MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

THE GLITZ AND GLAM OF HOLLYWOOD: Ahead of the big night, see the best Oscars red carpet moments through the years

From Gwyneth Paltrow's pink princess dress in 1999 to Audrey Hepburn's white floral gown in 1954, see the most stunning Oscar dresses ever to hit the red carpet at the Academy Awards. read full story »

EXCLUSIVE NEW LOVE IN LOSS: Widower of slain photojournalist mom killed on Turkey expedition finds love in wife's friend

Steven Sierra's wife Sarai was brutally murdered in January 2013 while on a solo trip to Turkey. In the months following her funeral, family and friends pitched in — and when Sarai's friend Dulce Arroyo arrived with clothes for the kids, she and Steven had an instant connection. The two were married Jan. 23.

WINTER TRAGEDY: 3 members of the Minnesota Ultimate Frisbee team, the nation's best, die in crash along icy roads

Neither alcohol nor excessive speed appear to be factors in a crash that killed three Minnesota college students, who were members of one of the nation's top Ultimate Frisbee teams.

Ex-Army officer sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex assaults after admitting his twin didn’t do it

A former Army officer who once blamed his arrest for multiple sexual assaults on his twin brother was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday.

SMASH AND SHOP? Pickup truck crashes into Las Vegas grocery store and keeps going down the aisle

An 88-year-old woman drove a full size pickup truck through a Las Vegas grocery store - injuring 26 people Saturday afternoon.

NYPD cop revives unconscious toddler on Upper East Side after using old life-saving EMT skills

An EMT-turned-city cop fell back on his paramedic skills to revive an unconscious baby girl in Manhattan Saturday, officials said.

Chloe seeks to redefine cop drama in new A&E show

California soaked by rainfall but storm provides little drought help; Sunday's Oscars so far not affected

A storm that brought some of the highest rainfall totals to the Los Angeles area in years, including eight inches on some mountains, was just the beginning of what the region needs to pull out of a major drought.

Official Chinese news service uses racial slur, calls outgoing U.S. ambassador 'rotten banana'

A Chinese government news service has been criticized after using a racial slur to describe the departing American ambassador.

BLOODSHED: United Nations reports 703 deaths in Iraq during February

Violence continues in the country after a crackdown 10 months ago on a Sunni protest camp. An additional 1,381 people were wounded.

Lupica: Ever since the '90s, it seems like it's only been the Madison Square Garden of Gloom

We talk all the time about the glory days at Madison Square Garden and the old Knicks of Clyde and Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Bradley and Earl the Pearl.

Raissman: Keeping Melo and viewers interested is Knick priority

Carmelo Anthony can’t carry the Knicks alone. He isn’t a big enough Lone Star to juice the ’Bockers’ TV ratings on the Madison Square Gulag Network, either. Eyeballs are abandoning the poop deck of this sinking TV ship. MSG has lost about a third of its Knicks audience this season.

Woman dies in car crash near spot where twin killed years ago

A woman has been killed in a road accident just yards from where her twin sister died in a hit-and-run 18 years ago.

Utah high school teacher pleads not guilty to felony rape charges for having sex with 16-year-old student

The boy claimed Brianne Altice, his English teacher at Davis High School in the deeply Mormon city of Kaysville, had sex with him at least three times, including in a church parking lot.

Humanists suing to tear down cross-shaped World War I memorial

The American Humanist Association filed a lawsuit Tuesday to tear down the Bladensburg Peace Cross, a 40-foot-tall World War I memorial in Bladensburg, Md.

Man asked goats for permission before having sex with them

A Nigerian arrested by police for having sex with a goat has defended himself by saying he asked the animal for permission first. Malam Kamisu Baranda was held by cops after he being handed over by a village elder.

Connecticut couple’s bizarre divorce saga takes a twisted turn

A divorced couple's bitter rift took a twisted turn when a Connecticut woman allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband — and only turned more bizarre when she retained custody of their daughter.

EXCLUSIVE: JLaw is here to stay, say film bigwigs

Disney to drop funding for Boy Scouts, citing ban on gay troop leaders

The Walt Disney Company announced Friday that it will stop sending money to the Boy Scouts of America because of a membership policy that bans openly gay troop leaders.

Wounded rookie cop released from hospital two days after he was shot three times by fare-beating gunman

Officer James Li, 26, has been recovering at Kings County Hospital since he was blasted three times in the legs in the parking lot of Crown Heights White Castle.

Stars hit the party scene before Hollywood's big night

Illinois mother arrested after hiring undercover feds to attack her ex-husband

Michelle Bertoncini of South Elgin, Ill., is accused of paying for a brutal attack on the father of her children and his new wife. But she really gave money, a whopping $350, to undercover ATF agents.

Insurers in the nation’s capital must cover sex-change surgery

Washington mayor says heath care providers must pay for gender-reassignment treatment. The measure is designed to combat discrimination.

THEY WANTED RUDY TO SLEEP WITH THE FISHES: Sicilian mob ordered hit on 'America's Mayor' Giuliani: reports

Crime boss Salvatore “Toto” Riina ordered the hit on Giuliani back in the 1980s when the future New York City mayor was a mob-busting federal prosecutor, according to reports.

Drivers sickened by dead whale carcass hauled down highway

Drivers in Britain have complained after the stinking, rotting carcass of a giant sperm whale was transported along a major freeway. The 50-foot-long carcass, pictured by one motorist, was being transported along a road in Kent, in the south of the country, in an area known as "garden of England."

'A sadistic love for blood': British serial killer who admitted to killing three men 'for fun' laughs and swears in court as judge sentences her to life in prison

Joanne Dennehy, 31, admitted stabbing to death Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, Kevin Lee, 48, and John Chapman, 56. After killing her third victim, she left a phone message with a friend in which she sang Britney Spears' 'Oops! I Did It Again.'

SEE IT GROSS! California TV reporter licks up line of snot as it starts to trickle down during live segment

KTVU's Heather Holmes has become a web sensation after stomach-churning footage of her clearing up the runny booger went viral.

Oregon man sentenced to 20 years for trying to hire fake hit man

A judge in Oregon sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for contracting a fictitious hit man to waste his in-laws and a district attorney while sitting in jail on burglary charges.

Married Lebanese-American dad becomes Eastern Catholic priest

For the first time in nearly a century, a married priest has been ordained by the Maronite Catholic Church in the United States — and his wife and daughter were on hand to support him.

TAKE THAT! Wyoming woman arrested for felony assault after stabbing stuffed teddy bear

Carly Marra was nabbed by police in Casper, Wyo., after she attacked a stuffed animal with a knife. She and her boyfriend were fighting over a new woman he was seeing.

Body of Brooklyn man, 37, found on roof of Broadway theater after he apparently jumped from nearby W hotel, cops say

A 37-year-old man’s body was found on the roof of a Broadway theater Saturday morning, after he apparently jumped from the W New York Hotel, police said.

'Fort Lee traffic is a nightmare': Newly-released 911 tapes reveal chaos, anger that ensued during George Washington Bridge lane closures

Fort Lee officials released the calls made during the morning rush hours of the Sept. 9-12 “Bridgegate” mess, with dispatchers commenting on the traffic jam in between handling emergency cases.

Dads share how they found two sons taken by mutual ex-wife

After 18 months, two fathers finally tracked down their missing sons who never returned from a trip to Europe with their mutual ex-wife.

Myanmar may let Doctors Without Borders stay

A day after Doctors Without Borders announced it was being expelled from Myanmar, the government said Saturday that negotiations with the group were ongoing and that it may be allowed to resume operations everywhere but Rakhine, a state plagued by bloody bouts of sectarian violence.

NBA to donate proceeds from Jason Collins jersey sales to LGBT groups

The NBA announced Friday that it will donate all proceeds — more than $100,000 — from the sale of Jason Collins’ Brooklyn Nets jerseys to two prominent LGBT groups.

Happy 20th, Biebs: A look back at his wild teen years

Militants in Pakistan attack polio vaccine convoy

Militants killed 12 members of the security escort for a polio vaccination team in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, detonating a roadside bomb before opening fire on their convoy, according to officials.

‘Yoga mat’ chemical azodicarbonamide found in nearly 500 grocery store food items: report

zodicarbonamide is found in about 500 different packaged foods, including breads, stuffings, croutons and other packaged baked goods, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group

PICS: Every gown Sandra Bullock has worn to the Oscars

Ellen on Oscars hosting gig: 'My intentions are to make people happy'

Voters may stick to the script for Original & Adapted Screenplay Oscars

YIKES! SEE the worst Oscar dresses of all time

PHOTOS: From ads to daytime TV, Oscar nominees' first gigs before the fame

The Oscar ALMOST went to...: Stars replaced in major movie roles

Gwen Stefani gives birth to third son: report

'I'm just very grateful': Kerry Kennedy all smiles as jury acquits her of DWI after defense argues she accidentally took wrong pill before 2012 accident

The 54-year-old daughter of assassinated Sen. Robert F. Kennedy has been found not guilty of charges could have gotten her a year-long jail sentence

LUCKY STREAK: Massachusetts man beats speeding ticket thanks to winning lottery ticket

Scott Lowe was speeding to cash in his $50,000 winning scratch off ticket when he was pulled over. The Hingham Police Officer let him go when Lowe showed him the proof.

Prosecutors get time limit to decide on extortion case related to Brooklyn's Hasidic community

Next Friday is D-Day for a controversial extortion case centered around sex abuse allegations in Brooklyn's Hasidic community. A judge ordered prosecutors to make up their minds by the end of next week on whether to dismiss charges against Samuel Kellner, accused of extorting an alleged molester and bribing a witness against him, or take the case to trial.

Teachers rally to reinstate educator suspended after questions emerge if 5-year-old students in her charge were actually naked and 'having sex'

New Jersey teacher Kelly Mascio has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an investigation.

Sports

Sixers retire Allen Iverson's number

Allen Iverson cupped his hand to his left ear and asked to hear his favorite tune one more time. With that command, 20,000 roaring Philadelphia 76ers fans gave AI the standing ovation he earned by stamping himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Madden: Orioles fans can breathe easier after late signings

The great culture change Buck Showalter was able to bring about at Camden Yards in 2012, ending a stretch of 14 straight losing seasons with a 93-69 wild-card season, had a bit of regression last year when the O’s slipped to third place, 85-77.

Rory-book ending: McIlroy aims to close it out at Honda Classic

Rory McIlroy is 18 holes away from putting last year — when he walked off the course on his 27th hole — behind him for good. Although he didn’t get the separation he might have gained if not for it being a windy Saturday, he’ll take a two-shot lead on Russell Henley into the final round of the Honda Classic.

Myers: More musical Revis? Contenders likely to consider trade

Darrelle Revis’ $16 million a year contract — no guaranteed money, so no dead money on the Bucs salary cap if he is traded — could soon turn him into a one-year rental as a hired gun for teams on the verge of going to the Super Bowl.

The Muppets on Instagram! See their adorable selfies

Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife wows in tiny bikini in Maui

'Ghostbusters' star and acclaimed director Harold Ramis dead at 69

Harold Ramis, whose comic instincts helped him behind the camera as the director of smash hits like "Groundhog Day" and "Analyze That," died early Monday.

FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR KNICKS: Felton busted for weapons possession

Knicks point guard Raymond Felton was arrested on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon early Tuesday after his estranged wife's lawyer dumped his gun off with cops, sources said.

Alec Baldwin whines he 'can't live in New York anymore'

Tantrum-prone Alec Baldwin said in a whine-filled New York magazine essay this week that he’s set to bolt the Big Apple. “I just can’t live in New York anymore,” he wrote in the cover story.

'Piers Morgan' staffers actually happy CNN canceled show: sources

His own co-workers are glad he’s getting the boot. Staffers at “Piers Morgan Live” are actually relieved that CNN has canceled the show, sources tell Confidenti@l.

Autos

Lexus RC F GT3 Concept is ready to race into the Geneva Motor Show

Lexus wants to take on formidable GT racecars from Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, Lamborghini and Nissan

Latest Autos Reviews

Demi steps out after news of ex-hubby's engagement

NBC News reporter in California loses boots after firefighters have to rescue him from thigh-high mud caused by massive rainfall

Journalists wouldn’t be journalists if they didn’t risk the occasional battering from nature — say a hurricane surge — or, in the case of Miguel Almaguer, a massive surge of mud.

Cops hunt killer who strangled, dumped body of South Carolina teen

Cops are hunting for the killer of an 18-year-old South Carolina girl after the teen’s classmate found her dead along a wooded road on Wednesday.

'I will carry his name': Grieving French woman given OK by President Hollande to marry dead partner

Using a little known French law, she will wed long-term partner Michael - who died in 2012 just weeks before their wedding.

Maryland mother fumes GM delayed recall of cars with defect that killed her daughter

Laura Christian was overjoyed in 2004 to be reunited with the 15-year-old daughter she gave up for adoption as an infant. But the emotional reunion in southern Maryland was tragically short-lived.

FBI overhears Boston Marathon suspect make 'statement to his detriment' during jailhouse visit by sister and investigator

Now he’s shooting off his mouth. An FBI agent overheard Boston marathon suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev make a “statement to his detriment” when his sister visited him in prison, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Avalanche destroys home and buries 3 people alive amid wreckage — but community bands together in miraculous rescue

An avalanche roared into a residential neighborhood in the western Montana city of Missoula on Friday and destroyed a house, but two seniors and a boy were dug out alive, police said.

Former Oklahoma and Cowboys coach Barry Switzer: ‘I’d never recruit a white quarterback’

Former Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer has been a pretty harsh critic of Texas A&M quarterback and possible No. 1 draft pick Johnny Manziel, but took it to a new level Thursday.

Alaska family says hospital is medicating son against his will

An active young man’s health deteriorated drastically in the past few months—and now his family says he’s being held against his will and forced to take psychotropic drugs.

All eyes will be on Amy Adams' Oscar night dress

Adam Levine's ex on his engagement: 'I will love him forever'

JUSTICE FOR TAALIB: 4 gang members charged in murder of 7-year-old boy shot while sitting in car with mom

After manhunt, four alleged gangbangers have been charged in killing of 7-year-old Pop Warner football player Taalib Pecantte, who was gunned down in Los Angeles while sitting in a car with his mom.

WHERE'S THE MONEY? Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange files for bankruptcy protection as 850,000 bitcoins worth hundreds of millions goes missing

The exchange's CEO says it may have lost nearly half a billion dollars worth of the virtual coins due to hacking into its faulty computer system.

NONKOSHER JAM: Texts reveal Christie cronies in Bridgegate scandal joked about causing gridlock in front of rabbi's house

Chris Christie's appointees to the Port Authority — Bill Baroni (top left) and David Wildstein (bottom left) — exchanged damning texts showing unhappiness toward Rabbi Mendy Carlebach.

Caddyshack in Alaska? Golf course worker tries to poison brown bear but kills two dogs

Just as Bill Murray's character desperately tried to blow up a gopher the hit 1980s sports movie, Kevin Taranoff became engaged in a long-running battle with a rampaging beast.

Comics & Games

Hidato: Play Now! »

Jumble Solitaire: Play Now! »

Wumo: Read Now! »

Arlo & Janis: Read Now! »

Chris Brown ordered back to rehab for two months

SEE IT BASKET-BRAWL! Fight breaks out between Utah Valley, New Mexico State players and students

When storming the court goes wrong. A celebratory victory for Utah Valley quickly turned into an ugly brawl with New Mexico State on Thursday after fans rushed the court in a 66-61 overtime win.

'I'M AFRAID I'LL GET SHOT': Kid brother of NYPD officer wounded by fare-beater says he doesn't want to be a cop after sibling's shooting

Rashun Robinson was stone silent and void of any emotion during his arraignment Thursday night in Brooklyn criminal court for second-degree attempted murder of NYPD Officer James Li.

EXCLUSIVE Brooklyn woman hit by Duane Reade truck receives $22M settlement — the largest personal injury deal in New York history

Shirley Miller, 37, who was mowed down crossing a Midtown street in 2008, will receive the stunning amount after the pharmaceutical giant agreed to end the fiercely fought litigation Tuesday.

New York bride suing garment exec after his unleashed dog mauls her face

Yuliya Panasevich, 27, who claims she was disfigured just before walking down the aisle, has sued a garment industry executive for allowing his unleashed dog to chew up her face.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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