Cheryl K. Chumley

Satellite photo shows Iran has activated plant needed for nuclear bomb

Satellite images show Iran has started operations at its heavy-water production plant in Arak — a strong sign that the nation has taken yet another step in its quest for nuclear-weapons development.

February 27, 2013

Emboldened Bloomberg sweeps into Washington for anti-gun campaign

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is set for meetings Wednesday on gun control with Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. John McCain, according to a report from Roll Call.

February 27, 2013

Illinois Dems push through bill banning guns on public buses, trains

A federal appeals court may have ordered Illinois politicos to pass a concealed-carry gun law by June, but that hasn't stopped Democrats from passing as many accompanying laws as possible that, in effect, moot the federal order.

February 27, 2013

Comedian Jim Carrey raises brows with anti-church tweet

Comedian Jim Carrey just can't quit the cracks. First he puts down the Second Amendment. Then he disses the church and religion.

February 27, 2013

Union leader in Mexico charged with embezzling dues for plastic surgery

A top teachers' union leader in Mexico has been arrested and charged with embezzling funds from the organization and blowing it on everything from shopping sprees at luxury U.S. retailers to plastic surgery.

February 27, 2013

Shark attack off New Zealand beach kills swimmer as police shoot at maneater

Muriwai Beach in New Zealand was closed Wednesday after an estimated 14-foot-long shark killed a swimmer and then dodged bullets and disappeared, after police tried to shoot it.

February 27, 2013

GOP draft bill in Senate would cede ‘power of the purse’ to Obama

A handful of Republicans in the Senate are passing around a draft copy of a bill that would, in essence, give President Obama the "power of the purse," according to a media report.

February 27, 2013

Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison attacks TV host Sean Hannity: ‘Immoral’ liar

Rep. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Democrat, attacked Fox News conservative host Sean Hannity on Tuesday evening, calling him an "immoral" liar and a sorry excuse for a journalist who furthers "yellow journalism."

February 27, 2013

Scores of Republicans file legal brief in favor of gay marriage

Seventy-plus prominent Republicans have signed on to a legal brief they will file with the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of gay marriage.

February 27, 2013

Switzerland shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 injured

Three are dead and 7 were injured at a shooting at Kronospan, a wood-processing plant in the small Swiss town of Menznau, outside Lucerne.

February 27, 2013

Philadelphia food police swap in costly school lunch menu

School officials at one Philadelphia school have joined an "Eatiquette" program to crack down on unhealthy eating, banning processed food and requiring students to partake in a more family-style dining atmosphere.

February 27, 2013

Democrats tell Republicans: Take down debt clock

Democrats opposed a Republican-backed move to mount a real-time national debt clock during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, according to one media report.

February 27, 2013

BP executive casts blame on Halliburton, Transocean for oil spill

BP wasn't the only one to blame for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a senior company executive said, during court testimony.

February 27, 2013

Texas retailers sue over plastic bag ban

Texas retailers are lashing back at an Austin ordinance that bans the use of plastic bags and have banded together in a lawsuit, claiming the new law poses a health and safety threat.

February 27, 2013

Cold Warrior Putin calls for Russian military upgrades as U.S. troop cuts loom

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country needs an immediate and massive military upgrade by 2016 and has called on his top brass to put the wheels in motion.

February 27, 2013

Democratic nominee in Illinois warns NRA: Your days ‘are coming to an end’

The Democratic nominee to take over former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr.'s House seat vowed in her Tuesday evening victory speech to tackle gun-related violence and take a leadership role in the national debate over gun control.

February 27, 2013

Nuclear talks with Iran end with plans for more discussions

The latest round of nuclear talks among Iran leaders and U.N. Security Council powers has ended, in much the same fashion as previous ones: Little accomplished.

February 27, 2013

Secretary of State John Kerry wraps France stop — flub free

Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped his meeting in France with President Francois Hollande just as U.S. officials announced they were nearing a decision about arming rebels in Syria, the nation once controlled by French rulers.

February 27, 2013

Benedict XVI recalls ‘heavy burden,’ joys of papacy ahead of last supper as pope

Tens of thousands of worshipers and well-wishers turned out for Pope Benedict XVI's final address, as he recalled both times of "joy and light" and great challenge and difficulty.

February 27, 2013

JPMorgan Chase cutting 4,000 jobs

JPMorgan Chase is trimming expenses by $1 billion and cutting 1.5 percent of its workforce, company executives announced Tuesday

February 26, 2013