MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: NYCHA quietly pushing homeless families past domestic violence victims on long waiting list for public housing

The Housing Authority green lit a plan to jump homeless families ahead of domestic violence victims awaiting public housing. Shola Olatoye (top left), the Housing Authority's chairwoman, is under fire from Councilman Ritchie Torres, who says NYCHA is not doing enough to address the high-number of homeless families.

Five people — including former security guard — busted in Caesars Atlantic City heist of $181G

Five people have been busted and charged in connection with the hold up of an Atlantic City casino at gunpoint as part of a $180,000 heist, authorities said Wednesday.

NYC correction officer dead, instructor critically injured in Long Island skydiving accident: police

The injured person, reportedly an instructor, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital after the 4 p.m. accident above Calverton at Skydive Long Island.

Israeli tank opens fire on school sheltering Gaza refugees, kills 20

A thunderous predawn barrage of tank fire Wednesday ripped through a United Nations school in a Gaza refugee camp, killing at least 20 civilians who believed they were in a safe zone.

Charles Barkley offers to pay for funeral of Philadelphia carjacking victims

Former NBA star and current TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley’s act of kindness has sparked a national outpouring of generosity in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy in Philadelphia.

MTV hot after Bey — without hubby Jay — to kick-start VMA's

EXCLUSIVE City's enforcement of traffic violations is up, but not in all precincts

The city's effort to ramp up enforcement of traffic laws to make it safer for people to run, walk and bike on its streets has led to an increase in ticketing — but not in every neighborhood, a new study found.

SEE IT: Brooklyn cop uses excessive force, striking suspect in HEAD with BATON

A Brooklyn cop crossed the line when he cracked a suspect in the head with a baton, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Los Angeles toddler, 3, dead after becoming trapped in hot car

A 3-year-old boy is dead after climbing into and becoming trapped Wednesday afternoon inside a hot car in the Sylmar section of Los Angeles, police said.

Brother of 'Law & Order' actor Richard Belzer jumps to death from 15th floor of Upper West Side high rise

Leonard Belzer (not pictured), the brother of actor Richard Belzer (inset) and former host of the radio program "The Comedy Hour," jumped to his death from his luxury Manhattan apartment building Wednesday morning, fellow residents and building workers said.

Jessica Alba is 'A Dame to Kill For' in sexy bikini shoot

'Kevin hurt Mommy!' 5-year-old New Jersey girl saw mom's boyfriend murder her: police

Jennifer Bongco's daughter ran to their home in Winslow, N.J., to tell her big sister that she saw someone beat their mom to death, cops said, adding that person was Bongco's boyfriend, who is charged with her murder.

Dad of slain Santa Barbara student would endorse anyone from any party if they supported stronger gun control

Two months after his son was killed by a deranged shooter near the UC Santa Barbara, Richard Martinez is ready to endorse a Republican or even a Tea Party candidate to strengthen gun laws.

House approves Republican plan to file lawsuit against President Obama

Republicans pushed a divided House Wednesday toward a campaign-season lawsuit against President Obama, accusing him of deliberately exceeding the bounds of his constitutional authority.

Bully Bieber slips Bloom an Insta-jab after club scuffle

Family of boys pulled from Brooklyn blaze being probed

The Administration for Children’s Services has launched an investigation into the family of three children who were injured in a Brooklyn fire this week, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Houston police officer leaves blind dog on side of highway to die after arresting pup's owner: family

Guero, a white, 14-year-old Chihuahua who suffered from blinding cataracts, was found dead on the side of Highway 59 several days after a cop allegedly placed it there after arresting the dog's owner.

2 American Peace Corps volunteers exposed to Ebola virus

The two Americans, whose names have not been released, are not showing symptoms of the deadly virus. The Peace Corps is withdrawing its volunteers in three African countries.

New York

De Blasio backs Cuomo through allegations of interfering with Moreland commission

The mayor said Wednesday he’s been too busy to focus on allegations that Gov. Cuomo interfered with his anti-corruption commission - but branded the governor a 'person of high integrity.'

City sidewalks are dangerous for disabled people: lawsuit

A group advocating for the rights of the disabled has filed a class-action civil rights lawsuit against the city over its crumbling sidewalks.

Oops! City correction bosses accidentally move inmate from Rikers Island to Nassau County jail

Bumbling city jail officials accidentally transferred an inmate from Rikers Island to Nassau County Tuesday and then refused to come pick him up until the next morning, The News has learned.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani latest big-time Republican to snub Rob Astorino

Add former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the list of high-profile Republicans to snub GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.

Upper East Side man hurls self from 40th floor of high-rise as horrified witnesses look on

A man plunged 40 floors to his death in front of horrified onlookers in New York after pacing back and forth on the top of an Upper East Side high-rise Wednesday morning, cops said.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Just like Sandra, Ms. Kotb is embracing the big 5-0

Plane takes off from LaGuardia Airport, returns after smoke reported in cockpit: FAA

A plane that took off from LaGuardia Airport returned to the Queens airfield and was evacuated on the tarmac after smoke was seen Wednesday afternoon in the cockpit of the commuter aircraft, the FAA said.

HORRIFYING CAR AX-IDENT: Hatchet flies out of truck, slams into windshield on Massachusetts highway

Now that will wake you up. A car passenger was terrified, but not hurt, when an ax came slamming through the windshield Wednesday and embedded itself in the dashboard on Interstate 95 in northern Massachusetts.

Cell phone users hit for ‘hundreds of millions’ in bogus charges: Senate study

U.S. mobile phone users have likely paid hundreds of millions of dollars in unauthorized charges "crammed" onto their bills, according to a report released by the U.S.

Four lawsuits settled in Taconic Parkway wrong-way crash that killed 8 people in 2009

Settlements were reached in four suits stemming from an infamous wrong-way crash that killed eight people, including four children, a lawyer said Wednesday.

Check out bikini-clad Hilaria Baldwin's latest bend

Fla. woman pleads for dog's return after stolen at gunpoint

The heartbroken family of the 9-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named India is desperately offering a public plea in their Hollywood community to have her safely returned after she was stolen early Tuesday morning.

SHUTDOWN BABY BOOM: 2013 government shutdown yielding healthy crop of 2014 children

Last year’s federal government shutdown turned out to be fun for many couples after all.

Disgraced IRS official at center of scandal called conservatives 'a------s,' 'crazies' in emails

A former IRS official at the center of the agency’s tea party controversy referred to some right-wing Republicans as “crazies” and more in emails released Wednesday.

U.S. economy sizzling so far this summer, Commerce Department reveals

The nation’s gross domestic product grew at a better-than-expected 4% annual rate after contracting at a revised 2.1% pace in the first three months of the year, the Department of Commerce said Wednesday.

Sports

Myers: Sanchez, now with Eagles, is no longer the Butt of jokes

Mark Sanchez was in Brazil for the World Cup trying to make plans to get together with an old friend. Sanchez, who went from being the Jets’ franchise quarterback to the Eagles’ backup faster than you can say “Butt Fumble,” was watching the soccer matches with new teammates Riley Cooper, Jason Kelce and Mychal Kendricks.

S. Bondy: New Yankee Stadium gets kick start with soccer match

Among the many reasons to believe that soccer is a serious undertaking in New York City — along with all the money already being shelled out for David Villa and Frank Lampard — there is the reality that Yankee Stadium is giving up its field to an MLS team.

Mehta: Chris Johnson, Jets believe there's still more to come from RB

Chris Johnson smiles back with that gold grill like you have lost your mind. He believes he can reverse time, find the fountain of youth and pull his soon-to-be 29-year-old body to the mountaintop once again. Age is just a number, after all, and there’s nothing anyone can say to him that will alter his truth: He will be a great running back for the Jets this season.

Yankees bats go silent against Colby Lewis in 3-2 loss to Rangers

For all the talk about the Yankees’ need for a starting pitcher before Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline, it’s the offense that really looks like it could use a boost. After scoring a dozen runs Tuesday night, the Bombers’ bats went silent Wednesday against Colby Lewis and the Rangers, who took a 3-2 decision from the Yankees in the rubber match of the three-game set at Globe Life Park.

Soccer WAG Sylvie Van der Vaart shows off her football skills

Ohio sheriff demands $900,000 from Mexican president for ‘dealing with your criminals’

An Ohio sheriff has sent an open letter to Mexico’s top politicians, demanding $900,000 for “dealing with [their] criminals.”

Mass. teen nabbed for rape at Keith Urban show: cops

Police arrested a teenager at an alcohol-fueled Keith Urban concert in Mansfield, Mass., for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl as others watched and even recorded the assault, reports say.

President Obama: Put faces of women on U.S. currency

President Obama on Wednesday said it is time to begin putting the faces of women on U.S. paper currency.

Second suspect busted in killing of Queens teen shot on bus

Shamel Capers, 16, has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal use and possession of a gun in the 2013 shooting death of D'Aja, police said.

Landslide hits Indian village, trapping nearly 150 people and sweeping away 40 homes

Torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that buried a remote village in western India Wednesday, sweeping away scores of houses and possibly trapping more than 150 people, officials said.

OH MY! Cyrus barely covers-up in naked bedroom selfie

Three arrested during sex romp at public hot tub in Arizona

An Arizona man and two women were arrested on public sex charges after they were busted in the middle of a romp in an apartment complex hot tub, cops said.

Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says decision to leave post was difficult

Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is telling all about the ways he would not tell the press the answers to their questions.

Airport workers rally for better JetBlue wages

Some 50 JetBlue contract workers rallied outside the airline’s Queens headquarters Wednesday — demanding $1-an-hour raises.

Former Alaskan sued by government for filing nearly $1 billion in ‘bogus’ claims against federal workers

The U.S. government has sued a man for filing nearly $1 billion in "false and fraudulent" financial documents against federal workers over disputed Social Security benefits.

Married ex-Catholic Miami priest calls fatherhood an 'incredible experience'

Alberto Cutié was defrocked after paparazzi snapped photos of him cuddling with his bikini-clad girlfriend in May 2009. More than five years later, he’s married to that woman and is a proud dad of two kids.

Stars show off their beach bodies on vacation — PHOTOS

'TORTURE BEYOND BELIEF': Anguished mother mourns N.J. teen killed by single punch — and will donate his organs to save others

Beth Colon is mourning her son Jared, of Hillsborough, who died in a hospital Saturday after receiving the fatal blow. She said she will donate his organs in order to save another parent's child.