Cheryl K. Chumley

Black Louisiana senator flees Democratic party: ‘Free at last’

Louisiana State Sen. Elbert Guillory said in a video message delivered to constituents — and particularly, his fellow black voters — that he's finally come to his senses and realized the Democratic Party disguises an all-consuming quest for control as concern and aid for minorities.

June 18, 2013

Lil Wayne ignites firestorm with flag-stomp, ‘God Bless Amerika’ lyrics

Lil Wayne's latest music video shows the best-selling rapper stomping an American flag that's stretched on the ground — and Twitter followers aren't happy.

June 18, 2013

China intercepts 213 illegal bear paws from Russia

Chinese authorities have intercepted the delivery of 213 bear paws that were crossing the border from Russia, hidden inside the tires of a vehicle.

June 18, 2013

Saudi billionaire eyes NYC for record-high skyscraper

A billionaire prince from Saudi Arabia is searching out a city to build the world's highest skyscraper, reaching a mile into the sky — and on the list is New York.

June 18, 2013

Barbra Streisand takes jab at ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, defends women’s rights

Hollywood icon Barbra Streisand, 71, brought her movie past to life this week during a trip to Jerusalem that left her outraged over the treatment of women by ultra-Orthodox Jews.

June 18, 2013

Investigators swarm ‘Goodfellas’ mobster’s New York home to dig for body

Investigators swarmed around the New York house of James "Jimmy the Gent" Burke on Monday to dig for a body believed to be related to a crime case that's been dormant for almost three decades.

June 18, 2013

Islamists drive 19,000 farmers from Nigeria as food shortages worsen

Islamist militants have pushed out 19,000 rice farmers from their northeastern Nigeria properties, at the peak of the harvest season and at a time when the government has declared a food emergency.

June 18, 2013

Ohio day care worker put drugs in pancakes to make kids sleep, police say

Police say an Ohio day care worker laced pancake batter with medicine to make the children sleepy.

June 18, 2013

Top Nazi suspect, 98, charged with war crimes in Hungary

A 98-year-old Nazi suspect from Hungary who's been under house arrest for a year was formally charged with war crimes Tuesday, accused of overseeing the deportation of thousands of Jews during World War II.

June 18, 2013

General Motors recalls 194K SUVs out of fire fears

General Motors is recalling about 194,000 SUVs after engineers discovered a problem with an electronic module that could short circuit and start a fire.

June 17, 2013

Boston Children’s Hospital opens world’s first hand transplant program for kids

Boston Children's Hospital transplant surgeons are actively seeking children who need new hands. The facility has a new pediatric hand transplant unit, which opened Monday — the first of its kind in the world.

June 17, 2013

John Morton, ICE director, to step down in July

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton is stepping down, effective at the end of July.

June 17, 2013

Feds raid 7-Eleven stores in Va., N.Y., arrest 20 in immigration scam

More than a dozen 7-Eleven convenience stores in New York and Virginia were raided Monday by federal agents as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal immigration.

June 17, 2013

Nancy Pelosi proves last straw for Hollywood actor who wants Obama gone

A Hollywood actor raised with what he described as blue-collar values that included working hard for one's own money has remained largely quiet about his conservative principles — until the day he heard Rep. Nancy Pelosi speak of the need to pass "Obamacare."

June 17, 2013

Park perils: Assaults on rangers, wildlife workers on the rise

Falling into the category of "who would have thought?" is a recent report from the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility that found that incidents of aggression and assault against the nation's public parks workers rose by 38 percent between 2011 and 2012.

June 17, 2013

China topples U.S., builds world’s fastest supercomputer

China's latest supercomputer is the world's fastest, nearly twice as fast as what earned a United States computer that title last year, according to a report released Monday.

June 17, 2013

FBI digging for Jimmy Hoffa in Detroit-area field

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are set to dig for the remains of Jimmy Hoffa in a field on the outskirts of Detroit on Monday.

June 17, 2013

Immigration activists march on home of Kansas secretary of state

Nearly 300 activists with a leftist, pro-immigration group marched on the Kansas secretary of state's home over the weekend, dropping shoes on his lawn that they said belonged to "the fathers he's deported."

June 17, 2013

World’s Ugliest Dog contest photo gallery: Mugs only a mother could for 25th annual competition

For one day at least, the world's ugliest, mangiest mutts will feel like canine royalty as judges at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., crown a winner Friday of the 25th annual World's Ugliest Dog contest.

June 17, 2013

Chicago erupts in weekend gun violence: 7 dead, 41 injured

Chicago saw its bloodiest weekend this year as gun violence throughout the city left seven dead and 41 injured, including boys younger than 19.

June 17, 2013