MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

Florida Gators, Louisville among the first teams to punch a ticket to the Sweet 16; the latest news, scores, photos and more from the Big Dance

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WHAT CONRAD BUILT: How the Hilton family built fame and fortune while enduring poverty, a sex tape and Elizabeth Taylor

A new book by J. Randy Taraborrelli, “The Hiltons: The True Story of an American Dynasty,” reveals how the family was betrayed through the generations by its lust for Hollywood — even as young heiress Paris Hilton (right) continues to grab headlines wreathed in scandal. read full story »

'PEOPLE ARE YELLING FOR HELP': Rescuers comb through debris after massive Washington mudslide kills 3, leaves others trapped

After hearing voices pleading for help, rescuers were “combing through the debris” in an overnight search for survivors from a massive mudslide in Washington state that killed at least three people and forced evacuations because of fears of severe flooding.

'Judgment Free' Planet Fitness kicked out Muslim woman for wearing head scarf while working out: lawsuit

The national budget-friendly gym chain promises members an atmosphere free of “gymtimidation.”

Appeals court HALTS Michigan gay marriages at courthouses after ban’s overturn

Dozens of same-sex couples married in Michigan early Saturday will be the only ones wed for at least the next few days, as a federal appeals court has since suspended gay marriages in Michigan.

I'M TOO SEXY FOR THESE CHARGES: Accused rapist says he's so good-looking, his alleged victim willingly had sex with him

He's so good-looking, a man accused of rape, kidnapping, carjacking and weapon possession claims, his alleged victim willingly had sex with him.

SCRIPTS FOR SEX: Chicago doc admits he swapped prescription drugs on Craigslist for lurid favors

Joshua D. Baron, 40, has pleaded guilty to one federal charge and admitted he gave a total of 149 scripts for painkillers and controlled substances to 16 people in exchange for sex between 2006 and 201.

Three gunmen open fire at packed Mexico City bar

The trio fired a hail of bullets as people sat and drank with friends in the early hours, leaving two people dead and several injured in the attack.

Brooklyn Decker reveals modeling not 'that successful,' turns to acting

SEE IT Backpacker leaves angry note for snoring fellow traveler after being kept awake all night

Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed. A backpacker left a furious note for a fellow sleeper at a Vietnamese youth hostel after their ear-splitting snoring kept them and others awake all night.

Scrap metal dealer’s junk purchase turns out to be $33 MILLION Faberge egg

A scrap metal dealer from the Midwest had no idea that the tiny golden egg he was planning to melt down was actually a $33 million relic from the court of imperial Russia.

Illinois legislator — who sponsored TWO bills to boost child pornography penalties — under investigation for possession of kiddie porn

ICE authorities seized electronics from Keith Farnham's state office last week and are seeking child pornography materials, according to a report.

North Korea launches 30 short-range rockets in most recent show of force toward South Korea

North Korea launched 30 short-range rockets into the sea off its east coast Saturday, South Korea said, in the latest in a series of apparent protests against ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills.

Raissman: Mets can't afford to muzzle Matt Harvey

It really doesn’t matter if Matt Harvey’s ego is so huge that he has to keep his mouth in the game while his arm is on ice. Harvey’s motives for flapping his yap should not matter. Especially to Sandy Alderson. Or anyone else in the Mets organization who has a problem with the verbal stylings of Chief Running Mouth.

No closure for family as missing Michigan man's body lost in landfill; pal gets 11 months in jail for dumpster disposal

Aaron Idle died of an alleged drug overdose — so his friend, James Cummings, tossed his body into a Owosso Township dumpster and later lied to cops about it. Cummings has been sentenced to 11 months in jail.

Kenya allows men to take as many wives as they want

Kenya has introduced a law to allow polygamy. The controversial measure will let husbands have as many wives as they wish - and they do not have to consult any of their existing wives.

Florida police officer shot dead by suspects who later killed themselves: police

A central Florida police officer was shot and killed early on Saturday and two pedestrians he had tried to stop for questioning apparently committed suicide, law enforcement officials said.

Venice votes to break away from the rest of Italy, create 'Repubblica Veneta'

The famous lagoon city of Venice has voted to break away from the rest of Italy. Eighty nine per cent of Venetians backed the move to create their own sovereign state in a referendum on independence.

Pope Francis adds former child victim to new commission to investigate sex abuse cases

Pope Francis announced the initial members of a commission to advise him on sex abuse policy Saturday, tapping lay and religious experts — and an Irish woman assaulted as a child by a priest — to start plotting the commission's tasks and priorities.

GOLDEN GIRL: Selena Gomez stuns in 'nude' snap

Sarah canceling her 'Vogue' subscription after Kimye cover

Couple wins millions in lawsuit after polygamist towns tried to force them out by refusing water supply

An Arizona couple claims their local government has been “hijacked” by convicted sex offender Warren Jeff’s polygamist Mormon sect and that it is witholding basic utilities in an effort to drive the family out of town.

Sarah canceling her 'Vogue' subscription after Kimye cover

Eaters take on 20-foot bratwursts for a good cause

A fundraising event for children’s art in Michigan has pitted participants with big appetites against 20-foot-long bratwursts that weigh close to 6 pounds.

London doctor first person to be prosecuted under Britain's ban on female genital mutilation

A doctor will be tried for carrying out female genital mutilation on a patient after she had given birth at a London hospital in Britain's first such prosecution, it was announced on Friday.

Norwegian farmer jailed after letting 400 pigs starve

A Norwegian farmer has been jailed for a year for letting more than 400 pigs starve to death. The farmer was also banned from keeping animals for the next 20 years because of the neglect, the court in Stokke, southern Norway, ruled.

Myers: The Jets haven taken on new baggage with an aging Vick but Geno will still have to prove himself to stay under center

The Jets have a quarterback controversy: Michael Vick, who may be over the hill, vs. Geno Smith, who has the look of a career underachiever. “Anywhere I go, on any team, I’m always going to compete for the No. 1 spot,” Vick said Friday night after signing with the Jets.

Obese Texas girl gets different weight-loss surgery

Surgeons at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center could not go through with 12-year-old Alexis Shapiro’s planned gastric bypass surgery Friday morning because her liver was larger than anticipated.

Georgetown student made ricin in his dorm room: court documents

Nineteen-year-old Daniel Harry Milzman of Bethesda, a student at Georgetown University, has been charged with possession of a biological toxin after ricin was found in a dorm room, documents show.

Hawaiian girl, 3, died from drugs given during dental procedure: autopsy

An adorable Hawaiian toddler who had no underlying heart problems and suffered a heart attack during a dentist visit likely died because of the drugs used to sedate her, authorities said.

Earthquake strikes major copper-exporting town in Chile

An magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck northern Chile on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake was located 63 miles northwest of Iquique and had a depth of 7.1 miles, the USGS said.

Weinstein at Rockettes rehearsal that led MSG exec to postpone show

‘Nor’easter bomb’ may dump 6 inches of spring snow

Rare spring snowstorm due to strike late Tuesday. Eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut expected to bear brunt, under current models.

Wealthy Minnesota couple scams more than $165,000 from welfare system: cops

A Minnesota couple is accused of milking the welfare system for more than $165,000 to fuel their lust for luxury from January 2005 to March 2012.

Putin completes Crimea annexation, signs peninsula into Russia

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin completed the annexation of Crimea on Friday, signing the peninsula into Russia at nearly the same time his Ukrainian counterpart sealed a deal pulling his country closer into Europe's orbit.

Kevin Bacon reenacts iconic 'Footloose' dance 30 years later

Court reverses conviction ‘suicide fetish’ sicko who provoked two deaths

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the convictions of a former nurse accused of trolling the Internet for suicidal people and encouraging two to kill themselves, ruling Wednesday that part of a law banning someone from "encouraging" suicide is unconstitutional.

Witness: I saw missing Malaysia Airlines plane day it vanished

A Malaysian woman says she saw the missing Malaysia Airlines plane sinking into the Andaman Sea from the window of her return flight from Mecca. Raja Dalelah Raja Latife, 53, filed a police report March 8 regarding the sighting — the same day the plane disappeared.

Obama's presidential library foundation drops 'H' from name

Let the bidding begin.President Obama still has two years and 10 months left in office but his team is already making plans for his post-White House career.

Gwyneth and Lupita kick back with drinks and no makeup

Turkey’s Prime Minister turns off Twitter

Turkey’s prime minister has pulled the plug on Twitter. Recep Tayyip Erdogan blocked access to the social network Friday, following through on his threat to “rip out the roots” of Twitter.

Black students more likely than white students to be suspended from school — even in pre-K: study

Black students — even tiny preschoolers — are more likely than white students to be suspended from public school, a study disclosed Friday.

FBI agent cleared in fatal shooting of man questioned about Boston Marathon bombing

WASHINGTON — A Florida prosecutor has cleared an FBI agent of any criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Chechen man as he was being questioned about a Boston Marathon bombing suspect, two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation said Friday.

Iran building replica of U.S. aircraft carrier: reports

Iran is building an unarmed replica of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to reports. Speculation is that Iran will blow up the bogus boat as a propaganda boost, maybe during Friday’s Iranian New Year celebrations of Nowruz.

Kim flaunts a little leg in revealing pink dress

Four rapists in India sentenced to life behind bars

Museum to return looted Matisse to art dealer's family

Amanda Bynes looks happy, healthy at L.A. fashion show

Dallas man shot dead after trying to break up spat: report

Beloved dad dies shielding daughter from ex-con: cops

Sports

Madden: Nolan Ryan, Tommy John say babying pitchers doesn't work

They have become the four most dreaded words in the baseball lexicon — Tommy John/Doctor Andrews — and after this past week in which no less than four top-of-the-rotation starters, Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy of the Atlanta Braves, Pat Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Jarrod Parker of the Oakland A’s, along with Tigers’ second-year set-up man Bruce Rondon, went down for the season with blown-out elbows, Mets GM Sandy Alderson went so far as to suggest it looks like an epidemic here.

Myers: Parcells tells Jackson just watching the games is not easy to do

Bill Parcells left his seat in his private box at home games three or four times in the slightly more than two seasons he spent running the Dolphins. He couldn’t suppress the coach in him taking over his emotions and instincts, he had no control over what was happening on the field after 19 years as an NFL head coach, so he left the stadium.

SHOCK AND AWE: Calipari's ’Cats take aim at Wichita State

Before Wichita State whistled through a 31-0 regular season, earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and won its Round of 64 game Friday, there was Kentucky coach John Calipari, the commonwealth’s carnival barker, talking about unbeaten seasons back in October.

UConn tops Villanova, earns Sweet 16 date at Madison Square Garden

The seventh-seeded Huskies, who was left out of the reconfigured Big East and joined the American Athletic Conference’s all sports league last year, were noticeable by their absence at the Big East’s annual tournament this month. UConn, which had been so much of the fabric of that league, was playing its conference tournament half a continent away in Memphis.