MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

EXCLUSIVE Girl reunites with mother after harrowing journey from Central America, but fear of deportation remains

Sara Acevedo will never forget the day her 14-year-old daughter, Maria, arrived at Newark airport with just the clothes on her back. It had been eight years since they saw each other and Maria had been through a lot to see her mother.

BREAKING NYPD police officer, another man shot in Brooklyn

The NYPD officer was shot on Gates Ave. near Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Suspicious car connected to threat against President Obama is located in near Connecticut apartment complex

A car sought in connection with a suspected threat against President Barack Obama has been located in Connecticut, authorities said on Saturday.

More than 70 UN peacekeepers held by Syria terrotists escape after attack

A group of 40 United Nations peacekeepers from the Philippines escaped Saturday in the Golan Heights after coming under attack by Syrian terrorist — but 44 Fijian troops still remained in terrorists hands.

Man charged in 'hate crime' pellet-gun shooting of Central Park jogger

Cops have charged a 20-year-old black man they claim fired a pellet gun at two white joggers in Central Park — incidents that are being investigated as hate crimes.

Hartman's killer wife wrote chilling note to comedian's ex

EXCLUSIVE Ahead of first full year, Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña is leaving nothing to chance

With less than a week before the first day of class, the schools chancellor revealed an ambitious set of goals to the Daily News that will transform the country’s largest public school system — if she can get them right.

Lupica: Roger Goodell's Ray Rice punishment wasn't his only mistake — just his biggest

Roger Goodell suspended Ray Rice, seen dragging the unconscious woman who is now his wife out of an elevator in Atlantic City last February, for two games. A punishment, he admitted, was too light.

PRETTY IN PINK: Colorful rifle gets Washington gang leader federal time

It's bright pink and packs only one shot, but it was powerful enough to send a reputed Wash. gang leader with a long rap sheet to federal prison, authorities say.

Hamill: Another summer of baseball, another reminder of time gone by

It takes a milestone, like Labor Day Weekend, and another birthday to make you realize how much of the growing happened behind your back.

Hilaria turns Ice Bucket Challenge on its headstand

Teenager left brain dead after gunmen open fire in liquor store

Two masked gunmen opened fire in a Brooklyn liquor store, leaving a 19-year-old man brain dead Saturday morning and a woman wounded, police said.

Washington state mom to serve jail time after son wounded classmate with gun

The mother of a Washington state boy who brought a gun to school that went off in his backpack and critically wounded a classmate will spend more than a year behind bars.

Fake California cop busted in rape of exotic dancer, police say

He’s no cop — he’s a pervert. A sex offender, posing as an undercover officer, raped an exotic dancer before leading the real police on a wild chase through Southern California, authorities said.

European Union threatens Russia with stricter sanctions as Ukraine president accuses Putin of sending in more tanks

The European Union slapped back at Moscow Saturday, threatening to impose stricter sanctions as Ukrainian officials accused Russia of sending in more tanks to flatten a small border town.

Mark to miss brother Donnie’s wedding to Jenny McCarthy

Austin Beerworks 99-packs of beer sell out in one day

Ninety-nine beers on the wall didn’t last long in Texas. Austin Beerworks sold all 20 of its 99-packs on the first day of the super-sized stunt.

Fighter jets scrambled as small plane flies through restricted airspace above Washington D.C. before crashing into Atlantic Ocean

The Cirrus SR22 aircraft crashed about 50 miles off the coast of Virginia after its unresponsive pilot flew through an restricted area of Washington D.C. before being intercepted by two fighter jets.

Oregon police reveal how they detect drivers high on marijuana — including the 'typical Beavis and Butthead laugh'

Officers that go through the nationwide Drug Recognition Expert program become experts in catching drivers during and after traffic stops that have been using drugs such as marijuana, according to a report.

Seattle car thief steals SUV with 10-month-old baby girl still inside: cops

A Seattle man swiped an SUV with a baby on board, speeding away as the little girl’s father returned seconds too late.

New York

Man high on PCP who died in police custody at fault: cop union

The head of the city’s largest police union said the 45-year-old man who was high on PCP when he died in cop custody was responsible for his own death.

Parents weep for Queens toddler who inexplicably died after he picked her up from day care

The parents of a 14-month-old Queens girl who mysteriously died after her father picked her up from day care cried all night after their child passed away.

BIG MONEY TRAFFIC PROBLEM: Gov. Christie's Bridgegate legal team costs state more than $7M

The law firm hired to defend Gov. Chris Christie's administration in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal has charged the state another $780,000 for work this summer.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Relatives of Brooklyn family killed in L.I. crash need money to bury victims

The devastated relatives of the Brooklyn family of five killed in a Long Island crash can’t afford to bury their loved ones.

Russian tourist busted climbing Brooklyn Bridge should clean it: judge

Next time the Russian tourist who scaled the Brooklyn Bridge makes it back on a city crossing, it could be with a broom and a dust pan.

WHO WILL HELP TUCKER? 'Saddest' cat needs new home

Stolen watches recovered from inside women’s vaginas in probe of Las Vegas hotel robbery scheme: cops

The two timepieces, valued at $12,000 and $4,000, went missing last week after police say their three female bandits flirted their way inside their victims' room at the Encore hotel-casino, Fox5 reported.

Gaza will take 20 years to rebuild after war between Israel and Hamas ravaged the area, says organization

It will take Gaza 20 years to rebuild after the war between Hamas and Israel ripped through the area, destroying its already ravaged housing stock, according to an international organization.

Drunken Ohio man drives golf cart off road, killing passenger: cops

Craig Franks was charged with operating a vehicle, speeding and failure to remain control, and he could face additional crimes a blood alcohol test.

BAD DOG: New Jersey dog turns on stove, sets fire to laptop resting on burner

A laptop sitting on topstove's burner caught fire after the curious pup turned on the cooktop. No one was inside the home when the blaze broke out, and firefighters rescued the dog to safety.

Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez enjoy horseback ride

Oregon girl dies after sand hole on beach collapses, burying her

The unidentified 9-year-old was playing in a large hole in a Lincoln City beach while on vacation with her family. She died when the pit's walls collapsed, burying her.

Bondy: U.S. Open is lonely for Serena Williams, who again is last remaining American woman in field

This is what has become of American tennis in the 2010s, and what it has been for far too long: Serena Williams, alone out there, leaving behind a bunch of one-week wonders.

Islamic State militants behead kidnapped Lebanese soldier

Islamic State militants beheaded a Lebanese soldier who was one of 19 captured by hardline Syrian Islamists when they seized a Lebanese border town for few days this month, a video posted on social media showed on Saturday.

New York man who killed son now charged with murdering wife — 17 years earlier

Karl Karlsen is serving at least 15 years in a New York prison for pleading guilty to second-degree murder in his son's 2008 death.

Sports

Yanks offense held to just one hit in 2-0 loss to Blue Jays

Even for a Yankees offense that has struggled all season, this was a new low. Drew Hutchison and Aaron Sanchez combined on a one-hit shutout, leading the Blue Jays to a 2-0 win over the Yankees in front of a sellout crowd at Rogers Centre.

End Zone: Final whistle for Dick Bavetta, the NBA's Iron Man of officials

Before he started his long and remarkable journey as an NBA referee — and before he embarked on the streak that would cause an average 9-to-5er to blush in embarrassment — Dick Bavetta spent nine years getting rejected.

Bondy: Another lonely U.S. Open for Serena, as countrymen are out

This is what has become of American tennis in the 2010s, and what it has been for far too long: Serena Williams, alone out there, leaving behind a bunch of one-week wonders.

8 Seconds From Glory: New book examines legacy of early ’90s Bills

They still had enough time. That’s what Jim Kelly was thinking with a shade over two minutes remaining in Super Bowl XXV as he led the Bills back on the field one final time.

Ex-Disney star smolders in sexy shoot for Flaunt magazine

Usher caught checking out Kim Kardashian’s derriere at VMAs

Girl, 9, shoots gun instructor dead with Uzi: police

An Arizona gun range instructor was accidentally shot dead by a 9-year-old girl he was showing how to fire an automatic Uzi, police said.

'Chelsea Lately' finale bares it all with skits, celebs

Chelsea Handler came into late-night television naked and she left it naked.

Texas dad found 'not guilty' of slaying drunk driver who killed his sons

A grieving dad has escaped a possible life sentence after a Texas jury acquitted him of charges that he shot the drunk driver who killed his young sons.

Air passengers' fight over reclining seat forces unscheduled landing

Airline passengers have come to expect a tiny escape from the confined space of today’s packed planes: the ability to recline their seat a few inches.

Stephen Baldwin's daughter hanging with Jenners

Female researcher dons fake mustache to study ravens

Ravens are no match for a fake mustache. Stacia Backensto, an Alaska biologist and master of disguise, dressed herself as one of the men working in the northern oilfields to spy on the scientist-shy birds.

A FACE ONLY A MOB MOTHER COULD LOVE: Tattooed grandson of ex-mobster allegedly shot man in Queens

This mafioso's gone from fedoras to facial tattoos. The inked-up grandson of a former Gambino family associate is wanted following a near-fatal shooting in Queens.

LITTLE KILLERS: Militant group ISIS training CHILDREN to behead its enemies and carry out terrorist attacks

The Islamic terror group ISIS is now focusing its recruiting efforts on children, posting videos of little boys firing weapons almost as big as they are.

Baby survives 29 bone fractures in horrendous case of abuse, Connecticut sailor, 24, charged

A Connecticut-based Navy sailor left his 2-month-old son with 29 bone fractures, abuse so horrifying that one pediatrician told investigators she was amazed the baby was alive, prosecutors say.

Amber Rose twerks in honor of Wiz Khalifa's No. 1 hit

BON APPETIT! Slice from Princess Diana's wedding cake sold

A private collector has bought online a slice of Princess Diana's and Prince Charles 33-year-old wedding cake.

Ebola kills 5 researchers before study on outbreak is published

All five of the deceased co-authors worked at a Sierra Leone hospital. The study, led by a team at Harvard University, found that Ebola has mutated over the course of the outbreak.

California man guilty of murder after his pit bulls bit a woman 200 TIMES before she died of blood loss

A jury on Friday found a man guilty of murder after his pit bulls mauled a woman to death in a high desert town in California where residents said they carried weapons for protection against packs of dogs.