Cheryl K. Chumley

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.

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.

July 10, 2013

Judge in George Zimmerman trial storms from courtroom

Tuesday's court proceedings in the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman wrapped with a tense moment after defense attorneys tried to object to the long hours but the judge, in response, simply walked away.

July 10, 2013

Facing fire from within, Denver college dumps humanitarian award to George W. Bush

Former President George W. Bush was about to get an award from the University of Denver to recognize his humanitarian contributions to American society. But too many objected, and university leaders caved.

July 10, 2013

Justin Bieber: Pop star curses Clinton, urinates in mop bucket at NYC restaurant

A just-released TMZ video of pop icon Justin Bieber's visit earlier this year to a New York City restaurant showed him urinating in a mop bucket before spraying a bottle of liquid cleaner at a photo of former President Bill Clinton hanging on the wall, shouting "[expletive] Bill Clinton."

July 10, 2013

Target: Sorry for memo referring to Mexicans as ‘lower education level’

Target is being sued by three former employees who said a managers' memorandum they stumbled upon was racist and that the treatment they received by bosses was discriminatory.

July 10, 2013

Syria says foreign power wiped out weapons stash; Israel mum

Rebel fighters in Syria said Tuesday a foreign power is to blame for destroying a stash of advanced Russian anti-ship missiles stored at one of the military's naval facilities near the port of Latakia.

July 10, 2013

N.Y. school reading list: ‘The Great Gypsy,’ and 30 more errors

Note to the Hempstead Union Free School District on New York's Long Island: It's "The Great Gatsby," not "The Great Gypsy."

July 10, 2013

European court tosses British law and rules life sentences are inhuman

Judges with the European Court of Human Rights in essence kicked British law to the curb with a ruling that favored three convicted murderers — that mandatory life sentences are degrading and inhuman.

July 10, 2013

Wisconsin mining company hires paramilitary to protect site from protesters

A Wisconsin mining company has hired private paramilitary forces to defend and protect its property from environmentally minded protesters, on the heels of a confrontation with activists at the mine in June.

July 10, 2013

Twitter explodes over Obama’s touted favorite food: Broccoli

President Obama's words of wisdom to dozens of children who attended the White House's annual Kids' State Dinner on Tuesday: Food is fun. Eat healthy.

July 10, 2013

Egypt’s ousted President Morsi in ‘safe place,’ foreign ministry says

Ousted Egypt President Mohammed Morsi is safe and sound, and so far, no charges have been filed against him, said a top government head on Wednesday.

July 10, 2013

Abortion activists at Texas Capitol: ‘[Expletive] the church’

Some activists at the Texas Capitol were hurling expletives at the church during the lawmakers' discussion of an abortion bill that would ban the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a media organization reported.

July 10, 2013

Mob trial mayhem: James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, former friend trade expletives in court

Day 2 of the testimony of a former partner and friend of reputed mobster head James "Whitey" Bulger ended in drama and mayhem, with each shouting expletives across the courtroom.

July 10, 2013

Democratic aide carting gun in federal building is let off with warning

An aide to Democratic Rep. John Conyers — one of the loudest voices on Capitol Hill for additional federal gun control laws — caught a lucky break just recently.

July 10, 2013

Sarah Palin: Yes, I’m mulling a Senate run

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said on a Tuesday night's Fox News broadcast that she has considered a run for the Senate — and still is.

July 10, 2013

Dozens buried by mudslides in China as rescue workers comb for survivors

Flooding has triggered mudslides in a western region of China, and emergency responders estimate about 40 have been buried.

July 10, 2013

Elisabeth Hasselbeck of ‘The View’ moving to ‘Fox & Friends’

Goodbye Gretchen Carlson. Hello Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Ms. Carlson announced on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday morning that she's leaving the infamous curvy couch in September to head up her own talk show. And filling her slot — the lone conservative voice from "The View," Ms. Hasselbeck.

July 10, 2013

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev heads to arraignment in Boston bombing case

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old suspect in the Boston bombing case, is due for arraignment Wednesday to face 30 charges related to the death of four people and the wounding of 260.

July 10, 2013

NAACP to Lee County, Fla.: Tear down this Gen. Robert E. Lee portrait

The president of an NAACP branch in Florida has petitioned members of the Lee County Commission to take down a painting of Gen. Robert E. Lee, calling the former Confederate leader a historic symbol of racism.

July 9, 2013