MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

EXCLUSIVE PERKS OF THE JOB! NYPD cop claims in lawsuit she was ordered to nix ticket for city councilwoman who was caught talking on cellphone while driving

The cop, a 14-year veteran, had pulled over Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson’s vehicle on March 11, 2014, after spotting her talking on the phone, according to the legal papers.

'Active shooter' reports at John F. Kennedy Airport unfounded, may have been due clapping Olympics fans

Authorities evacuated Terminal 8 “to be cautious” around 9:30 p.m., after witnesses said they heard shots.

LOVETT 'SEVERELY FLAWED': New York Conservative Party will endorse Donald Trump, call Hillary an 'endangered candidate'

Besieged with sinking poll numbers and GOP defections, Donald Trump will get some good news when the state Conservative Party endorses him.

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'I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH ANY WHITE FOLKS': Request for non-white roommates sparks uproar at California colleges

"POC only," the Facebook said, using the abbreviation for "people of color."

'WHAT DID SHE EVER DO TO ANYONE?' Gabby Douglas’ mom defends her against online bullies

EXCLUSIVE Homelessness disaster predicted for Obama's desegregation plan aimed at city's low-income tenants, as up to 55,000 could lose their home

The hope is that the program will shift low-income tenants into neighborhoods with lower crime and better schools — but a growing number of city critics say that won’t play in New York City.

EXCLUSIVE NO DICE! New York union and Queens casino oppose plan to bring gambling to northern New Jersey

A major New York union and the operator of a Queens casino are challenging a referendum to allow gambling in northern New Jersey.

Former ‘Criminal Minds’ star Thomas Gibson hires lawyer after firing

Former "Criminal Minds" star Thomas Gibson is enlisting the services of a lawyer in the wake of last week's firing.

SLOW HAND, FAST REEL! Eric Clapton catches giant salmon, breaks local Iceland record

Government reform groups slam Super PAC disclosure bill, claim it will 'chill' activism

Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/New York, said the bill is being described as ethics reform is anything but that.

EXCLUSIVE Albany government reform groups called out for political letter that 'crossed ethical lines'

Reform groups got rebuked for sending a political letter to the government offices of state senators.

Mario Cuomo 1993 probe helped doom David Dinkins reelection bid

In the annals of Empire State political gamesmanship, few events can match the impact of Gov. Mario Cuomo’s so-called “Girgenti Report.”

Cops search for missing boater on Long Island after finding empty vessel

Cops on Long Island are searching for a missing boater after the man's vessel was found damaged Sunday, police said.

FISHING A-ROD! Miami Marlins trying to lure Alex

HILL YES! Clinton crushing Donald Trump 57%-27% in New York State, poll says

Hillary Clinton’s campaign must be in an Empire State of mind.

Queens man dies after attacker stabs, beats him and his mom

A 37-year-old man died and his mother was hospitalized after they were brutally beaten and stabbed in their Queens home.

De Blasio faces challenge from past on NYPD neighborhood policing

Mayor de Blasio hopes to reengineer the NYPD for neighborhood policing. But he faces a challenge.

Man seriously injured during fire at abandoned Bronx house

A man was critically injured after a fire ripped through a three-story home in the Bronx early Sunday, witnesses and officials said.

A CUT ABOVE: Internet is crushing on this Russian Olympic fencer

Missing L.I. man may have been shot, abducted in car trunk

Nassau County police are looking for a man who was possibly shot, abducted and placed in the trunk of an unknown car.

Clinton leading Trump in key swing states of N.H., Fla.

Call it the convention-bounce bounce.

Motorcyclist dies in Queensboro Bridge collision

A 26-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision at the upper level entrance of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge launched him off his bike.

Crown Heights leaders who helped heal racial tensions reunite

Through basketball and music, community leaders who "really didn't know anything about each other" bonded.

Ariel Winter dons short shorts for a pool party

Paterson: Clinton ‘victory lap’ after email snafu was bad idea

Paterson said she shouldn't have taken "a victory lap" after the FBI and Justice Dept. declined charges over using a private email server.

Trump: I'd be up by 20% on Hillary if not for 'disgusting' media

Donald Trump isn’t even in the Oval Office, but he’s already declared war — on the media.

Part of German Autobahn shut down as WWII bombs dug up

Specialists unearthed a British bomb in one location, an American aerial mine in another.

Relatives of 2 killed in Crown Heights riots to meet

Twenty-five years after the Crown Heights riots broke their families apart, Carmel Cato and Norman Rosenbaum will meet again.

Autos

A grand opening for Tesla, another Autopilot crash, and more

Plus, trouble for Volkswagen that isn't about emissions, collective bargaining kicks off in Canada, and more in today's Daily Drive-Thru.

REVIEW Short Report: 2017 Audi A4 Sedan

With the redesigned 2017 A4, Audi channels Aristotle in that the whole of this excellent luxury sedan is greater than the sum of its parts.

BUYER'S GUIDE How to lease a car in 7 steps

Leasing is a good way to drive a better car than you might otherwise be able to afford. But it’s not all sunshine, puppies, and chocolate.

REVIEW NEW PATH NEEDED: 2017 Nissan Pathfinder First Drive

Strong competition in the family-sized, crossover SUV segment leaves the mostly unchanged 2017 Nissan Pathfinder in need of a fresh start.

GALLERY First Pictures! 2017 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan's 2017 Pathfinder received a refresh in all facets including interior, exterior, technology, and safety. This midsize crossover SUV is sure to compete in an already competitive segment.

GALLERY First Pictures! 2017 Audi A3 spruces up a favorite

The 2017 Audi A3 lineup gets refreshed on all fronts, including design, technology, and driving dynamics.

New York

EXCLUSIVE Brooklyn lawmaker pushes anti-patronage bill to help public get government jobs

City jobs would have to be publicly posted for two weeks before someone is hired under a bill designed to cut down on patronage.

NYPD, FDNY caught in the middle during 1991 Crown Heights riots

A Crown Heights firefighter finds himself surrounded by an unruly mob, while cops furiously "hold the line."

Firefighters save man, 70, in Washington Heights fire

Firefighters performed lifesaving CPR on a critically injured 70-year-old.

Shootings in Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan kill 2, injure 3

Two men were killed and three more people were wounded in a rash of shootings across Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx early Sunday.

SUV driver fatally strikes man in Queens

A 50-year-old man was fatally struck by an SUV in Queens Sunday morning, police said.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Harlem teens take on NYPD cops in ‘Peaceful Rivalry’ basketball

A group of high school kids from around the city took on NYPD officers in a basketball game at Harlem’s Rucker Park on Sunday.

Adirondacks may get more trails for hiking, biking, skiing

State officials are proposing numerous new hiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails in the southern Adirondacks.

Man shot by police on Long Island after he stabbed officer's face

A suburban New York police officer has been stabbed in the face and the suspect has been shot and critically wounded by another officer.

Rev. Al Sharpton: Crown Heights, like Ferguson, Mo., brought underlying issues of race and treatment to the forefront

It’s been a quarter of a century since Crown Heights — time we implement the tough lessons learned.

Daily News Video

podcast Terry Gilliam brought his unique, often bizarre vision to 1995's '12 Monkeys'

The wonky time travel tale from director Terry Gilliam offers a clever plot and unique characters.

podcast 1974's 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3' is the classic New York City thriller that stills holds up

There are a handful of movies that are quintessential New York City, and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" is one of them.

Sports

McCARRON Yankees have to accept present with an eye toward future

Aaron Judge hit another home run Sunday and Gary Sanchez crushed a baseball, too, but the Yankees’ 12-3 loss to the Rays stood out mostly because of the ice-cold reminder it served up, despite the 95-degree heat: A youth movement isn’t all historic debuts.

So, what's up with Geno Smith's subtweets? Jets backup QB upset

Geno Smith seems angry about something — and he’s unleashing on Twitter. “If they don’t have a story these days, they’ll make one,” Smith tweeted Sunday after practice. Smith didn’t speak to reporters about what was bothering him, but the tweet came during media availability.