MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

SIN TO WIN: Gun worshiper snags unholy AR-15 rifle — similiar to one used in Newtown massacre — in sick church raffle

Upstate gun nut, Ron Stafford (center), went to church Sunday and walked out the winner of a high-powered assault rifle — thanks Rev. John Koletas (right). read full story »

EXCLUSIVE AW, CHUTE THAT WAS STUPID! Authorities to charge four daredevils with burglary for predawn plunge from 1 WTC

It was a Geroni-no-no. Authorities are poised to charge four daredevils in a dangerous, predawn skydive from 1 World Trade Center six months ago, a source told the Daily News.

BREAKING Ukraine claims that Russian forces have seized military base on Crimean Peninsula

Ukraine's Defense Ministry says Russian forces have stormed yet another Ukrainian military base on the Crimean Peninsula and taken two servicemen captive. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said when Russian troops seized the marine base in the port of Feodosia on Monday they detained up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen on-site and took two injured Ukrainians away by helicopter.

Plane carrying 5 in Colorado crashes, no survivors expected as crews call off search for the day — 'It's in deep water and it's in cold water'

A small plane believed to be carrying five people crashed into a reservoir in southwestern Colorado and authorities say all are feared dead. The single-engine Socata TBM700 was flying from Bartlesville, Okla., to Montrose, about 180 miles southwest of Denver, when it went down Saturday.

'It wasn't just a job to him': Fellow officers remember Florida cop killed by two pedestrians he tried to help — and then themselves

Windermere officer Robert German, 31, was killed at 4 a.m. Saturday in a strange case that is under investigation.

Avalanche kills two skiers at Sochi Olympics resort

An avalanche killed two skiers on Sunday at the Russian mountain resort used for the Sochi Olympics the day after it opened to the public, the resort said. Six skiers were on the middle section of Labirint run when the avalanche struck, the Roza Khutor resort said in a statement.

NO-SWIM ZONE: Becks warned about genital-attacking fish

Cabbie elbowed cop in the face after being caught hunting for commuters at JFK airport: officials

Emmanuel Atta, 66, had already been caught hunting for commuters arriving at the Queens Airport on Friday morning and was given a written warning against doing it again.

Temple University student attacked with brick by gang of teens and kids

A gang of teens and children beat a Temple University student in the face with a brick during a Friday night stroll with her boyfriend.

Florida man drinks $80 worth of Jägermeister shots, sets fire to bar, punches 70-year-old man in the face: police

A Florida man was arrested after ordering $80 worth of Jägermeister and setting fire to a trash can inside a South Daytona sports bar Friday, police said. He also punched two other patrons in the face.

Chinese ‘miracle baby’ survives being catapulted from mom’s womb after parents die in crash: witnesses

Meet little Xiao Zhao - the 'miracle baby' born during a motorbike crash which killed her mother and father. The boy's parents were travelling to hospital when they were hit by a truck and thrown from their vehicle.

'GOOD WIFE' SHOCKER: Major character killed in the courtroom

Lovett: Call them party poopers! Dem's poll says lefty candidate would hurt Gov. Cuomo

A wealthy Democratic activist commissioned a poll that shows a third-party leftist candidate could eat into what Gov. Cuomo is hoping will be a commanding victory this year.

DNA testing needed to identify 4 people who died in Jersey motel housing victims of Hurricane Sandy

DNA testing and other methods will need to be used to identify the four people killed in a fire at a Jersey shore motel that housed some victims of Superstorm Sandy, authorities said Sunday.

Three brown bear cubs rescued from captivity in Kosovo

Animal activists in Kosovo say three brown bear cubs have been rescued from captivity.

MOMMA MILA! Kunis expecting first child with Ashton Kutcher

‘Russia Today’ anchor who quit in protest of Crimean invasion speaks out in defense of dramatic move

The “Russia Today” news anchor who quit on live television in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is speaking up about her brave outburst.

Former President Jimmy Carter says Obama never calls him for advice

Jimmy Carter wants President Obama to pick up the phone. The former commander-in-chief expressed sadness during an interview Sunday that Obama doesn’t ever call him for advice.

Child abandoned in stroller on Harlem street

A baby was found abandoned in a stroller on a sidewalk in Harlem on Sunday night.

‘Homeland’ star, veteran actor James Rebhorn, dead at 65

Man, 27, critical after he was struck by livery cab in Astoria

A 27-year-old man was clinging to life Sunday after he was struck by a livery cab as he crossed the street in Astoria, Queens, police said.

Ukrainian, U.S. officials prepare for possible war as Russia continues military buildup on border

Ukraine's foreign minister said Sunday that the prospect of war with Russia was "growing" as the embattled country's powerful neighbor continued to build its military presence at their shared border.

WWII warplane to return to site of D-Day invasion

On June 6, 70 years after taking part in D-Day, the restored Douglas C-47, now housed at the National Warplane Museum in upstate New York, will re-create its role in the mission, when it dropped troops behind enemy lines under German fire.

Man in custody after shuttle bus overturns in early morning crash in Virginia, killing one: police

The shuttle bus carrying 16 people swerved to avoid another car and went over a guard rail along Interstate 95 near Washington.

Turkey accuses Twitter of ‘systematic character assassinations’ after botched shutdown attempt

Government’s accusations come a day after social media users easily evaded a government attempt to block access to the network.

President Obama to kick off four-country trip to Europe amid tension over Russia’s annexation of Crimea

President Obama will face a high-stakes diplomatic test this week in Europe, where he will urge allies to remain united against Russia. The long-planned four-country trip begins Monday in the Netherlands.

Brother of missing autistic boy, 14, found dead in East River shares family's heartache in online essay

In it, Danny Oquendo reflects on the fear his family had about the whereabouts of his 14-year-old brother, who was autistic and went missing for three months.

Supreme Court to hear arguments this week on health law birth control coverage

The Obama administration and its opponents are renewing the Supreme Court battle over President Barack Obama’s health care law in a case that pits the religious rights of employers against the rights of women to the birth control of their choice.

Don't look Charlize! Sean Penn spotted kissing actress

Millions still uninsured as Obamacare deadline looms

Millions of people in the U.S. will remain uninsured despite this week’s final, frenzied push to sign them up under the health law.

UNC issues emergency alert about armed man

The University of North Carolina issued an “all clear” Sunday less than an hour after sending an emergency alert about an armed person on the Chapel Hill campus. Police said the man was in custody.

Doutzen Kroes expecting baby girl; model's 2nd child

EXCLUSIVE From Wall St. to dark alleys: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara wages war on street gangs, reducing violence in hotspots

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has been called the Sheriff of Wall Street because he busts crooked bankers, and his office has brought Al Qaeda terrorists to justice. But with less fanfare, Bharara has also waged a war against violent street gangs.

Canadian arrested for trying to smuggle 5 pounds of meth across border

Customs and Border Protection officials say 21-year-old Karone Johnson of Thorold, Ontario, was taken into custody at the Rainbow Bridge Thursday while leaving Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Alessandra Ambrosio keeps fit in Pilates class

BURIAL BATTLE: L'Wren Scott's Utah family is fighting with Mick Jagger over the late designer's final resting place

L'Wren Scott's Utah family is in a bitter fight over the designer’s final resting place. Still-shattered Mick Jagger, over the objections of Scott’s sister, plans a small and private Los Angeles funeral this week for his longtime love.

New York district attorneys riled by push to defund anti-corruption commission

Some of the district attorneys serving on Gov. Cuomo’s anti-corruption commission are not happy their work may be cut short if any ethics reform package is included in the upcoming state budget.

Naya Rivera fuels surgery rumors with revealing selfie

Thousands of miles of old, leak-prone gas mains beneath New York City take on new danger after East Harlem explosion

Last week Con Edison pulled an ancient artifact from under an upper Manhattan street — a crusty old cast-iron gas main installed in 1911 when America had just 46 states and William Howard Taft was President.

Turkish fighter jet downs Syrian warplane near border

Turkish fighter jets shot down a Syrian warplane Sunday after it violated the country’s airspace, Turkey’s prime minister said, in a move likely to ramp up tensions between two countries already deeply at odds over Syria’s civil war.

Miley Cyrus turns heads in VERY short shorts

Missing Malaysia Airlines flight: Leading theories, biggest questions

Chicago doctor pleads guilty to trading prescription drugs for sex

Selena Gomez stuns in 'nude' Instagram snap

Scrap metal dealer’s junk buy turns out to be $33M Faberge egg

Illinois pol probed for possession of kiddie porn

Sports

Rams have ‘interest’ in Sanchez

Are the Rams a match for former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez? “I’d say that there is interest,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher told USA Today on Sunday. “I can't say how much. But there certainly would be interest. I don't have a backup with experience on the roster now.”

Lawrence: Melo's disappearing act won't impress Jackson

Try as he did, Carmelo Anthony at first couldn’t even get the words out. That’s how brutal the Knicks’ 106-100 loss at the Garden on Sunday night to the Cavs was, as they threw away a golden opportunity to pick up a game on the dying Atlanta Hawks.

Mara: Tuck’s exit was a tough one

Justin Tuck is no longer with the Giants because they made a business decision not to meet his price, but his departure has co-owner John Mara feeling the blues.

Isola's Futbol Monday: Messi a Classico

It is called El Clasico for a reason and you could also say that Lionel Messi fits that description perfectly. Messi recorded a hat trick, including the go-ahead penalty kick in the 84th minute, as Barcelona twice rallied from a goal down to defeat Real Madrid, 4-3.