Cheryl K. Chumley

China to new pope: Welcome, but stay away from Taiwan

China welcomed aboard Pope Francis 1, the former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, with a formal statement of congratulations on Thursday. But in the next breath, the nation issued a thinly veiled warning.

March 14, 2013

Drone discussion: President Obama criticizes Dick Cheney over secrecy

President Obama issued a quick criticism about former Dick Cheney earlier this week, telling Democratic senators worried about administration secrecy over drone usage not to worry — he's not like the former vice president.

March 14, 2013

Sominex in the sippy-cup: Calif. day-care worker charged with drugging toddlers

A day-care worker at a California facility has been fired and charged with child endangerment after coworkers reported she spiked toddlers' sippy cups with sleeping medication.

March 14, 2013

Britain, France mull rebelling against EU rules and arming Syrians

It doesn't matter what the European Union says, British and France government officials say. They may go ahead and provide weapons to Syrian rebel fighters anyway.

March 14, 2013

Alan Grayson on Paul Ryan: He wants the poor ‘to die’

Rep. Alan Grayson, Florida Democrat, is back in the news. This time, his statements focus on Rep. Paul Ryan and the Wisconsin legislator's budget plan to cut expenses and balance federal finances within a decade.

March 14, 2013

Bill Gates pines for more U.K.-type powers for Obama

Sometimes America's free system of government and constitutional Democratic-Republic just make it too hard for the president to properly do his job, suggested Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday.

March 14, 2013

Hugo Chavez’s body may have decayed too much for eternal display

It may be too late to preserve deceased Venezuela President Hugo Chavez's body in a glass casket "for eternity" after all.

March 14, 2013

China’s leader Xi Jinping secures president title, too

China leader Xi Jinping has been given the new title of president, a largely ceremonial role change that came by way of a 2,952-to-1 vote from the Beijing's Great Hall of the People Delegates on Thursday.

March 14, 2013

Benjamin Netanyahu to keep control of defense under just-formed Israeli government

It took weeks, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found enough common ground with coalition members Thursday to form a new government.

March 14, 2013

Texas bill booting Planned Parenthood from schools moves forward

With a 6-2 vote and absent discussion, Texas' Senate Education Committee members moved a bill forward that would pretty much banish Planned Parenthood's presence from Texas schools.

March 13, 2013

Watchdog group gives Obama administration ‘C-‘ for FOIA

A group that rates the transparency of government finds that President Obama's administration is subpar in one key area: Fulfillment of requests for documents made under the Freedom of Information Act.

March 13, 2013

Chicago council members mull even tougher gun laws for city

Chicago City Council members meeting Wednesday will vote on expanding the city's already-strict gun laws, just two days after a 6-month-old girl was fatally shot in a gang-related incident.

March 13, 2013

Vladimir Putin calls for Soviet-style school fitness tests for ‘the Fatherland’

Judo-loving Vladimir Putin wants to bring his penchant for all things physical to school children, via a return to Soviet-era fitness requirements for all students.

March 13, 2013

Obama suggests Secret Service at fault for shuttered White House tours

President Obama seemed to suggest on Wednesday that Secret Service was to blame for the shuttering of White House tours — but that his administration was on the job, looking for ways to open back doors for school groups.

March 13, 2013

‘Rising star’ George Prescott Bush files for Texas land commissioner

George Prescott Bush could be the next in the family political dynasty to serve in public office.

March 13, 2013

Washington lawmakers vote down bill for more gun background checks

Washington state lawmakers shot down a bill that would have required all gun buyers to undergo background checks.

March 13, 2013

Obama admits budget deal could prove impossible

President Obama admitted that efforts to reach a budget deal may be at an impasse if Republicans aren't willing to raise taxes without attaching caveats on entitlement spending.

March 13, 2013

Children hired by terrorists arrested for Pakistani bombings

A group of 11 Pakistani children, ranging in ages from 11 to 18, have been arrested for alleged involvement with a series of bombings that have taken place in Quetta.

March 13, 2013

Ohio judge rules high-speed cameras in small town a ‘scam’

A Hamilton County, Ohio, judge has issued sharp condemnation of a high-speed camera ordinance, calling it unenforceable and invalid.

March 13, 2013

The Twinkie’s back! Snack to reappear in stores this summer

Good news for Twinkies lovers — the company that bought Hostess Brands Inc. expects to put the famed snack back on store shelves as early as this summer.

March 13, 2013