MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: Queens library boss, who works 30 hours a week for $114K side job, under suspicion for fishy work records — 'It seems Mr. Galante does not sleep or eat'

Thomas Galante, at the center of an FBI probe tied to construction contracts, repeatedly billed the Elmont School District for work as a business consultant while also collecting a $392,000 salary as library director. read full story »

DEADLY DEBT: Queens barber fatally stabs teen in chest with scissors over unpaid $40 Bluetooth device

Carl Richardson (pictured), a 19-year-old college student who went to a Queens barbershop to collect on a debt Thursday wound up paying with his life instead when the barber stiffed him and plunged a pair of scissors into his chest, cops and the victim’s dad said.

EXCLUSIVE Teen boy charged for raping girl, 17, and having friend record attack with cellphone: cops

A teenage predator pinned down and raped a woozy 17-year-old girl as his pal recorded the horrific attack on his cellphone, authorities said Thursday.

'I am personally mortified': Self magazine editor apologizes for making fun of cancer survivor’s 'lame' tutu

Self editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger was forced to issue an apology after mocking a brain cancer survivor Monika Allen in a recent issue of the magazine.

Navy official identifies civilian who shot sailor at base — a convicted felon

A Navy official familiar with the investigation says the civilian who shot and killed a sailor aboard a guided-missile destroyer is a 35-year-old man who records show is a convicted felon.

Calif. man accused of sexually groping, propositioning girl on Delta flight

Hans Loudermilk, 66, allegedly told the 15-year-old girl flying solo next to him that he could 'teach her things sexually that boys her age could not' while they were flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City Tuesday.

EXCLUSIVE: LiLo breaking all her promises to Oprah

Search for missing Malaysian jet moves 680 miles northeast after data showed plane was traveling faster than was thought

Investigators scouring the Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysian jetliner moved their search 680 miles northeast Friday after refined radar data analysis showed the plane was traveling faster and burning more fuel than previously thought.

Son of Malaysia Airlines pilot comes to his defense amid growing hijacking chatter: 'I know my father better'

The son of the pilot of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight has come to his defense, saying there is no way his father hijacked the plane.

'If you are not afraid of dying then come in and bother me': Minn. dad kills son over refusal to get cable

An elderly Minnesota father fatally shot his son during a dispute over installing cable in the family home, then held a SWAT team at bay during an hours-long standoff, police said.

Lupica: Gov. Chris Christie wants public to believe he innocent in Bridgegate

In something less than one of those shocking March Madness upsets you get in college basketball, lawyers hired by the Chris Christie administration have completely exonerated Chris Christie in Bridgegate.

Body of baby girl pulled from Washington mudslide wreckage as hope for finding survivors dims

The tiny body of a 4-month-old baby girl was pulled from the muck Thursday of the cataclysmic mudslide that destroyed the rural Washington community of Oso.

Lupica: Masiello, now in limbo at Manhattan, latest coach to lie

The NCAA basketball tournament returns to Madison Square Garden on Friday night, a big doubleheader like something out of the Garden's distant past, first UConn against Iowa State and then Michigan State against Virginia.

1 in 68 U.S. kids has autism spectrum disorder: CDC

As many as one in 68 U.S. children may have autism, U.S. health officials said on Thursday, a sharp increase over an estimate of 1 in 88 children just two years ago.

Congress approves bills to aid Ukraine and punish Putin

The Senate approved a bill that would provide $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and give President Obama power to impose more sanctions on Russia and Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. The House has approved a similar bill.

AIR FORCE DONE! Nine nuclear commanders relieved of their duties after massive cheating scandal

Nine mid-level nuclear commanders are now out of the job and face discipline at a nuclear missile base in response to an exam-cheating scandal that spanned a far longer period than originally reported.

Raissman: Derek Jeter farewell coverage could become difficult for YES if Yankees Captain struggles

Is it YES or JES? Considering the amount of time the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network has devoted to promoting “The Captain’s Final Quest,” renaming the outlet the Jeter Entertainment & Sports Network would be totally appropriate, something we fully endorse.

Pope Francis asks President Obama to help California girl, 10, save her father from deportation

Jersey Vargas, 10, pushed through the Vatican crowd Wednesday hoping the Pontiff would notice her among swarms of gatherers so she could tell him about her dad, Mario, who's steps away from deportation.

Gwyneth and Chris escape to Bahamas after split

EXCLUSIVE New Brooklyn DA drops appeal of wrongful conviction in 1989 murder

Brooklyn’s new district attorney dropped an appeal that challenged last year’s release of a man who served 22 years in prison for a discredited murder conviction. William Lopez, 55, was sprung in January 2013 by a federal judge who found that his already questionable case was “reduced to rubble” after an eyewitness recanted.

Obamacare enrollment spikes up before deadline

The President touted the 6 million milestone during a Thursday conference call. Republicans are scoffing at the enrollment figure.

Army soldier convicted of strangling pregnant wife to pocket benefit money

Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, 22, of Cashmere, Wash., was convicted Thursday of murdering his 24-year-old wife Sgt. Deirdre Aguigui in 2011 and her unborn child. The charges carry an automatic life sentence.

TGIF! See the hottest celeb pics of the week

Fourth person dies weeks after drunken driver plowed into SXSW crowd

A fourth person has died two weeks after an alleged drunken driver left a path of devastation in his wake when he plowed a sedan through a crowd of revelers at Austin’s annual South by Southwest festival.

Vice President Biden dishes multiple marriage proposals in Rachel Ray talk show appearance

Biden talks about his family life in the March 31 edition of the talk show in a push to get young people enrolling for Obamacare.

Half-blind security guard at World Trade Center fired after sleeping on the job

Abdul Basher, 65, of Queens was axed Saturday when a high-ranking Port Authority official snapped a photo of him snoozing on the job.

2 found shot dead inside Ridgewood, Queens apartment

Natalie Mejia-Tavares and an unidentified man were killed in a Summerfield St. home in Ridgewood at about 6:30 p.m., cops said.

Texas set to execute man who killed food delivery woman with bat

Texas is set to put to death convicted murderer Anthony Doyle on Thursday as it keeps steady its pace of executions while other states have had to postpone because they cannot obtain the drugs used.

Actress Julie Gayet gets $20,000 judgment against tabloid linking her to President Francois Hollande

A French court ordered Closer magazine on Thursday to pay actress Julie Gayet $20,000 for publishing photos that revealed an affair between her and President Francois Hollande.

Washington woman rescues neglected dog, gets charged with pet theft

A pudgy, nearly blind dog chained to a rural Washington state property captured the pity of Judy Camp — and sent her to court after she was accused of stealing the pup.

Yonkers man rescued after being trapped in garbage incinerator chute for an HOUR

Only two bare feet belonging to the unidentified 58-year-old could be seen hanging out of the chute when help finally arrived on Tuesday.

American couple convicted of starving adopted daughter, sentenced 3 years to a Qatari prison

Matthew and Grace Huang were charged with murder in 2013 for starving their adopted 8-year-old daughter, Gloria. She died of dehydration and wasting disease, according to a Qatari doctor.

Congressional report on Boston marathon bombings outlines 'missed opportunities,' calls for more info sharing

A congressional report on the April 15, 2013 bombings urged more cooperation between law enforcement agencies, saying that a 'greater sharing of information may have altered the course of events.'

Battle of the exes! Simon Cowell’s ex wears same dress as baby mama

N.Y. reaches tentative deal to protect charter schools

Deal reached Thursday offers charter schools greater protections, including increasing per pupil spending and providing rent money.

Brooklyn's population is up 3.5% over three years: Census

The Census Bureau on Thursday confirmed what riders of the F and L trains already know: Brooklyn is smokin’ hot. Its population surged nearly 1% last year and 3.5% over three years, making Kings County the fastest-growing borough in the city and one of the fastest-growing counties in the state.

Pat Robertson says Jesus wouldn't bake a cake for a gay wedding

The outspoken conservative has fired yet another barb at the LGBT community, reminding '700 Club' viewers that two men living together in biblical times would have been stoned to death.

Heidi Klum makes 40 look fab during Bahamas vacation

Teen Omaha carjacker stumped by stick shift: police

Stick a fork in him — he can’t drive. An armed Omaha teen carjacker out on bond is back behind bars because he stole a woman’s car early Thursday but was stumped by the stick shift.

Ukraine's military dolphins join Russian navy after annexation of Crimea

The dolphins trained at the Crimean city of Sevastopol since the 1960s are perhaps the most unusual spoils of victory following Russia’s annexation of the strategic Black Sea peninsula.

Former defense secretary James Schlesinger dead at 85

James R. Schlesinger, a hawkish and erudite Republican who straddled the partisan divide to serve in Cabinet-level posts under three presidents, has died, a Washington think tank said Thursday. He was 85.

Sen. Harry Reid reimburses campaign for gifts he purchased that were made by granddaughter

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has reimbursed his political campaign for more than $16,000 in holiday gifts made by his granddaughter and given to his friends and supporters.

SEE IT 'Ronald McDonald' endorses Taco Bell's new breakfast

Taco Bell is name-dropping an unlikely clown to promote its new breakfast menu — Ronald McDonald.

Obama orders changes to limit NSA data collection

WASHINGTON---The government would no longer hold virtually all our phone records but could access specific numbers after getting court approval, President Obama urged Thursday.

New York woman charged with falsely reporting her ex-husband stabbed and assaulted her

A woman from Brooklyn has been slapped with a misdemeanor count of filing a false report after she allegedly stabbed herself and blamed her ex-husband.

Minnesota school pays $70,000 settlement after forcing student to give up Facebook password

Minnewaska Area Schools is shelling out damages to Riley Stratton, a 15-year-old who was hauled in front of officials and local police and forced to watch while they skimmed through her social media accounts.

Avonte Oquendo’s teacher, school ignored warning, broke protocols, NYC finds

School bosses violated own protocols and looked the other way when autistic student Avonte Oquendo waltzed past a security desk and out of his Queens school, investigators have charged.

He's really lovin' it! Teen gets tattoo of McDonald's receipt

'I thought I was going to watch him die': Dog's leash gets stuck in elevator door as frantic owner's efforts to free him

Tamara Seibert reacts with horror as her 5-year-old Rottweiler Vado flies from the floor to the ceiling after his leash got caught in an elevator door. She broke two fingers while trying to undo his collar.

Crazed woman opens fire at exterior of Houston news station building

No one was injured at the studios of ABC affiliate Channel 13 KTRK and a suspect was in custody.

Tara Reid: I had a fling with Tom Brady

SEE IT Pocket-sized Chihuahua fends off giant dog to protect her own food

SEE IT Romanian man swallows FORK to win a drunken bet with his friend

Gwyneth had an 'open relationship for quite some time,' source says

Tigers slaughtered before rich Chinese as display of wealth dubbed ‘visual feast’: report

SEE IT Teen punched twice in face during spat in Georgia high school locker room

Sports

Cabrera and Tigers agree on eight-year, $248 million extension

Miguel Cabrera, the best hitter in baseball, will also be the best-paid player in the game when the slugger and the Detroit Tigers finalize what multiple reports say would be the biggest contract extension in baseball history based on average annual value.

Eagles agree to terms on a deal with former Jets QB Sanchez

Mark Sanchez will begin the next chapter of his career in the City of Brotherly Love. Less than a week after the Jets released their former Golden Boy quarterback, the Eagles have agreed to terms on a deal with Sanchez.

Bondy: Even with Calhoun no longer on campus, Huskies struggle in class

There is still defiant denial, strange coming from a coach regarded as so upright and fair-minded. Asked directly by a reporter Thursday what he was doing to repair a broken basketball program, Kevin Ollie stood in a corridor at the Garden and said that UConn was never really in such bad shape.

Weiss: Donovan, and his Gators, rank among NCAA’s Elite

Florida coach Billy Donovan is rapidly cementing a reputation as the best coach in the SEC since the late Adolph Rupp. Donovan, who grew up in Rockville Center, L.I., has coached the Gators to two national championships and one runner-up finish in his other Final Four trip.

Autos

2015 Ford Mustang convertible boosts up the fun, whether or not the top’s down

Ford has dropped the top on details behind the new Mustang convertible!

Latest Autos Reviews

Comics & Games

Word Roundup Frenzy: Play Now! »

Up & Down Words: Play Now! »

Cathy: Read Now! »

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MOVIE REVIEW 'Noah' is not a complete washout

New York teacher arrested for bringing toy guns to school

It's a LIE-LO: James Franco rejects claim he slept with Lohan

Obama calls Putin's reasons for seizing Crimea 'absurd'

Cops spray paint graffiti artist IN THE FACE after they bust him tagging police headquarters - VIDEO

11-year-old boy with a rare bone disease wants his leg amputated – and he's about to get his wish

Mother of Brooklyn man fatally shot by teen on bus bursts into tears as son is buried

Twitterverse explodes with hysterical responses to Gwyneth and Chris' 'conscious uncoupling'

Which 'GMA' anchor is seeking a huge raise?

'KILLER' PASTA: Jen reveals she's gained a few pounds due to Justin's cooking

NY pols slam Obama for cutting NYPD's radiation-detection funding even though he says a nuke in Manhattan is one of his top fears

New York lawmakers say President Obama's fears didn’t match his proposed budget, which would cut federal funds for the NYPD’s radiation-detection program to $4.7 million a year from $10.4 million.