Jessica Chasmar

U.S. judge tosses ‘arbitrary’ SEC oil payment disclosure rule

A federal judge in Washington D.C. tossed out a new securities regulation Tuesday that requires oil, gas and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments. Published July 2, 2013

Sonoma State University supervisor orders student to remove cross necklace

A 19-year-old California student has filed a religious accommodation request at Sonoma State University after she said school officials ordered her to remove her cross necklace, because it might "offend others." Published July 2, 2013

All aboard the Paula Deen cruise! Ships set to sail in 2014

Despite the sea of controversy surrounding Paula Deen and the abundance of sponsors who have decided the drop her, two Deen-themed cruises are still set to sail in 2014. Published July 2, 2013

Allen West blasts Lady Gaga for ‘defiling’ national anthem

Allen West is not known to stay mum when something rubs him the wrong way. Lady Gaga clutching a rainbow flag and amending the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" was no exception. Published July 2, 2013

Cornel West on gay marriage rulings: Black people ‘being pushed to the back of the bus’

Cornel West praised the Supreme Court's ruling last week on gay marriage, but lamented that "we black folk are just being pushed to the back of the bus in terms of our visibility." Published July 2, 2013

‘No shariah’: Topless FEMEN activists protest Swedish mosque

Three female activists from the Ukrainian-based feminism group FEMEN stripped in a Swedish mosque on Saturday to protest Islamic law in Egypt, revealing painted messages on their bodies, like "No shariah in Egypt and the world" and "My body is mine, not somebody's honor." Published July 2, 2013

Alison Lundergan Grimes to challenge Mitch McConnell for Senate seat in 2014

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced Monday that she will challenge Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014. Published July 1, 2013

Lucky Charms celebrates gay pride with new rainbow marshmallows

Lucky Charms is coming out for gay pride amid landmark same-sex marriage rulings by the Supreme Court, launching a diversity campaign and two new rainbow marshmallows. Published July 1, 2013

CNN airs George Zimmerman’s Social Security, phone numbers

CNN on Monday aired the Social Security number and phone number of George Zimmerman, who is on trial for the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Published July 1, 2013

Aaron Hernandez’s name sparks brawl at Connecticut diner

A brawl erupted in a Hartford, Conn., diner early Saturday morning after a customer mistook another for suspected killer Aaron Hernandez Published July 1, 2013

Del. pastor denied Rehoboth Beach prayer decries irony: Town founded as ‘Christian camp’

A Delaware pastor whose hopes to hold a Rehoboth Beach worship service were dashed by a denied government permit said that's lunacy — the town was founded on Christian principles. Published July 1, 2013

Agriculture Department tells magician to write disaster plan for his rabbit

Magician Marty Hahne didn't think things could get any more harebrained after the U.S Department of Agriculture harassed him for using an unlicensed rabbit in his magic shows for two years. Published July 1, 2013

Allen West: Time to teach Obama ‘lesson our forefathers taught King George III’

Former Rep. Allen B. West had some harsh words for President Obama and the Supreme Court on Sunday night, taking to Facebook to express his disdain for the court's decision on Proposition 8. Published July 1, 2013

Jamie Foxx wears Trayvon Martin T-shirt to BET Awards

Actor Jamie Foxx made a bit of a political statement at the BET Awards Sunday night, by wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of a hooded Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen whose shooting death last year sparked intense debate over gun laws and racial profiling. Published July 1, 2013