MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

Former 'American Top 40' host Casey Kasem found in Washington state hours after daughter files missing person's report

Hours after the radio icon’s daughter Kerri (right) filed a missing person's report with Santa Monica Police on Wednesday, he was located in Washington, police said. Kerri accused her step mom, Jean (left), of kidnapping her dad. read full story »

BREAKING NEWS Prosecutors indict captain, 3 crew of sunken South Korean ferry on homicide charges

Capt. Lee Joon-seok (center) and the other homicide defendants (not shown) — a first mate, a second mate and the chief engineer — could face the death penalty if convicted, according to the Supreme Court, though no one has been executed in South Korea since 1997.

Missing former Dallas police chief hit by car but ran off after refusing medical treatment: police

A missing former Dallas assistant police chief was last seen Monday after he was hit by a car in a blinding rainstorm - but Greg Holliday refused treatment and ran off.

'I'm surprised I didn't get a broken bone or something': Biker lucky to be alive after colliding with SUV in Missouri — SEE THE VIDEO

Britt Hamilton, 20, was riding just ahead of his fiancée and 10-month-old baby girl when he crossed a Missouri intersection and plowed straight into the vehicle.

KISS OF METH: Oklahoma men caught on police car camera swapping drugs mouth to mouth

Two Oklahoma men were busted on drug charges when they were caught in the backseat of a police car eating three eight balls of meth — after using their mouths to split the batch.

Racist Clippers owner Donald Sterling says his players won't rebel

Billionaire bigot Donald Sterling believes that if he gets a second chance to run the Los Angeles Clippers, the players won’t revolt.

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Barbara Walters' Four Seasons farewell bash

Lupica: Smart move Steve! Kerr choosing to coach Warriors instead of Knicks shows he still has high hoops IQ

No one knows if Steve Kerr can coach, even though he leveraged himself, thanks to Phil Jackson and the Knicks, into being the hottest candidate who’s never coached a day in his life, at least if you don’t count him sitting next to Marv Albert on television.

Wildfire burns homes in San Diego County forcing thousands to flee

At least a half-dozen wildfires scorched San Diego County on Wednesday, forcing thousands to flee burning homes and prompting the closures of a college campus and Legoland California.

Students rebel, police called after 170 high school students suspended for dress code: reports

Police were called to Duncanville High School in Texas Wednesday to help mitigate the chaos as packs of students were seen on video allegedly throwing food and at least one trash can, myfoxdfw reported.

Michigan's 'mystery pooper’ caught, no charges filed

The poop-etrator of Ypsilanti, Mich., believed to be defecating on kiddie slides at the city’s Prospect Park has been identified, contacted and asked to stop, according to a report.

Death of Julia's half-sister ruled suicide, not accidental OD

EXCLUSIVE NYPD reassigns cops after a Brooklyn detective was shot by his partner

Three sergeants and a captain have been transferred in the aftermath of the shooting of a Brooklyn detective by his partner, police sources told the Daily News Wednesday.

President Obama says GOP's lack of action to repair roads put economy in danger during Tappan Zee Bridge visit

With the aging Tappan Zee Bridge behind him, the president Wednesday said Republicans were putting America’s economy at risk by not acting on his plan to repair nation’s crumbling roads, ports and bridges.

In letters to priest, Jackie Kennedy admitted John may have married her for political reasons

Jacqueline Kennedy suspected her husband John married her simply because “a senator needs a wife,” but that didn’t take away from how much she loved the late President, newly discovered letters reveal.

Why did Neil Patrick Harris turn down 'Late Show' gig?

Convicted killer Joran van der Sloot to be a father, get married

Joran van der Sloot’s lawyer says the convicted murder is soon to be both father and husband.

Bare-naked lovers caught in the act next to ATM in Spain

Passersby take selfies as oblivious couple in Oviedo do the nasty in a bank foyer. After ripping off clothes, the man and woman have sex in full view of people walking by.

Melissa Mark-Viverito will fight de Blasio for free school lunch, more cops

Even buddies can butt heads. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she’s ready to battle her ally Mayor de Blasio over his snub of Council proposals to hire more cops and give all city schoolkids free lunch.

Guess which pop star got a squeeze on the streets of NYC

Gov. Christie was told about George Washington Bridge plans claims his former campaign manager

Gov. Chris Christie’s former campaign manager says he told the governor about plans to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge in December, contradicting Christie’s claims he had no prior knowledge.

MOTHER'S DAY NIGHTMARE: Michigan mom visits son and finds dead body in the closet

A woman visiting her son for Mother's Day found a dead body wrapped in cellophane in his closet - and hauled the suspected killer off to a Michigan police station.

SEE IT AK-47-toting soccer fans in Brazil celebrate goal with hail of GUNFIRE

With the World Cup less than a month away, Brazil is forced to deal with another episode of soccer-related violence after heavy gunfire broke out at an amateur game near Rio de Janeiro.

Federal judge refuses to stop gay marriages despite Idaho governor's appeal

A federal magistrate judge on Wednesday refused to put gay marriages in Idaho on hold pending an appeal from the state’s governor.

Is NeNe Leakes quitting 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'?

1 shot, another stabbed in separate attacks over beer: cops

The vicious alcohol-fueled attacks in Missouri and Florida came just two days between one another this week, while leaving one person and one dog dead and three people behind bars.

North Dakota appeals federal ruling overturning state abortion ban

North Dakota on Wednesday appealed a federal judge’s ruling that overturned a state law banning abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

Man charged with shooting teen in the eye attends the same church as the victim: lawyer

The 13-year-old choirboy who got shot in the eye last month and the Brooklyn man charged with the shooting both attend the same church, the alleged gunman’s lawyer said Wednesday.

Washington authorities mistakenly report boy drowned after falling over waterfall

The young boy who nearly drowned after plunging down a Washington state waterfall remains unconscious even though authorities reported the boy as drowned on Tuesday afternoon.

New 9/11 museum will be powerful sight for visitors

She knows from personal experience that each step down the long staircase into the crucible of New York City’s heartbreak will be painful for many.

EDITORIAL The WTC Museum is right on every level

The horror, the heroism, the love, the loss, the monstrousness, the resolve, the tears for 2,983 murdered souls — all too powerfully the story is called forth from memory and told as it demands to be told forever.

VIDEO The struggle to rebuild St. Nicholas Church, 10 years after 9/11

St. Nicholas Church stood in lower Manhattan for more than 80 years before it was crushed by the south tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

VIDEOS Ten years later: Reporter, a volunteer and a witness reflect on 9/11

'I think what propelled...everybody at the Daily News who wrote about 9/11 was to somehow make ourselves worthy of the people who died trying to save others,' former News columnist Michael Daly says.

The Twin Towers: From concept to construction

PHOTOS Stunning views of NYC from atop the One World Observatory

PHOTOS Remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks: A look back

PHOTOS One World Trade Center: From Ground Zero to the Freedom Tower

PHOTOS 'Tribute in Light' marks 12th anniversary of 9/11

Cannes kicks off with star-studded opening ceremony...

Mich 'techo boy', 63, arrested on child porn charges

Bruce Fonda, a wiry, hipster-wannabe, was arrested in Richmond Hills, Mich. last week after an investigation in Idaho tipped police off to Fonda's alleged distribution of Child Sexually Abusive Material, WXYZ reported.

Missing former Dallas police chief hit by car but takes off: police

A missing former Dallas assistant police chief was last seen Monday after he was hit by a car in a blinding rainstorm - but Greg Holliday refused treatment and ran off.

California dimwits arrested after trying to SWIM away from officers

Two bleary-looking men in the capital of California were behind bars Wednesday after they tried to get away from police by jumping in a canal and paddling away.

EXCLUSIVE Showdown at Gracie Mansion: Bill de Blasio and NYC city Controller hold extraordinary late-night meeting on city budget

The night of de Blasio's birthday party at Gracie Mansion, he had an extraordinary late-night sit-down with Scott Stringer to hash out a dispute over the mayor's just proposed $73.9 billion budget, sources say.

... as puffy Kidman sparks plastic surgery rumors

WOW! Texas woman finds 12-foot African python slithering in bathroom

Veronica Rodriguez, 50, said she found the snake while searching for what was causing a strange noise in her College Station house, located about 100 miles northwest of Houston.

Officials, family get early look at 9/11 Museum

Welcome to the crucible of New York City’s pain. The custodians of the soon-to-be-opened Sept. 11 museum took reporters Wednesday on a tour of what former Mayor Michael Bloomberg called a monument to unity.

PHOTOS Half-naked daredevil clambers around Manhattan Bridge cables, surrenders to NYPD

A half-naked, apparently unhinged daredevil found climbing up the Manhattan Bridge surrendered to authorities Wednesday after a rap session with police, officials said.

Bill Clinton 'dumbfounded' by Karl Rove's claim that Hillary is brain damaged

Bill Clinton explained his reaction upon hearing Karl Rove's claims that wife Hillary Clinton suffered brain damage after a blood clot.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt steps out with mystery girlfriend

Chris Christie: I'd hate to run against Jeb Bush

Chris Christie admitted he would take no pleasure facing Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential race, predicting a stressful scenario running against the ex-Florida Gov.

Biden son’s appointment to Ukraine gas company raises no conflict of interest, White House says

The White House brushed aside questions about whether the involvement of Vice President Joe Biden's son in a Ukrainian natural gas company raised ethical issues.

Former tabloid editor tells London court he hacked Kate Middleton's voice mail 150 times

The former royal editor of the News of the World said Wednesday that he repeatedly hacked the voice mails of Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton in the months before he was arrested in 2006.

Scar tissue saves man from stabbing

A Taco Bell fan may have lost his life to a knife-wielding madman — had the blade not hit his shield of scar tissue.

Mario Andretti takes daring 102-year-old on 180-mph joyride

Cops dismiss rumors that elderly man found decapitated in Georgia home was connected to organized crime as wife remains missing

Nearly two weeks after her husband was found decapitated inside their Georgia home, an 87-year-old woman was still missing and likely dead, police said.

U.S. surveillance aircraft search Nigeria for signs of kidnapped schoolgirls

A manned MC-12 surveillance aircraft — which has seen heavy use in Afghanistan — was scanning the African nation for any sign of the kidnapped girls.

Pentagon allows Chelsea Manning transfer for gender treatment

WASHINGTON — In an unprecedented move, the Pentagon is trying to transfer convicted national security leaker Pvt. Chelsea Manning to a civilian prison so she can get treatment for her gender disorder, defense officials said.

SEE IT GROSS! Woman finds condom in calamari dish at Chinese restaurant

Mai Liang was dining on the dish in China when she made the disgusting discovery that a rubbery ring was actually a condom.

'Sharknado 2's' Ian Ziering answers News reader questions

EXCLUSIVE Embezzler serving year of house arrest in $27K-a-month NYC apartment still owes $5.2M in restitution

Jay Z and Solange spotted making nice at Midtown jewelry shop

Miley Cyrus likens her knee to Seth Rogen's face

SEE IT The moment 'ranting and raving' man rammed truck into Baltimore TV station before barricading himself inside

SEE IT Helicopter group says video did NOT show near-miss over N.J. — but it sure looks close!

Sports

NBA Playoffs: Spurs close out Blazers, await Clips-Thunder winner

Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard each scored 22 points, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame an injury to Tony Parker to close out the Western Conference semifinals with a 104-82 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Tanaka blanks Mets as Yanks stop Subway Series losing streak

Masahiro Tanaka’s domination of the Mets was so complete he even knocked a single up the middle in the ninth inning, his first major-league hit.

Habs up next! Rangers will fight Canadiens for shot at Stanley Cup

The Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins, 3-1, in Game 7 Wednesday night to set up an Original-Six Eastern Conference Finals against the Blueshirts, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Bell Centre.

Lawrence: Losing out on rookie coach could be blessing for Knicks

The Knicks don’t get Steve Kerr and that has to be a terrible disappointment for Phil Jackson. Maybe it’ll be a good thing. This is all guess work, just as giving Phil Jackson the job of rebuilding the Knicks into a championship contender was the ultimate guess on Jim Dolan’s part.

Autos

photos This custom Rolls Royce celebrates a famous water speed record

Rolls Royce has paid homage to Sir Malcolm Campbell's water speed records with this bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupe, which was unveiled in London on Tuesday.