Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Veteran loses gun rights for 1971 misdemeanor marijuana conviction
An Army veteran who retired after 20 years of service is fighting to win back his Second Amendment rights after learning during a gun permit application process that he can't own one — he's got a decades-old misdemeanor for marijuana. Published July 11, 2013
Pope Francis tightens laws against child abuse at Vatican
Pope Francis on Thursday tightened Catholic Church laws dealing with abuse against children, specifying that crimes against society's youngest and most vulnerable would be outlawed on Vatican grounds, too. Published July 11, 2013
Grieving mom’s gift: Message in bottle from deceased daughter washes ashore in Sandy debris
A grieving mother whose daughter died about two years ago was given a bit of comfort from the debris of Superstorm Sandy — a message in a bottle written by the girl at age 10. Published July 11, 2013
Sens. Feinstein, Durbin to Obama: Quit force-feedings at Gitmo
Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin petitioned President Obama in a letter to stop the force-feedings of inmates at Guantanamo Bay prison. Published July 11, 2013
George Zimmerman tells Florida judge he won’t testify
George Zimmerman put to rest weeks of speculation on Wednesday, telling a Florida judge he won't testify in his defense of second-degree murder for the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. Published July 11, 2013
Egypt’s prime minister will consider Muslim Brotherhood for key posts
Egypt's new prime minister said Thursday that, yes, he would consider key government appointments for members of the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the military coup and ouster of Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi. Published July 11, 2013
Colorado pushes law to shield marijuana-friendly banks from prosecution
A Democratic lawmaker in Colorado has introduced a bill that would shield banks from federal prosecution for conducting business with recently legalized marijuana retailers. Published July 11, 2013
Environmentalists try to scale London building to protest Arctic oil drilling
A handful of environmental activists took their protest of Arctic oil drilling to new heights on Thursday — they tried to scale the tallest building in Western Europe. Published July 11, 2013
Pentagon: 56,000 troops could lose danger pay
The Pentagon is mulling a plan to cut danger pay for up to 56,000 troops, a money-saving move that will trim about $225 per month from the paychecks of those serving in key strategic military spots around the world. Published July 11, 2013
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ‘smirking’ and ‘yawning’ in court; victims’ families outraged
Families and victims of the Boston Marathon bombing attacks expressed outrage Wednesday at suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's courtroom behavior, characterizing it as a smug show of a blasé and unconcerned attitude. Published July 11, 2013
Rudy Giuliani: Political correctness opening U.S. to more Boston bombings
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, told Congress that political correctness was killing America, opening the doors to more Boston Marathon-type attacks. Published July 11, 2013
Navy lands unmanned drone on aircraft carrier, ringing in wave of future
For the first time in history, the U.S. Navy landed an unmanned drone aboard one of its aircraft carriers, marking what some are characterizing as the wave of future military sea-based operations. Published July 11, 2013
Lawmakers push for national park on the moon
A couple of lawmakers from Maryland and Texas are pushing for the creation of a new national park — on the moon. Published July 10, 2013
Ex-Florida Gov. Charlie Crist: GOP lost ‘compassion,’ ‘common sense’ and abandoned me
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who left the Republican Party to run for a Senate seat in 2010 as an independent — and, failing that, moved to the Democratic Party two years later — has a new book aimed at showing how he didn't jump political ship. It was rather that the Republican Party abandoned him. Published July 10, 2013
Mitt Romney emerges from shadows for political fundraiser
Mitt Romney will be the featured speaker at a fundraiser next month in New Hampshire, marking the failed White House candidate's first political revenue-raising event since the 2012 election cycle. Published July 10, 2013
Pope Francis invites 200 homeless to dine at Vatican
An estimated 200 homeless dined at the Vatican on July 1, at the special invitation of Pope Francis. They were served by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, in the name of the pope, Catholic News Agency reported. Published July 10, 2013
Illinois governor to suspend lawmakers’ pay over pension flap
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to exert his veto power and put a halt to lawmakers' paychecks, in retribution to their stalled action on the state's pension crisis. Published July 10, 2013
John Kerry in tears: ‘Teresa is doing better’
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave a teary-eyed thank you on Wednesday to well-wishers concerned about his wife Teresa's medical condition. Published July 10, 2013
Texas Democrats vow to turn state blue, based on rise in minority voters
Just because Texas hasn't voted a Democrat into statewide office in 20 years — and just because Lone Star voters haven't selected anyone but the Republican candidate for the White House for 40 years — doesn't mean the donkey flag can't figuratively fly above the Capitol once again, optimistic liberals say. Published July 10, 2013
German politico fearing anti-smoking laws stockpiles 38K cigarettes
A former chancellor in Germany is so worried about the possibility of the European Union banning his particular brand of cigarettes that he's stockpiled 200 cartons in his home. Published July 10, 2013
