Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Iran defends Syria, vows Israel will regret attack
Iran has rushed to the defense of its regional ally, Syria, and vowed Israel will regret its "latest aggression" — the airstrikes over Syria last week. Published February 4, 2013
Israel arrests 20 Hamas members in West Bank raid
Israeli authorities conducted a West Bank raid early Monday and arrested 20 members of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, according to various media. Published February 4, 2013
Missing French oil tanker likely seized by pirates
A French oil tanker that's fallen off radar is believed to have been hijacked by pirates off the Ivory Coast. The 17 sailors on board have been likely kidnapped, according to officials with the International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog organization. Published February 4, 2013
U.S.-South Korea drills ramp up tensions with North Korea
The United States and South Korea have kicked off joint naval drills, in the face of rising tensions with North Korean leaders who have vowed a third nuclear test. Published February 4, 2013
Scope of Sen. Menendez probe widens
The investigation into New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and his ties to political donor Salomon Melgen ratcheted Friday, as media reports dissected financial transactions between the two that could be seen as crossing congressional ethics lines. Published February 1, 2013
Harvard wraps cheating probe; fate of cheaters unclear
Harvard University wrapped its investigation into a cheating scandal involving an estimated 125 students, explaining in a campus email Friday that half the students were pushed to withdraw, while the other half were handed probation or cleared. Published February 1, 2013
NYC’s Grand Central Station celebrates 100th birthday
New York City's Grand Central terminal, an iconic facility located at the hub of city happenings in midtown Manhattan, celebrates 100th birthday Friday. Published February 1, 2013
EPA ignores court ruling; raises biofuels standards
Never mind that a federal appeals court just ruled that the Obama administration is setting impossibly high production goals for cellulosic biofuels production. The Environmental Protection Agency just ramped up the standards even higher, from 8.7 million gallon mandates for 2012 to 14 million gallons by the end of this year. Published February 1, 2013
Newtown education board: More police, please
The Board of Education in Newtown, Conn., asked the town for funding in its upcoming budget for more armed police patrols to the community's four elementary schools. Published February 1, 2013
Tops for conservatives: Alabama; D.C. is most liberal, Gallup says
Looking for a nice conservative-minded state to call home? Well, move to Alabama, top state for those of right-minded ideology, according to the latest Gallup poll. Published February 1, 2013
Chicago’s finest: Cops mistakenly release convicted murderer from custody
Police on Thursday were searching for convicted murder Steven Robbins, 44, after he was inadvertently freed from custody in Chicago. Published February 1, 2013
Hot spots speckle Middle East map
All eyes are on the Middle East, as Friday opened with a bed of hot-spot activity: The U.S. Embassy is Turkey was targeted by suicide bomb. Israel just wrapped reported sorties to root out chemical weapons shipments to Hezbollah. Syria has threatened retaliation for Israeli fighter jet attacks on its facilities and equipment. And Egypt is still roiling from a week's worth of violence and unrest that has left, so far, more than 50 dead. Published February 1, 2013
Brits decline to prosecute pranksters tied to Royal’s nurse suicide
The two Australian radio personalities who pranked the pregnant Kate Middleton's nurse will not be charged in her subsequent suicide, British prosecutors decided. Published February 1, 2013
Political turmoil rocks British parliament
Turmoil has rocked Britain's parliament as anti-Tory party politicos demanded Prime Minister David Cameron oust Chancellor George Osborne. Published February 1, 2013
Jobless rate increases to 7.9 percent; 157K jobs added
U.S. unemployment rose slightly to 7.9 percent, according to just-released federal figures. The economy, meanwhile, added 157,000 jobs. Published February 1, 2013
Retired Cardinal Roger Mahony tied to church abuse claims, stripped of duties
Retired Cardinal Roger Mahony apologized Thursday for bungling church-related child sex abuse investigations, shortly after he was stripped of administrative duties by his successor. Published February 1, 2013
Texas prosecutor’s slaying sets colleagues on edge
Investigators are pouring through the files of an aggressive Texas prosecutor who was shot dead Thursday, seeking clues to the identity of the masked killer. Published February 1, 2013
Latest Obamacare casualty: 100 workers at Smith & Nephew
Global medical technology firm Smith & Nephew announced Thursday the layoff of almost 100 workers at its Tennessee and Massachusetts plants — and placed blame for the drawdown firmly at the feet of Obamacare. Published February 1, 2013
Suicide bomber kills, wound dozens in Pakistan
At least 18 are dead and more than 30 wounded in an early Friday morning suicide bomb attack outside a Shiite mosque in Pakistan. Published February 1, 2013
FEC: 2012 elections cost $7 billion
Candidates in the 2012 presidential election spent a record $7 billion during the race — a record-setting figure that surpassed all expectations, according to the Federal Election Commission. Published February 1, 2013
