MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

CALIFORNIA REBELS: Meet the wild-eyed pistol-wavers who want to split from the Golden State and become Jefferson — America’s 51st state

The battle to create a 51st state called Jefferson is being revived by a group of outraged Californians who say they’re sick of being treated as second-class citizens in Sacramento and playing second-fiddle to their big-city brethren.

SEE IT O.J. Simpson's infamous white Bronco has been rediscovered, and it's in perfect condition

A mystery surrounding O.J. Simpson’s murder trial that has spanned over two decades could finally be solved on Tuesday. Simpson’s infamous white Ford Bronco has been discovered.

MONSTER COUPLE: ISIS leader's widow charged in death of American hostage Kayla Jean Mueller

The widow of a senior ISIS leader was charged Monday for her alleged role in the death of Kayla Jean Mueller, an American hostage who was captured in Syria and sexually abused for months, authorities said.

'HE THINKS IT'S FUNNY': Florida man accused of throwing alligator into Wendy's drive-thru

Joshua James, 23, is accused of assault with a deadly weapon after throwing the cold-blooded creature into a Royal Palm Beach Wendy’s.

Tom Hardy bares it all on set of latest TV mini-series 'Taboo'

'THAT'S WHY I SHOOT COPS': Union Square subway fare jumper launches into anti-cop tirade during arrest

NYPD officer Anthony Gambino spotted the suspect, Brandon Cook, 31, at about 11 p.m., outside the turnstiles at Union Square East and E. 14th. St., cops said.

PICTURED Cops hunting creep who raped, robbed 56-year-old woman in Bronx housing complex

Cops are asking the public’s help finding a creep accused of stalking and raping a 56-year-old woman in a Bronx housing complex.

Germany train crash leaves at least 4 dead, about 40 seriously injured

Two trains crashed head-on in southern Germany early Tuesday, leaving at least two people dead and around 100 injured, police said.

Ben Stiller shares rejected Super Bowl ad for female viagra

Johns Hopkins doctors approved for country's first HIV+ to HIV+ organ transplants

Surgeons at the Maryland institution's hospital will conduct the country’s first kidney transplant and the world’s first liver transplant between individuals with HIV when they find an acceptable donor and recipient.

GREENMAN Nominating Donald Trump would throw away Republicans’ dignity

If the polls are correct, Republican voters are about to cast their ballots in large numbers for a man who called his chief rival a 'p---y.'

Two killed and four wounded as gunfire erupts after Mississippi Mardi Gras parade

Gunfire erupted after a Mardi Gras parade, killing two people as Mississippi cops were directing traffic away from the celebration.

Casey Anthony opens West Palm Beach photography business in property of former defense investigator

The Florida woman acquitted in her daughter’s murder has opened a photography business, records revealed Monday.

SINGLE AGAIN! Khloe dumped James Harden weeks ago

Spouses cheating system to get permanent green cards can be stopped

My wife left me after getting her temporary green card and I think she forged my signature to get her permanent card, how can I stop her?

Arkansas man accused of stealing TV arrested in sewer without shoes

Johnny Tew was arrested by police in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday after allegedly swiping a television from a rent to own store.

Candidates with closest ties to New York have big leads in polls

The two candidates with the strongest ties to New York are far ahead of the field in the Empire State with more than two months to go before the state’s presidential primary.

OFFENSIVE? IT'S HIS WAY OF LIFE: Ted Nugent's recent history of insulting remarks

Ted Nugent ranted last month that President Obama and Hillary Clinton “should be tried for treason and hung” while discussing the film “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”

Oscars nominees luncheon steers clear of controversy

Pa. police chief’s daughter gets jail for bashing gay couple

The judge questioned how then-hospital worker Kathryn Knott walked away from the victims as one lay badly injured in September 2014.

Mich. Gov. Rick Snyder surprised wife with fancy cake while Flint suffered with water crisis

The decadent cake cooked up by an Ann Arbor bakery served dozens of guests at the West End Grill during the private party celebrating Sue Snyder’s birthday.

I-95 in Connecticut snarled after bus crash in snowy weather leaves at least 30 people hurt

At least 6 people are hospitalized in critical condition after a bus spilled over in snowy conditions along Interstate 95 in Connecticut.

Hillary Clinton pleads to N.H. voters for support in primary

Hillary Clinton, facing a near-certain loss to Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, implored voters to choose her.

Parents of lead-poisoned Flint child among several lawsuits filed in water crisis

The lawsuits accuse Gov. Rick Snyder and others of violating civil rights, wrecking property values and enriching themselves,

This is why Cam Newton walked out of his Super Bowl press conference

Mich. man convicted of killing girl, 14, in attempted rape as she walked dog on walking trail

A jury has found a man guilty of killing a 14-year-old girl along a popular suburban Detroit nature trail.

Johnny Manziel hit his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley so hard her left eardrum ruptured, lawyer says

Johnny Manziel hit his ex-GF Colleen Crowley so hard that her left eardrum ruptured and she still cannot hear out of it, her attorney said.

White subway rider assaulted by black man at Brooklyn station: ‘Cracka, you don’t belong here’

A 44-year-old white straphanger was beaten at a Brooklyn subway station by a black man who told him, “Cracka, you don’t belong here.”

Okla. creep steals panties from sorority house and puts them on

An Oklahoma man sneaked into a sorority house and put on a pair of panties before he was caught early Sunday, police said.

EXCLUSIVE Queens woman sliced in leg describes how slasher attacked her in broad daylight

The shaken Queens woman who was randomly slashed while jogging Sunday says she can’t put weight on her injury without it bleeding.

Autos

Tag-Team Test Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Chevy’s new Camaro is all new and better than ever. We wrung out Chevy’s muscle car in the snow to find out for ourselves.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso is your new FF for Geneva 2016

Say goodbye to 'FF' and hello to 'GTC4 Lusso' as Ferrari updates their all-wheel-drive grand touring 'family car' for the 2017 model year.

2016 Honda Pilot Elite review and test drive

Honda’s biggest crossover gets more ‘minivanish’ for 2016, so we put it through the family-friendly test.

Top 5 car commercials from Super Bowl 50

Funny, quirky and edgy; these were the best automotive Super Bowl ads from 2016.

Ferrari Spider sells for $36.2 million at auction

A classic Ferrari Spider has sold for $36.2 million at auction, making it the most expensive car in history.

Ford Shelby owners will get free driving school

If you own a Ford Shelby make sure you cash in on the complimentary performance school.

New York

EXCLUSIVE Queens Library goes after ex-CEO for $200G for excessive personal expenses

The library filed the complaint about Thomas Galante in a countersuit to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses and legal fees it forked over to the ousted executive.

'HE CHASED ME': Ex-cop pulls gun on teen driver in Staten Island road rage incident

“I’m a police officer,” 50-year-old Robert Friscia told the 17-year-old near the parking lot of Colonial Funeral Home on Tysens Ln. and Hylan Blvd. in New Dorp and pointing a gun at him, prosecutors said.

Autistic teen found safe after going missing in Brooklyn neighborhood

Police received a call that the teen was missing from his Bay 32nd St. home in Bath Beach shortly before 9 p.m., an NYPD spokesman said. Cops have not yet released the teen’s name.

De Blasio punts on NYPD abusing nuisance law to remove residents from their homes

Mayor de Blasio commented for the first time on the NYPD’s use of the nuisance abatement law to boot hundreds of people from homes.

Subspotting app reveals best NYC subway stations for Wi-Fi and cell service

Subway riders won’t have to wait for the MTA to finish wiring stations for cell and Wi-Fi service to see where they can connect.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Cops hunt man who said 'have a nice day' to woman he robbed, fondled

Cops are looking for a psycho creep, who robbed, fondled and chased a 26-year-old woman in Yorkville.

Cuomo quashes Assembly Democrat plan to raise taxes on wealthy

Gov. Cuomo threw cold water Monday on an Assembly Democrat plan to raise taxes on the wealthy. "I don't believe there's any reason or appetite to take up taxes this year,” Cuomo said.