MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

PICTURED: Victims of fiery hot-air balloon accident in Virginia identified as college basketball coaches — the pair posted happy photos online just hours before their tragic deaths

The victims were identified as Natalie Lewis, 24, (center top right) and Ginny Doyle, 44, (center bottom right) both coaches at University of Richmond's women's basketball program and graduates of the university. Photos shared on Instagram (center) and Twitter show the women hours before their death at the Virginia balloon festival. read full story »

Lupica: KISSTORY is made, but St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam for his football skills — not because he is gay

The St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam, football player, in the NFL draft on Saturday. They drafted Sam in the seventh round, not because they thought the league or the world owed him a job because he announced he was gay on his way out of the University of Missouri.

EXCLUSIVE Ex-elementary teacher who allegedly threatened to kill colleagues in mass shooting to sue bosses for wrongful termination

Jason Roberts, 36, was fired from his $72,990 job in February after an investigation found he made a litany of frightening remarks at Public School 78 in the Bronx, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request.

'IT'S AN ATROCITY': Family members denounce return of 9/11 remains to WTC, others call it 'respectful'

The long-unidentified remains of missing World Trade Center victims returned to Ground Zero in a solemn Saturday ceremony that left 9/11 family members bitterly divided.

South Carolina high school teacher accused of having sex with three students in one day

Ellen Niemiec is charged with sexual battery over ‘house party’ romp with three teenagers. Sex also took place on high school campus, police say.

Hamill: Just in time for Mother's Day, Women In Need shelter helps Brooklyn mom with four kids rebuild life

Jamila was waiting tables at Applebee’s on the Flatbush Ave. Extension to support her four kids in a Brownsville apartment that she shared with her asthmatic mother when the landlord raised her monthly rent to $1,350. She struggled to come up with the money.

Jennifer Esposito trashes ex-hubby Bradley in new book

'PANDEMONIUM: Shoppers at New Jersey mall evacuated following car fire and reports of gunshots

The Garden State Plaza Mall has been evacuated and placed on lockdown after an unconfirmed report of shots fired on Saturday night, according to Bergen County Police.

NFL HISTORY: Rams draft Michael Sam in final round, clearing way for him to become league's first openly gay active player

Michael Sam, the reigning SEC defensive player of the year, became the first openly gay NFL player in the league’s history when the St. Louis Rams drafted him at Radio City Music Hall Saturday evening, just before seven o’clock.

They're still in it! Nets go off in second half of Game 3, rout Heat to get back into series

The Nets got one they needed. They snatched it fairly easily against the Heat in the second half, raining down 3-pointers and holding down LeBron James.

Officials in small Texas town vote to axe cop who fired five rounds at 93-year-old woman, killing her

It was the second shooting death in Officer Stephen Stem’s two-year career with the Hearn Police Department.

Victim of attempted carjacking charged with murder for killing would-be thieves

Jeffrey Pierre, 33, was driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV when he was approached by Jermaine Johnson and Kaiison Lewis outside the Dyer Avenue Deli Grocery in Wakefield about 4:40 a.m. Friday, police said.

'The bang was so loud': Head-on collision kills four, injures three in Long Island

Four people were killed and three injured in Long Island early Saturday after a car swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into an SUV, police said.

AN 'UNCONSCIONABLE ACT' OF TERROR: Michelle Obama says she's 'outraged' over Nigeria kidnappings

What happened in Nigeria is not an isolated incident, the first lady said, but is “a story we see every day as girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions.”

United Airlines flight bound for Hawaii turns back to LAX after smoke detected in cabin, cockpit

A United Airlines flight arrived safely back at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday after smoke was reported in the cockpit and cabin during a flight to Hawaii.

State University of New York student, two other dead in suspected heroin overdose: officials

Officials at an upstate New York college say one student is dead and two others are hospitalized after suspected heroin overdoses.

Raissman: With Johnny Football on board, Browns a contender for HBO's 'Hard Knocks'

Now that the NFL has gotten its draft out of the way it can tackle more important matters — such as selecting the team appearing in HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

Legendary Barbara Walters says goodbye after 50 years on TV

Charter schools paying millions in taxpayer money to middlemen while students' education suffers

Charter school Brooklyn Dreams pays $2.3 million to the for-profit firm National Heritage Academies to lease space from the Catholic church at a price much higher than what the city would normally pay the school.

Lupica: Glenn Sather and NY Rangers are perfect example of why Phil Jackson and Knicks may not work out

Glen Sather didn’t win as many Stanley Cups in Edmonton as Phil Jackson won NBA titles in Chicago and Los Angeles. If there was a comparable figure to Phil in the NHL, truly, it was Scotty Bowman, not Sather.

Celebs and their moms celebrate Mother's Day

San Francisco firefighter files lawsuit, says she was made a 'scapegoat' in death of Asiana Airlines victim

A firefighter has filed a lawsuit stemming from last year’s crash that says she was made a scapegoat for the death of a teenager that survived the crash, but was run over and killed by two fire rigs.

SEE IT Heartbreaking video shows how bullying affects 8-year-old girl

A video of two Minnesota school children describing the painful bullying they've endured went viral after their mom, Sarah Cymbaluk, posted it on Facebook.

Pope Francis confirms a miracle for Pope Paul VI, putting him closer to sainthood

Pope Paul VI, who did much to modernize the Catholic Church but pronounced a ban on artificial contraception that was widely defied by the faithful, has moved a step closer to sainthood with Pope Francis’ official confirmation of a miracle.

Do-gooder mom-types are fading from TV shows

Obama unveils moves to improve American energy efficiency while energizing pro-union critics' anger

President Obama unveiled new moves to improve American energy efficiency Friday — but also energized the anger of pro-union critics.

Arkansas county clerk issues first gay marriage license Saturday

An Arkansas clerk issued the state's first gay marriage license on Saturday, breaking a barrier that voters put in place with a constitutional amendment 10 years ago.

Bird strike during takeoff at LaGuardia Airport forces plane to return and land

A plane departing from LaGuardia Airport struck a bird and was forced to turn around Friday evening — the second time in three days a plane near the Queens airport reported a bird strike, officials said.

'Mad Men' star Jon Hamm is a sports agent in 'Million Dollar Arm'

Mom who torched rapist of her 13-year-old daughter starts prison sentence for murder

Maria del Carmen Garcia finally went to jail this week in a long-running and controversial case.

Off-duty LAPD officer killed in crash with cement truck; 4th cop killed in crash in 2 months

Friday’s crash around 2 p.m. happened along the same stretch of Loma Vista Drive where another cop was hit and killed by an out-of-control dump truck on March 7.

Federal judge to proceed with pre-sentence report for ‘Cannibal Cop’ Gilberto Valle

A federal judge on Friday gave the Probation Department the go-ahead to proceed with a pre-sentence report for Gilberto Valle — a sign he won’t be overturning the guilty verdicts against the former NYPD cop.

New 'Godzilla' reflects our fears of nuclear and natural disasters

House Republicans name six members to special committee for investigating Benghazi attack

House Republicans plowed ahead Friday with a special committee to investigate the Benghazi attack even as Democrats derided the effort as a bid to undermine their party.

Alabama man charged with shooting family’s two pet zebras dead

Timothy Wayne House Jr., 22, aka 'Boogie,' is behind bars for killing Zippy and Zena, two of five zebras kept on Sherrod Farms in rural Oneonta, Ala. The senseless crime has left community members scratching their heads.

Colorado man sent back to prison after being released early because of clerical mistake

Rene Lima-Marin should have stayed behind bars for the rest of his life. A court clerk's error led to his release in 2008 — 90 years too soon.

EXCLUSIVE Britney Spears offered $12M to extend stay in Las Vegas

Ukraine's acting president braces for ballot battles

New peace pact signed in South Sudan

Angelina Jolie makes major makeup gaffe

Mexican vigilantes get guns, uniforms from government

Horse carriage driver gift customers with painted horseshoes

Dolly Parton hiding tons of tattoos: report

Cousin in disguise shoots bride dead at Indian wedding

TSA supervisor busted for having sex with underage girls

Sports

Myers: Garoppolo Pats’ latest backup plan for Brady

Tom Brady may want to play forever, but it’s probably not going to happen. Even though no Derek Jeter farewell tour is on Brady’s agenda any time soon, he will be 37 in August and is going into his 15th season.

Madden: Bottom's up as Marlins and Rockies off to roaring start

That was quite a harrowing road trip the Mets took last week through Colorado and Miami, going 1-6 against a couple of teams that each finished last in their respective divisions last year, a collective 52 games under .500.

Bondy: There's no easy way to grieve in world of sports

These heart-wrenching, inspirational stories turn out both ways in sports, without much respect for compassion or conscience. Back in December of 2003, Brett Favre decided to play just one day after his father suddenly died, and the Packer quarterback threw four touchdown passes in the first half during a 34-point victory over the Raiders. The world cheered for him.

Against all odds: Kerr enjoyed 15 years in NBA, surprising everyone, including himself

The most coveted coaching neophyte on earth was not sure this NBA thing was going to work out at all. He was the 50th pick in the draft and probably a sentimental one at that, an Arizona kid taken by the Phoenix Suns, 49 spots after Danny Manning in 1988.

Autos

photos Ultra-rare Ferrari LaFerrari supercar breaks cover

The first production model of the Ferrari LaFerrari made its debut at a Fiat Chrysler event this week. Only 499 models of the $1.7 million supercar will be produced.