MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

GET UP OFFA THAT SEAT! Two rats crash New York theater showing James Brown biopic ‘Get on Up,’ rattled moviegoer says

The rodents sent Franky Arriola, 33, of Murray Hill scurrying from the AMC Loews Kips Bay during a Saturday night screening of the biopic on the Godfather of Soul. “I moved like James Brown when I saw the rodents last night,” he tweeted.

MARRIED TO HER KILLER: Husband confesses to strangling wife at Philadelphia park

The husband of Constance “Connie” Murray confessed to strangling her at a Philadelphia park after failing a polygraph test, police say.

Man shoots friend, kills himself in New Orleans hotel after 3-hour standoff with SWAT team: police

Four friends from the Lafayette area were sharing a 17th-floor room at The Westin hotel when one man woke Sunday morning to find his friend pointing a gun, police said.

DEATH AT THE FARMERS MARKET: Woman killed after pick-up crashes through barricade in New Jersey

One person was killed and several others were injured when a pickup truck drove into a farmers market in northern New Jersey.

Ebola cases surpass 1,800, but virus can be contained: WHO official

A top World Health Organization official said Sunday the number of Ebola cases in Africa has topped 1,800 — but the virus can still be stopped.

UPTOWN GIRLS: Locals compete for Miss Harlem Shake

Fire in Tribeca apartment injures 8, including firefighter

Eight people suffered minor smoke inhalation in a blaze at a residential high-rise in Tribeca on Sunday. Fire marshals are investigating what sparked the blaze in the 39-story tower.

Burger King customer buys 23 apple pies to teach foul-mouthed child — and his mom — a lesson

The man posted on reddit that the young boy was screaming and demanding pie, while the mother was on the phone and ignored her kid's requests.

EXCLUSIVE Suspected American militant and who pledged allegiance to ISIS held without bail after arrest at JFK

A Brooklyn judge ordered a suspected American militant who pledged allegiance to the terrorist leader of ISIS held without bail after he was arrested at Kennedy Airport, the Daily News has learned.

Cops looking for suspects after dog is thrown from car window on Garden State Parkway

New Jersey State Police are looking for those responsible for allegedly throwing “Tara” from a vehicle on the busy road near Exit 116 where she got hit by yet another car.

TV presenter’s bikini selfie sparks health concerns

Obama makes surprise video appearance at Gay Games

President Obama kicked off the international Gay Games in Cleveland with a surprise video message shown at the opening ceremonies.

DEVILED EX: Woman accused of strangling former boyfriend's dog faces felony charge

Selina Boulton, 32, was charged with two misdemeanors — mistreatment of animals and disorderly conduct — in December.

Student who had bike stolen writes polite letter to thief

The letter - addressed to 'Dear Douchebag Thief' - posted at the site where the bike was stolen, politely tells the robber he will not get away with his crime and they should expect a visit from the police.

Girl, 7, who survived savage knife attack in Brooklyn elevator, recovers and ready to head back to school

Two months after surviving a knife-wielding maniac’s attack in a Brooklyn elevator, 7-year-old Mikayla Capers danced and posed for pictures Saturday in her first public appearance since the stabbing.

Who took home a surfboard at the Teen Choice Awards?

WARREN: Obama deals with world crises as he plays golf — but global woes may not be a top priority

On Sunday, President Obama played his 28th round of golf this year at Farm Neck Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard. That makes a six-year presidential total of 185 rounds, which would make most amateurs green with envy.

Read the alarming text messages between Mount Sinai patient with Ebola symptoms and stunned friend

Eric Silverman texts his friend Zak beginning at 8:27 a.m. Wednesday from the isolation room at Mount Sinai Hospital where he was being treated with IV antibiotics — at first Zak thought it was all a joke.

Pope Francis expresses outrage at violence in Iraq

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed outrage at violence aimed at religious minorities in Iraq, where fleeing children have died of thirst, and called on the world 'to stop these crimes.'

Body of Hawaii hiker swept away in tropical storm found by rescuers

Emergency rescuers in Hawaii retrieved late Saturday the lifeless body of the unidentified female hiker from the bottom of a rocky stream after she had gone missing during a gutsy hike.

New York

Orthodox rabbi from NYC killed on his way to temple in Miami

An Orthodox rabbi from New York was fatally shot as he walked to a Miami temple on Saturday in what appeared to be a robbery gone badly, police and Jewish community leaders said.

Locals rally at Brooklyn police station against illegal chokeholds and ‘broken windows’ policing

Nearly 50 protesters marched to a Brooklyn police station Sunday to rail against police brutality — including an illegal chokehold that killed a man in Staten Island and another that was used against a pregnant Brooklyn woman.

Man arrested in fatal stabbing in East Harlem park that police say was over drug territory

Melson Judkins, 20, was charged with murder two days after he allegedly stabbed Timothy Goodwin in Marcus Garvey Park during a fight pitting him and his unidentified drug boss against Goodwin.

Cuomo cheered at annual Dominican Day Parade

Gov. Cuomo — and a “limping devil” — were the stars of this year’s annual Dominican Day Parade.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

EXCLUSIVE City consultant hired for de Blasio ID card plan previously flagged over 'questionable spending'

In April, an obscure quasi-governmental agency called the NYC Technology Development Corp. hired a consultant to map out the implementation of the city’s new municipal ID card.

Man arrested in shooting of girl, 12, at Queens basketball court

Dwight Henderson, 18, allegedly fired into a crowd at a basketball court at Beach 59th St. and Shore Front Parkway in Arverne, Queens, about 4:40 p.m. Saturday.

Man stabs wife to death in broad daylight on Bronx street: cops

A knife-wielding man stabbed his wife again and again on a Bronx street Saturday, killing her in gruesome fashion in broad daylight, police said. The 23-year-old woman was found sprawled on the sidewalk in a pool of blood — unconscious and unresponsive — on Hone Ave. in Westchester Square about 6:14 p.m., cops said.

The Rock's mom, cousin hit by drunk driver, actor says

SCREAM PARK: 24 passengers rescued after being stuck 45 feet in the air on roller coaster at Maryland Six Flags

The roller coaster has stranded about two dozen riders aboard after it suddenly stopped 45-feet off the ground at the Upper Marlboro, Maryland Six Flags on Sunday afternoon.

Gov. Cuomo and state leaders to travel to Israel this week to show ‘solidarity’

Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders will travel to Israel to show support for the country.

New York-bound JetBlue flight from Puerto Rico evacuated after engine fire

All 186 passengers aboard Flight 704 were forced to deplane during the unsettling incident.

Kim and Kanye are no style icons, fashion maven says

VICTIMS' FAMILIES SUE: Civil trial to begin for bank accused of transferring money to Hamas

The plaintiffs suing Arab Bank for facilitating money transfers to charities controlled by Hamas and suicide bombers are 300 victims and family members of 24 terrorist attacks in Israel between March 2001 and September 2004.

Israel and Hamas both accept terms of new 72-hour cease-fire

The two sides accepted a renewed Egyptian cease-fire proposal, allowing the resumption of talks on a long-term truce to end a month of heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip that has cost nearly 2,000 lives.

Man blasts Israeli music, droves car decorated with Iraeli flags past a mosque in Brooklyn, cops said

Chaim Weiss, 20, was allegedly caught on a surveillance camera repeatedly driving past the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge in a car “festooned with four Israeli flags” and blasting music, officials said.

Sports

Myers: Eli is The Mann to bet on in weak NFC East

It’s All About Eli for the Giants. So what else is new? Well, his to-do list has changed significantly in 2014:Bounce back from his worst season and prove he’s not on the downside of his career.

Dee Milliner out a few weeks with ankle sprain, Dex McDougle tears ACL

The Jets’ suspect secondary suffered two blows Sunday, raising even more questions about the weak link of Rex Ryan's defense.

Gola: Rory McIlroy on course to be on par with some legends

Who knows if Rory McIlroy will ever be as dominant as Tiger Woods once was? What we do know is that the Woods era is over. What we do know is that the Woods era is over. While Woods works on his gluts and abs, tries to keep his sacrum in place and hopes that his sequencing will finally click in, the world of golf is McIlroy’s right now. Tiger is simply playing in it, that is whenever he’s healthy enough to play.

PGA Insider: Rickie Fowler not content with just contending

Rickie Fowler finished the majors season as the only player with top 5 finishes in all four. But he didn't want to be satisfied with that. "This is probably the one that hurts the most for me," he said.

Oh la Lima! Adriana shows off on set of Victoria's Secret ad

Lupica: Jets will stick with Geno Smith no matter how well Michael Vick plays

You know why the Jets have to be right about Geno Smith? They have to be right because if they’re not, it means they were wrong about two quarterbacks in a row.

New York in top three to host 2016 Democratic National Convention, but obstacles loom, insiders say

New York has emerged as one of the top three contenders to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention, but Mayor de Blasio's bid faces significant obstacles, party insiders tell the Daily News.

TAKING ON THE TERRORISTS: Kurdish forces retake two towns in northern Iraq

Victories by the radical Sunni militants that adhere to an extremist intolerant interpretation of Islam have sent 10,000s of minorities fleeing their homes in fear in a situation that has grabbed world attention.

Beyoncé wears sexy 'Carter' jersey without pants

Hamill: Hoping for a hit in charity softball game with Mets greats

I wanna get a base hit off Doc Gooden. Or Johnny Franco. That might happen Aug. 19 at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ MCU Park when I play in a celebrity softball game.

New Mexico cops searching for convicted felon suspected of killing ex-girlfriend in 'fit of jealous rage'

Marcos Delgado, a 46-year-old convicted felon, shot and killed Anna Vigil outside an Albuquerque auto shop, after he discovered she had begun dating another man, cops say.

At least 39 dead as Iran regional passenger plane crashes in residential area of Tehran

A small Iranian passenger plane crashed Sunday while taking off from an airport near the capital, Tehran, state media reported. The country's state-run news agency said 40 people were feared killed in the crash.