MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

'They're totally spineless and craven': Dad of slain Santa Barbara student rails against do-nothing politicians, joins Newtown families in gun-control effort after son was victim of shooting rampage

Richard Martinez (center) plans to meet with the parents of his son Christopher Michaels-Martinez's (right) deranged killer, Elliot Rodger (top left), and wonders why gutless Washington politicians refuse to come together on gun control. read full story »

EXCLUSIVE HE STOLE MY RACY PICS: Woman sues NYPD cop who swiped her private cell phone photos, videos during arrest

S.C. woman threatens to ‘shoot everyone' over stale Cinnabon at Burger King: police

A South Carolina woman got in a heated argument with staff at a Charleston-area Burger King, cops said. The dispute over a stale snack allegedly escalated to threats of her pulling a gun from her purse.

Can Clippers best the Lakers as the main event in Hollywood? One executive says it's a no-brainer

With Donald Sterling on his way out as the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, one sports industry executive says the team — arguably the worst-run franchise in sports history — is poised to knock off the Lakers.

President Obama’s daughter Malia attends her first prom

A teenage rite of passage has come to the White House — President Obama revealed his eldest daughter Malia recently attended her first prom.

NO J.LOAD! Bronx community dreads concert crowd

N.H. woman busted shooting heroin in front of Catholic school: cops

A New Hampshire heroin fiend was so desperate for a fix that she squatted down in front of a Catholic elementary school to shoot up, police in Rochester said.

Utah man arrested in 1988 murder of 15-month-old girl

Louis Mark Duran, 53, who previously admitted to biting the toddler's arm and face on the day she died, was arrested Thursday in the toddler's murder nearly three decades ago, according to a report.

Alabama man missing for a week after texting ‘help’ to family and friends

An Alabama man has been missing for more than a week after he mysteriously texted “help” to family and friends.

5 Delaware State University football players charged in theft at University of Delaware

Five fumbling football players have been charged with stealing laptops and video game consoles from dorm rooms at the University of Delaware.

Las Vegas teen shot and killed older brother, 18, in front of mom: police

A disturbed Las Vegas teen shot and killed his older brother during a heated dispute about the younger boy getting his life together, police say.

Pilot busted for allegedly smuggling cocaine charges at Houston news crew

When Stanley Rafael Hill was confronted by journalists outside a courthouse in Houston, Hill charged toward a cameraman and ran from the scene.

'These are different times': Hawaiian man fined $200 for making son walk mile home from school as punishment

Robert Demond was also ordered to attend parenting classes after a judge called the punishment 'old-school' and 'no longer appropriate.'

14 charged in Ohio’s Wilmington College hazing during fraternity ritual that cost man his testicle

Authorities have arrested 14 men on charges of hazing after an initiation at Ohio’s Wilmington College left a student pledging to a fraternity short a testicle.

Google opens requests to Europe for ‘right to be forgotten’

The salacious details of yesteryear can now be erased from Google search results, but only if you’re European.

Sacramento will require cab drivers to speak English

City Council votes to require taxi drivers in California state capital to pass an English proficiency test. Politicians say the new requirements are based on citizen complaints.

@HiddenCash continues to drop money despite concern for safety

There appears to be no end in sight for the “Hidden Cash” scavenger hunt of southern California stirring a dangerous frenzy among residents to track down caches of cash.

Oregon school district to give sixth graders access to condoms

The Gervais School District will allow specific teachers to hand out condoms to middle and high school students who ask for one, the superintendent said. The youngest middle schoolers are in sixth grade.

'Jersey Shore' star Ronnie reveals incredible transformation

Dog poops twice in passenger jet aisle, Philadelphia-bound flight forced to make emergency landing

US Airways Flight 598 was already two hours late when it took off from Los Angeles International Airport. Things went downhill from there.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Oklahoma shooting range gets liquor license

Shoot first, do shots later. At a new gun range in Oklahoma City, patrons will be able to empty their weapons and drain their bar glass.

SEE IT Teen records dangerous high-speed chase during Alabama police ride-along

A high-speed chase in Alabama ended with a fleeing driver crashing his car into a police cruiser with a teenager in the passenger seat for a ride-along.

Six Cleveland cops indicted in chase that resulted in two deaths.

A grand jury on Friday indicted six police officers involved in a November 2012 car chase that ended in the deaths of two unarmed people, was decried by critics as a racially motivated execution and is part of a wide-ranging federal investigation.

DICK VAN DANCE: 'Bye Bye Birdie' star busts a move in store

Texas court denies Lance Armstrong appeal as disgraced cyclist was trying to avoid paying back bonus money

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday denied Lance Armstrong’s bid to block a company’s efforts to recover about $12 million in bonuses it paid him during his doping-tainted career.

Press conference to announce 'historic' legislation to make Port Authority more transparent after ‘Bridgegate’ abruptly canceled

The announcement of ‘historic’ legislation to help the PA recover from scandal is apparently going to happen another day. Some say that the plug was pulled by ‘someone’ in New Jersey.

CARNEY QUITS: White House Press Secretary resigns; Josh Earnest to take the reins

Obama praised Carney for his "good heart" and "temperament" as he dealt with the media since he replaced Robert Gibbs as the White House's chief spokesman in early 2011. "I'm going to miss him a lot," Obama added.

Medicare lifts coverage ban on sex-change surgery

Transgender people receiving Medicare may no longer be automatically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgeries, a U.S.

Who needs makeup when Drew Barrymore looks like this?

Oregon bus driver rescues barefoot toddler wandering street after leaving home while his father slept

The little boy escaped for a bit of adventure as his father slept in their home, but he wandered a bit too close to a busy roadway along Bill Clark’s route.

Raissman: Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto fighting for the New York spotlight with the Rangers and California Chrome dominating headlines

Is this town big enough for all of them? This time of year, Cotto usually reigns supreme in NYC. Since June, 2005, he has made a habit of fighting in MSG on the weekend of the Puerto Rican Day parade.

Adult son of couple found murdered in Texas home wanted for questioning

Ryan Robert Walton, 20, the son of Michael Walton, 54, and Lynda Walton, 52, who has not been located since their bodies were found in their gated Katy-area home, according to a report.

WATCH English lifeboat crew lassoes runaway speedboat after skipper goes overboard

Dramatic video sees the rescuers successfully coralling the out-of-control vessel after its skipper had been thrown overboard.

‘This is how I’m going to die’: Woman, 25, recalls moment grizzly attacked her in Alaska woods

A 25-year-old mother who was attacked by a grizzly bear after she was separated from her husband during a run through the Alaska woods said she didn't believe she would survive.

GROSS! Japanese cops hunting serial urine splasher who throws liquid at women from motorbike

At least six females have been targeted by the weirdo in Tokyo since he began his bizarre campaign mid-April.

Mistrial declared in civil trial of Manhattan crane czar over accident that killed two hardhats

James Lomma was badly hurt in a car accident and wouldn’t be able to take part in the court proceedings, his lawyers argued in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Giants fan severely beaten in Dodgers parking lot after 2011 opening day requires constant care that could cost $50M over his lifetime: lawyer

Bryan Stow's family filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the Dodgers and former owner Frank McCourt for allegedly having insufficient security.

New York man sentenced to life in prison for role in sex-trafficking ring he ran with brother

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Katherine Forrest gave Bonifacio Flores-Mendez, 34, the same sentence she gave his fellow ringleader brother, Isaias — life in prison.

Feds say Arch Coal workers took $2 million in kickbacks

Ten Arch Coal employees at a West Virginia mine are charged with pocketing almost $2 million from vendors in a pay-to-play kickback scheme, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Beastie Boys to Arnold: Don't use our music in your box-office bomb

'Best gay spot in East Texas': satirical reviews mock restaurant that allegedly booted gay couple

After a gay couple claimed a waitress at Big Earl's Bait House and Country Store told them they weren't welcome, online activists are trashing the restaurant with satirical reviews, according to a report.

Furious Indian villagers claim police did nothing to help missing sisters before they were gang-raped, killed

The villagers claim police ignored a phone call from the girls' father reporting them missing. Police have arrested four men in the gang-rape case.

House votes to block interference with state medical marijuana laws

WASHINGTON — Libertarian-minded and moderate Republicans joined forces early Friday morning with Democrats in an early morning House vote to block the federal government from interfering with states that permit the use of medical marijuana.

California man riddled with cancerous tumors denied insurance coverage, then gets it

Funny what a little good publicity can accomplish Anthem Blue Cross first said no to cancer treatment. A day after local TV station reported Jeffrey Rusch’s dilemma, the insurance company said all is fine, family says.

Massachusetts man, 23, charged with making false statements, destroying records in Boston Marathon bombing probe

Prosecutors said Friday that Khairullozhon Matanov of Quincy is charged with destroying, altering and falsifying records in a federal investigation, and with making false statements in a federal investigation.

Accused pimp suspected of marrying intern in prosecutor's office to witness tamper acquitted of sex trafficking charges

Jurors said they needed more proof that the alleged victim, a 27-year-old woman who has a child in common with Rodriguez, was abused and forced into prostitution.

Chinese man who stares at phone 'non-stop' suffers detached retina after texting in the dark

The 26-year-old, from Qingdao, started seeing flashes in front of his eyes after spending hour after hour on WeChat.

Valerie vs. B'way producer: How did she do in latest fight?

Teen sentenced to 44 years in prison for gunning down two in Bronx park

Yenfri Ramirez was just 16 when he killed Edwin Liz and Allan Matos near Devoe Park in April of 2011. The slain pair were part of a group that had gotten into a scuffle with Ramirez’s brother.

50 Cent on throwing 'worst first pitch ever': 'It slipped'

Pa. man accused of stealing $350K of human skin

Mariah Carey goes for a 'joyride' on the subway in NYC

EXCLUSIVE Drug dealer dressed up as a woman to kill rival

Sports

Rangers go fourth with gritty line

All year long, Alain Vigneault has preached the importance of running four lines out on the ice. On Thursday night, the Rangers coach let his fourth line start the game.

Spurs sense Finals berth

Tim Duncan would gladly pay $2 billion just to make it back to the Finals. And if he had the chance, he’d probably outbid Steve Ballmer for a fifth championship ring.

Chrome Success: Gotta be the shoes

California Chrome's six-race win streak began on Dec. 22 when he was equipped with a nasal strip, got a switch in riders to Victor Espinoza and received a new type of horseshoe — glue-on shoes with a rim pad on them.

Texas court denies Lance Armstrong appeal

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday denied Lance Armstrong’s bid to block a company’s efforts to recover about $12 million in bonuses it paid him during his career, setting the former cyclist on course to give sworn testimony next month about his performance-enhancing drug use.