his weight-loss book. Published March 18, 2014
Missing Malaysia jet was steered off course by cockpit computer
Investigators say the first turn that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 took that led it off course was due to a computer system entry that came from the cockpit, a finding that's bolstered arguments the plane was purposely diverted. Published March 18, 2014
N.J. girl, 9, rocks social media with pro-gun speech to state capitol
A 9-year-old New Jersey girl whose competitive pastime is firing semi-automatics — and who could soon became a criminal because her AR-15 violates magazine limits under lawmaker consideration — has created social media waves with her videotaped plea to Trenton lawmakers: Don't take away my guns. Published March 18, 2014
Obama adviser sparks neighbor ire by tearing up historic homes for mansion
Residents of a quiet New York City suburb are outraged after watching one of President Obama's key advisers — billionaire hedge fund founder David E. Shaw — make way for his $40 million mansion by tearing down three homes that were built during prewar times. Published March 18, 2014
Afghan bazaar rocked by deadly suicide bombing
A suicide bomber struck at a busy market setting in the northern section of Afghanistan on Tuesday, leaving at least 15 dead. Published March 18, 2014
Michelle, Malia, Sasha Obama set for China trip to tout ‘people-to-people’ power
The three Obama ladies — first lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha — are heading out to China this week for a few days of tourism, meetings and what's being billed by the White House as "soft diplomacy" type talks. Published March 18, 2014
Joe Biden touches down in Poland to flex U.S. muscle to Russia
Vice president Joe Biden landed in Poland on Tuesday on a quick trip to the region aimed at flexing America's muscles and showing Russia just who they're dealing with -- a White House resolved to turn back President Putin's aggression in the Ukraine. Published March 18, 2014
Syrian-linked hostilities swell in Lebanon in Shiite-Sunni conflicts
Gunmen from the Shiite militant organization Hezbollah have banded together with Shiite residents to clamp down on a Sunni-majority town near the Lebanon-Syria border. Published March 18, 2014