Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Obamacare rollout leaves states shocked at Medicaid signups: ‘What planet’ is this?
In just the first month of Obamacare's rollout, states are reporting a massive surge in the number of people signing up for Medicaid expansions versus the slow trickle of a few selecting the private insurer route — and health experts are shocked: What is going on? Published November 1, 2013
Israeli warplanes blast Hamas tunnel in Gaza, killing 3
Israel defense officers said Friday its warplanes successfully struck a tunnel beneath the Gaza Strip that was used by terrorists, while members of the militant group Hamas said the attack left three Palestinians dead. Published November 1, 2013
John Kerry admits U.S. spying went ‘too far inappropriately’
Secretary of State John Kerry said in most cases the U.S. surveillance of foreign sources has left the world a safer places, but in others — America's spy agencies may have gone a little too far. Published November 1, 2013
Hillary Clinton on White House: ‘I’m minded to do it’
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been coy about a White House run in 2016, but this week she gave her strongest indication yet that a presidential title is on her goal list. Published November 1, 2013
Pumpkins filled with cocaine found at Canada’s border
Royal Canadian Mounted Police kicked off an investigation into a stash of pumpkins stuffed with pounds of cocaine that were discovered at the border. Published November 1, 2013
Crack scandal swirling around Toronto mayor Rob Ford heats up as cops get video
Toronto police said Thursday they've uncovered a video that ratchets up allegations that Mayor Rob Ford was captured on tape smoking from a glass crack pipe. Published October 31, 2013
Queen Elizabeth decrees crackdown on British press
Queen Elizabeth II signed a charter this week, creating a new watchdog group to oversee the press and make sure reporters and editors don't do a repeat of a recent phone-hacking scandal that saw major news outlets tapping into the private information of celebrities and royals alike. Published October 31, 2013
NSA leaker Edward Snowden lands Web job in Russia
Edward Snowden has hung up his hat as a National Security Agency leaker and taken on a new role working for a private website in Russia, the country that's sheltering him from U.S. capture and prosecution. Published October 31, 2013
Third gunmaker flees New York over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s crackdown
American Tactical Imports is the latest in a growing list of New York gun companies that has fled the state over new weapon laws pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Published October 31, 2013
Hallmark strikes ‘gay’ from ‘Deck the Halls’ ornament lyrics
The Christmas carol classic Deck the Hall has new meaning at Hallmark this year, as greeting card executives have censored for their new ornament collection a key word in the song that has been usurped by the gay community. Published October 31, 2013
Female Democratic senators circulate secret letter: Run, Hillary, run
A secret letter signed by all the female Democratic senators shows that Hillary Rodham Clinton is their choice for president in 2016. Published October 31, 2013
Chinese Communists red-faced on propaganda Photoshop failure
A photograph of four Chinese men standing and smiling before a 103-year-old woman at her home was supposed to communicate that the government loves the elderly, but the missing half of one man's body and the bizarre doll-like appearance of the elderly subject sent a different message: epic Photoshop failure. Published October 31, 2013
Obama costume leads Kentucky company to order diversity training
Note to Halloween celebrants: Don't wear the Obama costume. Doing so at work could lead the human resources department to mandate all employees take part in diversity training — which is what happened at a Kentucky medical center this week. Published October 31, 2013
New Yorkers rebel at ‘ridiculous’ new age limit, 21, to buy tobacco
New York City Council members voted late Wednesday evening to raise the age of those wishing to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21 — but not all are on board with the new regulation, which now goes to Mayor Michael Bloomberg for signature. Published October 31, 2013
Kathleen Sebelius: ‘Men often do need maternity care’
One North Carolina congresswoman explained the biology of birth to the Health and Human Services secretary Wednesday during a humorous moment at a hearing on the botched Obamacare rollout. Published October 31, 2013
Popes under surveillance? U.S. accused of tapping Vatican
A new report from Italy has accused the United States of wiretapping the future Pope Francis and eavesdropping on cardinals and other Catholic Church officials in the Vatican. Published October 31, 2013
ICE uncovers ‘highly sophisticated’ drug tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents said they’ve uncovered — and closed down — a massive and just-built drug-running tunnel that joins Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego. Published October 31, 2013
Syria destroys chemical weapon capabilities ahead of schedule
A nuclear weapons watchdog group said Thursday that Syria has destroyed its capability to produce chemical weapons, in accordance with an international agreement and ahead of schedule. Published October 31, 2013
You’re fired: SpongeBob SquarePants gets taste of economy
Even the cartoon world can't hide from economic reality. The sluggish job market has drifted downward — all the way to the bottom of the ocean, to Bikini Bottom and the Krusty Krab burger shack, where SpongeBob SquarePants has flipped krabby patties for 14 years. Published October 31, 2013
China demands U.S. explain new spy charges at Australian embassies
China — no small player in the spy front itself — has nonetheless issued a stark demand to the United States over new allegations that surfaced Thursday regarding U.S. surveillance operations in Australia. Published October 31, 2013
