Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Human rights groups accuse U.S. of fudging stats of civilian deaths by drone strikes
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International suggest in new reports that the United States is making a concerted and purposeful effort to cover up the number of civilians who have been killed in Yemen and Pakistan by drone strikes in recent months. Published October 22, 2013
Nevada Marine-turned-teacher was ‘hero’ for shielding students from gunman
A former Marine who turned to teaching math as his new vocation is being hailed as a hero on Tuesday after taking a bullet and giving his life to save his students during a shooting that set the nation on edge at Sparks Middle School in Nevada. Published October 22, 2013
Oregon to tax drivers by mile, rather than fuel fill-up
Privacy advocates are alarmed, but Oregon lawmakers seem poised to pursue a new plan that taxes drivers by the number of miles they travel, rather than by the amount of fuel they feed into their vehicles. Published October 22, 2013
George Osborne: EU is killing U.K. economy
Strike one against the idea of an expanding global economy. British Chancellor George Osborne, who's been credited for getting his country's debt under control and keeping pace with an austere budget, said one looming threat to the steady-as-she-goes economic policy that England has been practicing in recent months is the European Union. Published October 22, 2013
Social Security paid prisoners $1M in disability
When it comes to the Social Security Administration’s disability payouts, prisoners are winning big. Published October 22, 2013
Shariah law instilled in Brunei, as theft now brings amputation
The sultan of Brunei announced Tuesday that Shariah law will now dictate how certain crimes are penalized — and that means thieves will lose limbs and adulterers will be stoned to death. Published October 22, 2013
San Francisco’s BART trains back and running as unions strike deal
Commuter trains in the San Francisco region that carry about 400,000 travelers each day are back and running on Tuesday, as labor unions reached a tentative deal with Bay Area Rapid Transit executives in the late night hours. Published October 22, 2013
Americans see more doom and gloom in economy: poll
The White House mantra may be that the national economy is steadily improving, but nearly six in 10 Americans aren't buying that line. Published October 22, 2013
Navy officer charged with trading secrets for Lady Gaga tickets
Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, a high-profile U.S. Navy commanding officer, was arrested on federal bribery charged, accused of trading classified information for Lady Gaga concert tickets and prostitutes. Published October 22, 2013
Lech Walesa, former Polish president and Nobel peace winner, calls for ‘secular Ten Commandments’
Lech Walesa, a past winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and former president of Poland, said on Monday that what the world needs is a new Ten Commandments that's heavy on the worldly and light on the Judeo-Christian spirituality — a "secular Ten Commandments." Published October 21, 2013
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls for huge cigarette tax increase
Smoke 'em if you've got 'em — and then hurry and quit, because Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is planning a massive tax increase on cigarettes. Published October 21, 2013
Dick Cheney calls tea party a boon to GOP
Countering many of his Republican colleagues, former Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday the tea party is actually a positive movement for the GOP. Published October 21, 2013
Nevada middle school shooting leaves 2 dead, 2 boys injured
Police say two people are dead and two boys are in critical condition from a Monday shooting at a middle school in northern Nevada, The Associated Press reported. Published October 21, 2013
Las Vegas Strip shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 injured
An early-morning shooting inside a nightclub on the Las Vegas Strip on Monday has left one dead and two injured, police said. Published October 21, 2013
Mark Sanford’s mistress-turned-fiancee insists — oddly — they didn’t have affair
The Argentine woman at the heart of Rep. Mark Sanford’s political downfall said in a first-of-its-kind media interview that she did not commit adultery with the former South Carolina governor – despite his own admission of the affair in 2009. Published October 21, 2013
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie withdraws appeal of gay marriage ruling
Gov. Chris Christie announced early Monday he was withdrawing his administration’s appeal of New Jersey’s gay marriage law, characterizing it as a lost cause. Published October 21, 2013
Rihanna booted from picture pose at Abu Dhabi mosque
Pop singer Rihanna was asked to leave the site of a mosque in Abu Dhabi after authorities discovered she did not have a permit for her photo shoot and her poses were perceived as out of place for such a holy site. Published October 21, 2013
6-foot alligator sends shocked Wal-Mart shoppers scurrying
Wal-Mart shoppers at one Florida site just outside Orlando were shocked to see a 6-foot-long alligator wander into the parking lot right up to the front door of the store and then pause for several seconds, as if mulling entry. Published October 21, 2013
New book says RFK stole JFK’s brain to hide illness
A new book casts light on a decades-old mystery — the disappearance of John F. Kennedy's brain, which wasn't buried with his body — and suggests that the former president's brother took it to conceal how many medicines the White House icon had been taking. Published October 21, 2013
Capitol Police ‘look into’ tweets threatening Ted Cruz
Law enforcement agents are investigating a threat made on social media against Sen. Ted Cruz, appearing to rally a crowd to "take down" the Texas politico at his home, and then listing his home address. Published October 21, 2013
