MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

KILLER FIREFIGHTER FOUND: Calif. smokeater who murdered escort lover nabbed after 'living in bushes' during manhunt: cops

A manhunt of more than two weeks for a California firefighter accused of stabbing to death his escort girlfriend ended in a Sacramento suburb Friday after police found the man boarding a city bus. read full story »

TAXICAB OPPRESSION: NYC cabbie suspended over Nazi swastika armband he wore while on duty

The deluded driver won’t be allowed to get behind the wheel of his car for 30 days, the city Taxi and Limousine Commission ruled.

Woman, 22, falls down elevator shaft at Boston’s Fenway Park

The woman fell down the shaft Friday night after the fourth floor doors opened and the woman fell on the roof of an elevator on the second floor. Her condition was not immediately available.

'I want to you to come and get me': 9-year-old begs adoptive parents to retrieve her from biological dad's custody

The adoptive parents of a girl who was plucked from their Tennessee home and sent to live with her biological dad say their daughter has begged them to take her back.

EXCLUSIVE Imam who ripped 9/11 museum film could get jail in $140G tax scheme

Sheik Mostafa Elazabawy, a retired NYC Housing Authority employee who also heads Masjid Manhattan, faces up to 15 years in prison for swindling at least $140,000 while working as a "tax preparer."

Family of slain Hofstra University student files wrongful-death lawsuit against county, cops: report

The reported filing by Andrea Rebello's family comes one day short of the one-year anniversary of the 21-year-old's death — and one month after officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.

REVEALED: Why Bush skipped 9/11 Memorial dedication

Male employee fired at Pennsylvania boarding school after hidden camera found in dorm bathroom

The video camera was discovered in toilet and shower area of Milton Hershey School, a private, philanthropic boarding school in central Pennsylvania.

Jersey City high school to spread awareness about sexting after student posts sex tape to Facebook

Officials said the initiative was planned after a 15-year-old boy recorded himself engaging in a sex act with a girl, 13, and posted it online.

On-duty Georgia cop strikes, kills two pedestrians with cruiser

An on-duty Georgia cop plowed his cruiser into two men crossing a dangerous Barnesville intersection, killing them both in the early morning crash Friday.

American missionary stabbed to death in Haiti

George Knoop, an elder with the Quisqueya Chapel in Haiti, was attacked inside his home Tuesday afternoon. Knoop, who went to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, managed to call friends for help before he died.

Drunken Florida uncle bites nephew in the face, tells police he doesn’t know why he flew into rage

Raymond Colletto of Boca Raton was charged with child abuse after gnawing the boy, whose age and name were withheld. The inebriated man destroyed the family garage, then turned on nephew.

California Catholic high school boys took photos up teachers' skirts in twisted game: teacher

A biology teacher at an all-boys Catholic high school has filed a lawsuit claiming her students took part in a twisted game, competing to take the best up-skirt photos of their female teachers.

Nigerian President cancels trip to town where 300 girls were kidnapped

Amid apparent security concerns, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan canceled a trip Friday to the traumatized town where Islamic extremists abducted more than 300 schoolgirls a month ago.

Hero cat who saved 4-year-old from dog to throw first pitch at minor league baseball game – 'I'm hoping for a miracle of physics and engineering'

The cat that raced out of nowhere and went berserk on a neighborhood dog attacking her 4-year-old owner has been tapped to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Bakersfield Blaze baseball game.

TWIT: Miami teen arrested for tweeting plans to rape kids to police department

The disturbing tweets sent to the Miami Police department led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy who only then sheepishly declared it was all a joke.

FROM WEB TO THE SLAUGHTER? Horses being given away on the Internet could wind up killed

Dozens of horses are being given away online. But equine advocates warn many of the animals being offered for free to a good home could end up in slaughterhouses instead.

10 people killed after bombs strike market in Kenya's capital

The U.S. ambassador has requested additional security and is reducing the number of people stationed at the embassy in Nairobi amid an increase in threats. .

Kelly and Mark find a buyer for $24.5M NYC dream house

FREE TO KILL: New Orleans man arrested for shooting 14-year-old boy was wanted for stabbing ex-girlfriend

A New Orleans man who shot dead a 14-year-old boy earlier this month was at the time wanted for stabbing his ex-girlfriend nearly 20 days earlier, according to New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Man charged with sparking San Diego County wildfire

Alberto Serrato, 57, pleaded not guilty Friday to arson in connection with a 105-acre fire in suburban Oceanside — one of the smaller fires. The fire started Wednesday and is fully contained.

Veterans’ health care boss quits amid reports of delayed care

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said Friday he has accepted the resignation of Robert Petzel, the department’s undersecretary for health care.

Oprah punts on documentary about openly gay footballer

Wisconsin dad files restraining order against daughter's bully after 5-year-old threatened to slit her throat

Brian Metzger claims the aggressive infant repeatedly kicked and threw rocks and sand at his 6-year-old and other kids at Prairie Lane Elementary School in Kenosha County.

Former substitute teacher busted in Brooklyn alongside city EMT for peddling heroin and prescription pain killers

Teacher Lisa Testa, 33, and Fire Department EMT Joseph Meyer, 25, were arrested as part of the investigation in the 62nd Precinct, which encompasses Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, police said.

Girl, 7, who became the face of legalizing marijuana oil in Wisconsin dies

The 7-year-old whose family’s lobbying efforts influenced Wisconsin’s governor to sign a bill legalizing a special type of marijuana extract has died.

Remington Arms moving two N.Y. production lines to Ala.

ALBANY — A year after the state enacted a tough new gun control law, Remington Arms said Friday it is moving two production lines from upstate to Alabama.

Pennsylvania baby hospitalized with alcohol-blood level of nearly four times legal limit

Police are questioning the mom of a 1-year-old who had the heftly amount of alcohol in her system. The baby is in stable condition.

Man crawls under America Ferrera's dress at Cannes

Texas mom arrested after allegedly repeatedly slapping her baby girl

The mother accused of slapping a crying baby has been jailed after a neighbor in Texas reported it to police and shared a video of the abuse to Facebook, reports say.

Woman sues Georgia city over law banning sex toys, says they saved her marriage

The 2009 Sandy Springs ordinance only lets people buy sex toys if they have a prescription for the devices or a medical reason to use them.

Charges dropped against New Orleans shooter of teen burglar

Prosecutors dropped the chargs against Merritt Landry --- a week after shooting victim Marshall Coulter, now 15, was caught breaking into homes in the same neighborhood he was shot in last year.

Woman with beach ball-sized tumor turned away by hospitals because she has no insurance

In two months, a tumor inside the belly of Doris Lewis has blown up to the size of a beach ball. Four hospitals turned her away, she says, because she has no insurance.

Grieving mom of Rikers Island inmate who BAKED to death in cell slams city with $25 million lawsuit

The heartbroken mom of the Rikers Island inmate who baked to death in a sweltering cell is suing the city for $25 million.

Photoshopped? There's something off about Mariah's album cover

Turkish government, mining company deny that devastating mine fire was due to negligence

The Turkish government and mining company officials vehemently denied Friday that negligence was at the root of the mine fire that claimed 292 lives.

OOPS! Mets accidentally share GM Sandy Alderson's wife's credit card information in email to press corps

A Mets official looking to get Lion King tickets for Sandy Alderson’s family accidentally sent out the Mets general manager’s wife’s credit card information to the entire press corps Friday afternoon.

Brooklyn cantor pleads guilty to sex abuse, ending six-year case

Baruch Lebovits copped to sex abuse Friday in Brooklyn Supreme Court, putting an end to a lengthy and politicized case.

SEE IT California hotel offers champagne bottle service by drone

The Mansion at Casa Madrona in Sausalito unleashed their new age octo-copter earlier this month specifically for guests staying in their Alexandrite Suite — where nights start at $10,000.

Robin Wright: I almost passed on 'House of Cards' role

President Obama honors 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education decision

President Obama marked the 60th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark school desegregation decision by recommitting to "the long struggle to stamp out bigotry and racism in all their forms."

Narendra Modi to become India’s next prime minister

India's opposition leader, Narendra Modi, will become the next prime minister of the world’s largest democracy, winning the most decisive election victory the country has seen in three decades.

Man who worked at New York after-school program held on child-porn charges

Rene Cardona, 22, told feds he engaged in “inappropriate sexual contact with several children... through his involvement in the after-school program” at the Betances Community Center between 2011 and 2014.

Indianapolis man tortured, forced to play Russian Roulette

The 20-year-old man escaped, shirtless and shoeless, through a bathroom window after being held at gunpoint against his will. The terrified witness said the men poured water on him and threatened to kill him when it ran out.

PHOTOS: See Godzilla's path of destruction through the years

SEE IT Scaredy cat freaks out after meeting baby for first time

Adorable footage shows the furry feline creeping up to check out the new addition to the family. But when the tiny tot wakes up and starts to yawn, the ginger moggie freaks out - turning on his tail and backing away.

Texas woman, 34, busted for posing as 15-year-old student for nearly a year also fooled her boyfriend: 'I was shocked'

Charity Johnson, 34, was pulling shifts at a McDonald’s inside a Walmart in Longview and had been dating a man since last summer before she was arrested this week for giving cops a fake name and age.

Dead Mass. man’s Bronx discovery remains mystery

Investigators are trying to determine how a missing 25-year-old Massachusetts man wound up murdered on the roof of a Bronx housing project last week.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT JOHNNY! Depp's ex smolders in mag shoot

Remington Arms is moving two upstate production lines to Alabama one year after state passed gun control law

A year after the state enacted a tough new gun control law, Remington Arms said Friday it is moving two production lines from upstate New York to Alabama.

Firefighters rescue girl trapped in Washington elevator

A scared little girl trapped in a stuck elevator made a firefighter pinky swear that she would not crash to the ground.

Pinterest now worth $5 billion after new funding

Pinterest has raised a new $200 million round of funding that gives it a valuation of $5 billion, the photo pin-up site said on Thursday.

Cara Delevingne steals the show at sister's wedding

Obama, Biden take workers out for burgers to promote roads, bridges spending

Browns coach: Manziel texted us 'Hurry up and draft me'

It's bugnado! Photog captures bizarre twister of insects

Pete King to Hillary: 'Get ready' for 2016 showdown

Government fines GM maximum $35 million in safety case

Adriana Lima goes makeup free in Los Angeles

Nicole Kidman shows off frozen face at Cannes

Teacher gave student 98% after having sex with him multiple times: cops

Kalyn Thompson, 25, allegedly gave the Kellyville High School teen a 98 per cent result in his English test — just months after he'd been struggling to pass the exams at all.

SEE IT Cat saves boy from vicious dog attack outside California home

A California boy was viciously attacked by a dog while playing on his bicycle and the incident could have been much worse if not for the family's cat that intervened and saved his owner.

Six brothers charged with sex abuse of North Carolina girl

Six grown brothers and their parents have been arrested in North Carolina and charged with multiple counts of sexually abusing a child over a 10-year period.

Christopher Columbus' lost ship may have been found

It's the biggest discovery since 1492! A world-renowned explorer believes he’s found Christopher Columbus’ long-lost cargo ship, the Santa Maria, which was wrecked in a storm more than 500 years ago.

Sports

Colts LB Mathis suspended four games for PED use

NFL sacks champion Robert Mathis has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The league made the announcement Friday.

The winner of the Preakness is . . .

Will the Triple Crown dream live for another three weeks or will it end Saturday? Here’s how I see the Preakness unfolding: Assuming it’s a clear start, it’s Social Inclusion breaking on top with Bayern, General a Rod and Pablo Del Monte in close pursuit.

Thunder's Ibaka out for rest of postseason with calf injury

Oklahoma City defensive specialist Serge Ibaka is expected to miss the rest of the NBA playoffs because of a left calf injury. The 6-foot-10 forward had an MRI on Friday, a day after the Thunder eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers and advanced to the Western Conference finals against the Spurs.