Cheryl K. Chumley

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

John Kerry defends Americans’ ‘right to be stupid’ a day after inventing country named Kyrzakhstan

Secretary of State John Kerry — who recently made international headlines for inventing a country — has again drawn attention for questionable remarks, this time to a group of German students.

February 26, 2013

Sen. Dianne Feinstein: Assault guns are unnecessary ‘personal pleasures’

Just in case you thought the Democratic push for a federal ban on assault weapons might die a quiet death in the House, where Republicans hold the majority, now comes Sen. Dianne Feinstein to assure otherwise.

February 26, 2013

Coffee police call for more regulation of caffeine

Step away from the coffee pot. A professor at two universities in Iceland and Ireland is sounding the alarm on rising caffeine-related death tolls and calling on the United States and other countries to fill the "regulatory vacuum" in this area.

February 26, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI says goodbye — to his red shoes

Retiring Pope Benedict XVI gets to keep a couple titles — "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" and "emeritus pope" — and his white cassock. But he's turning in his signature red shoes and going brown.

February 26, 2013

Nevada recluse’s gold fortune to be auctioned for taxes

Carson City, Nev., officials have hit pay dirt. Cleanup crews called to empty the home of recently deceased recluse Walter Samaszko Jr. found a stash of gold — and taxes will eat up half of it.

February 26, 2013

Louis Farrakhan: Failing to confirm Hagel as defense secretary ‘sentences America to war with Iran’

Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel may not find a lot of love within the Republican Party, but Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan supports him.

February 26, 2013

Gun maker Beretta threatens to leave Maryland, take hundreds of jobs

Major weapons manufacturer Beretta USA is vowing to close shop and leave Maryland if the state passes new gun-control measures.

February 26, 2013

Prominent member of Chinese Communist Party flips out at airport

A prominent member of China's Communist Party went on a rampage at Kunming Changshui International Airport, after the stresses of a poor travel experience finally took their toll. A video of the scene, meanwhile, has gone viral online.

February 26, 2013

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie being snubbed by CPAC, source says

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican with a large Democratic following, has been left off the list of invited speakers at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference.

February 26, 2013

Investors spooked by Italy’s election stalemate

Italy's stock market took a nosedive after election polls put a comedian's protest party ahead, and voting ended with no clear winner in parliament.

February 26, 2013

Kentucky Fried Chicken says goodbye to 1,000 Chinese farm suppliers

Kentucky Fried Chicken has cut ties with more than 1,000 farms in China, following a food safety scandal that led to a dramatic drop in sales at the fast-food chain last year.

February 26, 2013

Oregon Democrat’s bill would legalize medical marijuana at federal level

An Oregon Democrat has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for medical use at the federal level.

February 26, 2013