MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: A-Rod was set to quit baseball until Jay Z partner and ex-con swayed Yankees slugger to fight MLB on PED suspension

Desiree Perez was arrested in 1994 for possession of 35 kilos of cocaine with intent to distribute and again in 1998 for grand larceny and possession of a firearm. The club manager, with close ties to Beyonce and Jay Z, has a 'lot of power' inside rap mogul's Roc Nation Sports, and was the figure who convinced the Yankees slugger to fight Major League Baseball instead of retiring. read full story »

'We will get him the help he needs': Parents of Nazi-crazed cabbie BURN his swastika armband and claim hack is mentally ill and not a racist

The parents of a Hitler-loving hack say he’s driving them to despair — and blame his romance with the Third Reich on a long history of mental illness. Cabbie Gabriel Diaz “doesn’t know what he’s doing,” his father said Saturday. “He’s not right in the head. He’s a quiet person.'

Woman who accused Jets coach of slapping her tells Daily News the encounter was ‘scary’

Jessie Steinberg, 28, told the News Saturday that she was hanging out with a friend at the outdoor bar of Pazzo Pazzo in New Jersey when Dennis Thurman approached them and began hitting on her pal.

High-powered corporate lawyer jumps to his death from luxury NYC apartment overlooking Central Park, cops say

Stephen Hertz jumped from his home on the 22nd floor of the highrise on Central Park West near 105th St. about 9:20 p.m. Friday, cops said, landing in a tree. Emergency responders had to cut down branches to get to his mangled body, a police source said.

Florida pastor found dead in apparent suicide amid $200K embezzlement investigation: cops

The Tampa Police Department said the Rev. Vladimir Dziadek, 56, was discovered by a maintenance worker Monday morning at the bottom of a staircase at the offices of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

New York Times boss defends firing of Jill Abramson, claims gender played no role

Seeking to quell growing outrage, the New York Times honcho responsible for firing executive editor Jill Abramson insisted Saturday that gender played no role in his decision.

Ex-maid: Sex-abuse accuser played dress-up with Jacko

HORNDOG HIGH SOUTH? Georgia teacher accused of sexting student one week after colleague was busted for child molestation

Debra Tanksley, 37 (left), who won the "Teacher of the Year" in 2012, has been charged with crimes involving sexting with a student and raising the alleged victim’s grade.

MERS IN AMERICA: Third case of disease confirmed in Illinois resident

An Illinois resident tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome after having contact with a patient in Indiana who carried the first confirmed case of the virus from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., reports say.

Lupica: Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka is now Mr. Big

The biggest sports star in town right now is a young Japanese pitcher who has worked in two countries over the past two seasons and hasn’t lost a regular-season game in either one of them.

'He has never been alone like this': 14-year-old autistic boy is missing after he didn't come home from New York school

Eliceo Cortez, of Brooklyn, was last getting on a city bus on Oriental Blvd. near West End Ave. in Manhattan Beach about 2 p.m. Friday, his normal routine after getting out of school.

Blogger sneaks into nursing home of senator's wife: cops

A Mississippi political blogger sneaked into the nursing home of a U.S. Senator's wife and took photos of the bedridden woman so he could post them on his website, police said.

Woman threatens to shoot up Burger King over stale cinnamon roll: cops

This Burger King customer really wanted to have it her way. A woman at South Carolina Burger King threatened to shoot everyone in the restaurant after she was served a stale cinnamon roll, police said.

Suspected Boko Haram rebels attack Cameroon plant near school where girls were kidnapped, official says

Suspected rebels from Nigeria's Islamist militant group Boko Haram attacked a Chinese plant in northern Cameroon near the town of Waza, a local governor told Reuters on Saturday.

Upstate New York high school student whose arm was severed by pasta machine in freak accident gets limb reattached

Brett Bouchard, whose arm was cut off just weeks ago while he cleaned a pasta machine, is now able to move it after multiple surgeries to reattach the mangled extremity.

Heartless drug smuggler lets ‘mule’ die from drugs — then cuts stash from lifeless body

A drug mule who carried cocaine in his stomach from Colombia to Spain was allowed to die by a heartless smuggler who then cut out the package from his body.

'WE WILL NEVER STOP': Adoptive parents vow to get custody of girl who begged to stay in their care after judge rules kid must live with ex-con dad

The little girl taken away from her adoptive parents when her biological father was released from prison and demanded her back will stay with her dad, a judge ruled.

Port Authority executive Pat Foye testifies before federal panel in Bridgegate investigation

The top Port Authority executive who ended the George Washington Bridge lane closings testified before a Jersey grand jury probing the punitive shutdowns.

'If I have one drink... I will die': Sum 41 frontman's agony

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.

Army soldier who took part in Jessica Lynch rescue dies after Afghan attack

An Army soldier who participated in the 2003 military rescue of Jessica Lynch died this week in a Texas hospital after being shot earlier this month in an Afghan attack in Herat Province.

Subtle racism can be more harmful than the occasional outburst, Attorney General Eric Holder says

Attorney General Eric Holder says subtle, institutionalized racism has a more “pernicious” effect than the occasional bigoted outburst.

Abortion guilt in the 'Heart' of Toni Braxton

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.

Rob Ford seen in Ontario; lawyers insist he's in rehab

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was spotted in a small Ontario town Friday despite his lawyer insisting that the embattled leader of Canada's biggest city is still in rehab.

Grandmother crashes car into house: one dead, two injured

One person was killed and two others badly injured after a SUV driven by a 68-year-old grandmother crashed through a house in Lake Sammamish, Washington.

Defense minister of Laos killed in plane crash that claimed lives of at least four others

A plane carrying senior Lao government officials crashed Saturday in a forested area of the Southeast Asian country, killing the defense minister and at least four other people, officials said.

Pet treats kill 1,000 dogs, sicken three people: report

Chewy pet treats have killed more than 1,000 dogs and sickened at least three people — but officials have no idea why.

French male students don dresses in ‘Lift the Skirt’ anti-sexism protest

The "Lift the Skirt" protest, in Nantes, north-west France, even received the backing of the local education authority.

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.

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.

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. .

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.

Sherri's first husband files for custody of their son

Firing squad more humane execution than lethal injection, lawmaker says

In the wake of a botched lethal injection in Oklahoma last month, a Utah lawmaker says he believes a firing squad is a more humane form of execution.

Brooklyn teen shot in eye speaks out against gun violence at hospital meeting

Brooklyn choirboy Gama Droiville, 13, showed up at Kings County Hospital’s community advisory board on Saturday and thanked the staff who treated him.

Bronx gym named for young Newtown victim Daniel Barden at mother's elementary school

When children gather together to play in the gymnasium of Our Lady of Refuge in the Bronx, they will be reminded of a little boy who loved life and reached out to his peers.

Obama to visit Baseball Hall of Fame to stress how tourism leads to jobs

President Obama says he’s heading to the Baseball Hall of Fame to stress how tourism can lead to good-paying jobs. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he will be in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Thursday.

Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy look back and ahead on 'X-Men'

Obama reportedly wants San Antonio Mayor to be next HUD secretary

In a cabinet reshuffling, President Obama will reportedly tap San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro (pictured) to take over as next secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

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.

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.

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.

Lea Michele opens up about Naya Rivera feud rumors

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.

Americans owe $1.2 trillion in student loans, surpassing credit card and auto loan debt totals

Aware of growing public concern over the issue, Senate Democrats are making student loans one of their top election year planks and will vote on legislation to allow refinancing at lower rates.

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."

Paris Hilton deejays while stars shine at Cannes

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.

Prisoner found after slipping out of handcuffs at New York hospital: cops

George Jordan, 36, was arrested for shoplifting but escaped from St. John's Episcopal Hospital around 11 p.m. Friday, police said.

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.

Kim K. shows off her curves in spandex workout gear

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

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

Man crawls under America Ferrera's dress at Cannes

Miss Beazley, adorable 'Second Dog' under President George W. Bush, passes away

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

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

Saints sign paralyzed ex-Tulane safety Walker to contract

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — As Sean Payton spoke to a crowd of reporters after a rookie camp practice Saturday, he looked to his left and motioned for someone to join him.

Thunder's Brooks: Knick target Fisher 'will make a great head coach'

Scott Brooks is hoping Phil Jackson reaches out to Derek Fisher but not for at least another four weeks. Oklahoma City opens the Western Conference finals on Monday in San Antonio, and Fisher cannot meet with the Knicks until OKC’s season ends, which may not be until mid-June if the Thunder reaches the NBA Finals.