Cheryl K. Chumley

Twitter: Government requests for user info up sharply

Twitter executives say government requests for information about users has risen by almost 20 percent in the past six months, from 849 in the first half of 2012 to 1,009 in the second half. Published January 28, 2013

Ravens linebacker uses Super Bowl to push gay marriage

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Avanbadejo is trying to capitalize on Super Bowl megamedia attention to push a pro-gay marriage platform. Published January 28, 2013

Super Bowl 2013 brings psychological sidebar

The 2013 Super Bowl has taken a psychological sidestep, as parents Jack and Jackie Harbaugh prep for the sure-to-come media scrutiny: Which team will win their biggest smiles come Feb. 3? Published January 28, 2013

Search continues for missing U.S. mother in Istanbul

U.S. and Turkish authorities still are searching for an American woman, Sarai Sierra, who disappeared on a three-week trip to Istanbul earlier this month. Published January 28, 2013

RNC chief Priebus courting Ron Paul wing of GOP

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says he would be a fool not to court the more conservative wing of the party, and he advocated reaching out to Ron Paul voters. Published January 28, 2013

Iran announces launch of monkey into space

Iran's state-run media said Monday the nation's space program has successfully launched a monkey-manned rocket into space. Published January 28, 2013

Grand jury wanted to pursue parents in JonBenet Ramsey’s death

A grand jury had been set to indict John and Patsy Ramsey on charges related to the killing of their daughter, 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet, according to a Monday media report. Published January 28, 2013

Help wanted at Pentagon to fend off hackers — 4,000 cybersecurity experts eyed

The U.S. Department of Defense gave the go-ahead to a massive expansion of its cybersecurity force to fight off computer hacks and security compromises, according to multiple media reports. Published January 28, 2013

Arizona man arrested for threatening to blow up Liberty Bell

An Arizona man was arrested Sunday for threatening to blow up the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, and charged with making terroristic threats and bomb threats, and various other offenses, according to media reports. Published January 28, 2013

Fox News’ van Susteren fires back at Obama

Fox News host Greta van Susteren isn’t taking lightly criticism from President Obama that her news network — along with conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh — is failing America by questioning his policies. Published January 28, 2013

Obama derides Rush, Fox News in liberal mag interview

President Obama suggested in an interview with the left-leaning magazine, The New Republic, that conservatives ought to compromise, forget Rush Limbaugh, and fall in line with the Democratic Party's policy platforms. Published January 28, 2013

EPA loses: Court tosses mandate for biofuels

The Environmental Protection Agency cannot impose lofty cellulosic biofuel standards on the oil industry and then inflict punishments when the mandates aren’t met, a federal appeals court just ruled. Published January 28, 2013

Poll: Hawaii, D.C., love Obama; favor falls in other states

President Obama’s biggest fan base for 2012 hailed from Hawaii and the District of Columbia, according to just-released poll figures from Gallup. Published January 28, 2013

Morsi imposes curfew in Egypt as protests leaves dozens dead

The White House is casting a wary eye on Egypt, as President Morsi called for curfews and declared a state of emergency in the face of a violent and deadly weekend. Published January 28, 2013

Oil spill closes part of Mississippi River waterway

Investigators are still trying to determine the location of leak in an oil barge that struck a railroad bridge in Vicksburg, Miss., on Sunday and shut sections of the Mississippi River to traffic. Published January 28, 2013

Foe to frenemy? Boehner vow to halt one-on-ones with Obama now cloudy

House Speaker John A. Boehner’s promise to stop running government via one-on-one meetings with President Obama and let the committee process commence already is crumbling, as congressional members can’t find consensus on how to proceed. Published January 28, 2013

Iran finger-chopping machine seen as political strategy

Iran’s new finger-chopping machine may be touted as a punishment for thieves, but at least one human rights official finds it curious that its unveiling comes at a time when elections dawn and political unrest is high. Published January 28, 2013

Al Qaeda gunmen refuse to free hostages in Philippines

Al Qaeda-linked gunmen in the Philippines have refused to release a reported seven foreigners they’re holding hostage, as two weeks of negotiations with the government end in failure, according to various media reports. Published January 28, 2013

Obama taps campaign database to sell gun control

Organizing for Action — President Obama’s new nonprofit to bolster his public relations sell of policy to a nationwide audience — has just been handed the golden key of political campaigning: a massive computer database of American voter preferences. Published January 28, 2013

Obama taps campaign donor database to sell gun control