Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Grover Norquist: Sen. Ted Cruz owes GOP an apology
Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist has ratcheted up his criticisms of Sen. Ted Cruz, calling the Texas tea party hero a poor political planner and demanding he apologize to fellow Republicans for his relentless push to defund Obamacare. Published October 9, 2013
17 grieving families of troops killed in action decry halt of death payment
So far, 17 families have been left in the cold on death benefit payouts of $100,000 for their killed-in-action military loved ones, due to the failure of U.S. authorities to clarify how the payout should proceed during the government shutdown. And they are outraged. Published October 9, 2013
John Boehner’s order: Keep congressional gym open
Just because the government has gone into shutdown mode doesn’t mean members of Congress have to give up their exercise routines. Per order of House Speaker John A. Boehner’s office: Keep the members-only workout facility open for use. Published October 9, 2013
Iowa man calls cops: I was stiffed in a drug deal
A 57-year-old Iowa City man called police to report a theft of sorts — his friend failed to pay him for the illegal drugs he provided. Published October 9, 2013
Shutdown could delay getting new beers to market
If this is the worst pain you feel from the government shutdown, then you must be doing all right – but still. The government agency in charge of approving new breweries, recipes and labels is on furlough, leaving in limbo the ability of suds-makers to get their brews on store shelves. Published October 9, 2013
Big loser: $1M Powerball winner misses claim deadline
Easy come, easy go. A Powerball winner in Indiana missed out on a $1 million jackpot after the deadline to claim the prize came and went, and the unknown person failed to turn in the ticket. Published October 9, 2013
U.S. to scale back aid to Egypt: report
The Obama administration has been quietly preparing to scale back financial aid to Egypt, due to the ongoing violence and ouster of President Mohammed Morsi — which U.S. officials still refuse to label a coup — and will announce the amount of the cut "in the coming days," an unnamed source told CNN. Published October 9, 2013
Kentucky bans postgame handshakes for high school athletes
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s commissioner has banned school athletes from competing teams from shaking hands after the competition, putting to halt a decades-long practice in sports. Published October 9, 2013
John Bolton knocks Iran nuclear deal as ‘pure propaganda’
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton had some harsh words for the latest nuclear proposal coming out of Tehran: It’s “pure propaganda,” he said. Published October 9, 2013
Oklahoma pipeline blast sends fireball hundreds of feet high
A pipeline explosion in a rural northwestern Oklahoma town sent a fireball hundreds of feet into the air, and emergency responders on Wednesday were still at the scene, trying to extinguish the flames. Published October 9, 2013
Shutdown of military death benefits stirs national action
A nonprofit group dedicated to helping troops and Marines decided to jump in to assist families of killed military members deprived of their $100,000 death benefits after reading a Washington Times report. Published October 8, 2013
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
