MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: Taco stand owner claims ex-business partner stole and profited off his idea for Pinterest

A Manhattan judge has given the green light to Ted Schroeder's (left) lawsuit claiming former business partner Brian Cohen stole his ideas for a bulletin-board-like social network.

Bloods allegedly threaten to gun down Jersey City cops assigned to Pulaski Skyway in wake of Officer Melvin Santiago's shooting

Jersey City police continue to make plans to ward off possible violence from Blood gangmembers, even as a city official Wednesday said the alleged threats were “ridiculous.”

Chicago man allegedly slapped and spit on African-American judge he called ‘Rosa Parks’

David C. Nicosia, 55, allegedly twice attacked Judge Arnette Hubbard because she was smoking near him while outside the Daley Center Monday, according to a report.

DEADLY EMBRACE: Toddler killed by bear hug from family friend who was supposed to be babysitting the child, sheriff says

Robert Christian Kemp, 26, was allegedly babysitting the 14-month-old boy at the child's home when the child was found not breathing. Investigators believe Kemp squeezed the child to death.

'Walking Dead' actress who sent ricin-laced letters to Obama, Bloomberg gets to 18 years in prison

Shannon Guess Richardson pleaded guilty to the crimes in December. The sentence is the maximum under her plea deal. ‘I never intended for anybody to be hurt,' she told the court.

Kate sizzles in bikini south of the border

Gunmen attack Afghanistan’s Kabul International Airport, seize buildings

Gunmen used rockets to attack the Kabul International Airport in the Afghanistan capital Thursday, a senior military official said.

Evidence shows Aaron Hernandez's finacé lied to grand jury, district attorney says

Prosecutors have listed more than a dozen instances in which it says there's evidence contradicting Shayanna Jenkins’ testimony to the grand jury investigating the 2013 shooting death of Odin Lloyd.

N.J. cop gunned down by maniac awarded medal of honor

The rookie cop gunned down in a Jersey City ambush will go to his grave a decorated hero.

EXCLUSIVE Jazz legend Herbie Hancock supports convicted marijuana smuggler in letter to judge

Jazz great Herbie Hancock has gone to bat for a convicted marijuana smuggler who spent more than a decade on the lam in Argentina before he was returned to New York City to face the music.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Beyoncé is hot — but we aren't paying $30K to look like her

EXCLUSIVE Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito paid $28G to firm who lobbied at her on clients' behalf

The campaign committee of City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito paid a high-powered lobbying firm $28,000 for consulting services while the business was lobbying her office on behalf of clients, newly released records show.

House approves $11B bill to continue funding highway projects through next May

Senate Democrats agreed to votes that will result in passage of a nearly $11 billion House bill extending the life of the Highway Trust Fund through next May.

Hawaiian man threatened to 'set off a bomb,' kill flight attendants and open aircraft door on British Airways plane: authorities

A Hawaiian man erupted in violent hysterics on a recent flight from London and now is facing serious jail time for claiming he had a bomb and planned to open an aircraft door, federal agents said Wednesday.

Bonanno members can't review evidence from jail: lawyers

Defendants in a Bonanno family racketeering case can’t review mountains of electronic evidence that will be used against them at trial because the city jails aren’t set up for basic computer access, their lawyers said in court Wednesday.

HARD TIME: Double murder suspect behind bars complains about poor jail food, small towels and cold temps

The spoiled son of a suburban Chicago cop has filed a complaint about jail conditions as he awaits trial in a 2013 double murder, a crime that police called “brutal, heinous and upsetting.”

White supremacist gets life for Oregon killing spree, apologizes for making 'movement' look bad

"My actions have further damaged the reputation of a movement misunderstood," Holly Ann Grigsby, 27, said in court Tuesday, when she was sentenced to life in prison. "I deeply regret this."

RED, WHITE & NEW: Next Captain America will be African-American

Bernard Madoff's sons knew about his Ponzi scheme: lawsuit

Bernard Madoff’s two sons knew about his massive Ponzi scheme and used millions diverted from his firm to buy pricey Manhattan real estate, the trustee trying to recover money for Madoff’s victims says in an amended lawsuit.

Video shows Princeton professor allegedly stealing signs

Surveillance video released by spurned computer business owner Ted Horodynsky appears to show John Mulvey, 67, stealing the signs - valued at $471 - on at least five occasions.

Marine legend nicknamed ‘Lion of Fallujah’ died on secret CIA mission: report

A legendary Marine nicknamed "The Lion of Fallujah" for his bravery in Iraq was secretly working for the CIA when he was killed in Baghdad, according to a report.

VIDEO Full-size helicopter, drone nearly collide in South Florida skies

An unmanned drone flying above South Florida streets nearly slammed into a helicopter in May, a collision that could have crashed the chopper as it filmed an event.

SEE IT Fireworks explosion narrowly misses motorbiker in Thailand’s Ang Thong province

A Thai motorcyclist cruising by a shop in the Ang Thong province narrowly missed being blasted by a pile of fireworks that exploded near a shop.

KILL AND BEAR IT: Alaska grizzly shot dead by homeowner after twice attacking house

A sleepy Alaskan man had to twice battle an angry bear that attacked his house. On the second go-round, Jim Landess fired nine rounds from his .45-caliber handgun, killing the rampaging animal.

New York

Gov. Cuomo to create new Women's Equality Party ballot line, sources say

Gov. Cuomo is creating a new ballot ballot line focused on women’s issues, sources said Wednesday. The new Women’s Equality Party will be announced Thursday in the city at an event featuring Cuomo’s Lt. Gov. candidate Kathleen Hochul, former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Judith Hope and an array of women leaders, one source said.

PICTURED Sicko rapes Washington Heights woman after forcing his way into apartment: cops

Cops are hunting a hulking, 6-foot-9 sicko who raped a young Washington Heights’ woman after forcing himself into the 20-year-old’s apartment, authorities said.

FBI informant admits he took sunny vacation after getting Malcolm Smith busted

Moses (Mark) Stern, testifying in former City Councilman Daniel Halloran’s corruption trial, said he and his family went on a $5,000 trip to a private island in the Florida Keys to avoid news reporters and because he was afraid for his safety after the arrests.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

De Blasio calls for redesign of downtown Brooklyn, including parks and 21-acre greenway

The proposed makeover, announced Wednesday, includes a 21-acre greenway dubbed the “Brooklyn Strand,” knitting together existing plazas and green spaces so they will stretch uninterrupted from Borough Hall to the waterfront.

Man deported back to Tunisia after ducking terrorist charges in New York federal court

A Tunisian man accused of plotting terrorist attacks against the U.S. dodged further jail time Wednesday but was deported to his native land after copping to a nonterrorism offense.

Selena gets new ink: Can you guess what it means?

From 'priority seating area' to 'presidential glass teleprompter:' Hillary Clinton's demands for $275K speaking gig at SUNY Buffalo

Before agreeing to a $275,000 speech at SUNY Buffalo, Clinton’s agents demanded that she would be the only person on stage during her remarks.

Guatemalan immigrant caught at border, released, murdered girlfriend in Louisiana: cops

An undocumented Guatemalan immigrant captured, then released, by Border Patrol agents in Texas traveled on to Metairie, Louisiana and murdered his girlfriend before fleeing to suburban Houston with his two children, authorities say.

Wisconsin kids ages 9 and 4 busted AGAIN for joyriding: police

Police are seeking neglect charges against two Milwaukee-area moms, whose sons have been busted twice for stealing cars and taking them for neighborhood spins, police said. Nobody was hurt in either joyride.

ATTACK AT THE OPEN? Jihad mag urges terrorists to strike at annual tennis match: NYPD official

Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD’s director of intelligence analysis, said the department is aware of the article but said no actual threat has been reported.

South Carolina man kidnapped by Mexican drug cartel over $200G marijuana payment, feds say

Three cartel thugs have been charged with kidnapping a South Carolina man and holding him for ransom for nearly a week over an unpaid $200,000 marijuana bill.

President Obama discloses new financial sanctions against Russia

President Obama upped the ante in the Ukraine crisis late Wednesday, disclosing new financial sanctions against four major Russian banks and energy firms and four top Putin chums.

FIRST LOOK: Yaya DaCosta stuns as Whitney Houston

Chris Christie to declare presidential intentions 'end of this year, beginning of next' after ripping Obama

Gov. Chris Christie, after declining to discuss his own White House plans, unloaded Wednesday on the current occupant.

President Obama disclosing new financial sanctions against Russia

President Obama upped the ante in the Ukraine crisis late Wednesday, disclosing new financial sanctions against four major Russian banks and energy firms and four top Putin chums.

Justice Department investigating circumstances behind missing IRS emails

The Justice Department said Wednesday that it was investigating the circumstances behind the disappearance of emails from a former senior Internal Revenue Service official, part of a broader criminal inquiry into whether the agency had targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.