MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

CANTOR CAN'T HANG ON: House Majority Leader LOSES Republican primary to tea party challenger Dave Brat

In a stunning defeat that shook up national Republican politics, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor got a dunking from a Tea Party challenger Davis Brat (inset) in the Virginia primary Tuesday.

Warren: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's defeat shows Tea Party is not dead

Far more death notices were filed in the past year about the Tea Party — before Tuesday night brought one of the more stunning election results of recent years: the defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Spurs drop hammer on Heat, set two scoring records in 111-92 Game 3 rout

Less than an hour before Game 3 of the Finals, Dwyane Wade was asked if the Heat was riding the wave of momentum off its win Sunday in San Antonio that tied the 2014 Finals.

Tenure for teachers in California public schools ruled unconstitutional

Tenure and other job protections for California's public school teachers were ruled unconstitutional Tuesday by a judge presiding in a lawsuit brought by nine students.

'Everything is fallen … It’s a crisis': Al Qaeda-linked militants seize Iraqi city of Mosul

Al Qaeda-linked extremists seized control of Iraq’s second-largest city Tuesday, freeing hundreds of prisoners and rampaging through military bases, police stations and the airport.

Casper Smart's dad slams transgender claims: 'He’s not weird like that'

'Our levels of gun violence are off the charts': Read President Obama's full statement on the horrific Oregon shooting

Obama: "Our levels of gun violence are off the charts. There's no advanced, developed country on Earth that would put up with this."

Brooklyn lounge owner in hot water after biased Craigslist ad seeking white and 'Spanish' workers

The proprietor of a Marine Park lounge who solicited 'Caucasian or Spanish background employees' in a Craigslist advertisement could get a black eye from the city’s Human Rights Commission.

Ohio teen who tied shut parents’ door, lit house on fire in murder bid gets 9 years in prison

A disgruntled Ohio teen who doused the family home with gasoline and lit it on fire in a bid to kill his parents for disciplining him over inappropriate Facebook posts will serve nine years in prison, a Butler County judge ruled Tuesday.

Lupica: New Knicks coach Derek Fisher talks like a real champion

We heard plenty Tuesday about championships and championship cultures as Derek Fisher was introduced as the new coach of the Knicks, Fisher becoming the face of another new era for the Knicks in basketball, one of so many since the last time they won a championship 41 years ago.

22 reasons why we love Kate Upton on her 22nd birthday

Teen recuits 'boy' — actually aunt — on Facebook to kill family: police

An Alabama aunt hoping to teach her niece about inappropriate Facebook use created a fake profile and friended the teen — who asked the fictional boy to kill her entire family and the dog.

Violent child killer hasn’t paid $15 million he owes from wrongful death verdict: court papers

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, Michele Launders, 52, said Joel Steinberg hasn't paid the money she was awarded for her daughter's death.

Success Academy looks to open 14 more charter schools in city

Fresh off a decisive political victory over her longtime foe Mayor de Blasio, Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy Charter Schools will apply for permits to open 14 new schools in the city, the network said Tuesday.

Moskowitz: Success is expanding because parents demand better education

This year, Success Academy is applying to open 14 new charter schools. That’s more than twice as many as we’ve ever applied for before.

3 children found safe after California mom killed estranged husband, kidnapped kids: police

Alicia Ortez, 35, who went missing with her three children after her estranged husband was found dead Monday was captured early Tuesday and charged with the man’s murder, cops said.

37 bags of dead dogs found in Tennessee home of self-proclaimed 'rescuer'

Police found 37 bags filled with dead dogs in a Tennessee home and confiscated 39 live dogs from a woman who claimed to be their "rescuer," authorities said.

Cleveland dad fires gun after fight with mother of his child, kills his kid

Derrice Alexander, 23, who has a history of domestic violence, shot into apartment after storming out of the home. A bullet hit his toddler, who was standing on the steps.

Seattle anesthesiologist sexted during surgical procedures and had sex with patient: officials

Dr. Arthur Zilberstein's medical license was suspended by the state’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission for his alleged misconduct. During one procedure, he allegedly exchanged 45 texts.

New York

Joel Steinberg hasn’t paid $15 million he owes from wrongful death verdict: court papers

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, Michele Launders, 52, ssaid Steinberg hasn't paid the money she was awarded for her daughter's death.

Baby hawk is released at park 12 hours after flying through open window at NYU

A baby red-tailed hawk was released at Washington Square Park Tuesday 12 hours after it accidentally flew through an open window at New York University.

EXCLUSIVE No joke! Bronx comedian is ready to take on political establishment in run for assembly

Comic Freddie Ricks says his bid for a state Assembly seat vacant since ex-Assemblyman Eric Stevenson was convicted of bribery is nothing to kid about.

Millionaire behind @HiddenCash scavenger hunt in California will expand to New York City

Jason Buzi, a millionaire real estate investor, revealed he's been hiding cash all over California and tweeting about where to find it.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

POT OPERATION SMOKED OUT: Fire alerts cops to Brooklyn pot farm

This puts the high in Prospect Heights. Firefighters uncovered an urban pot farm on Sunday in a Brooklyn man’s apartment and basement when an extension cord that powered sun lamps caught fire, authorities said.

Manhattan district attorney touts lower crime numbers in speech

Cyrus Vance Jr. spoke Tuesday before the Association for a Better New York where he addressed a drastic drop in shootings and homicides since he took office.

Appeals court paves way for ‘Taxi of Tomorrow,’ a major Bloomberg initiative

The NV200 design was mandated by the city, a major initiative by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

CLAWS OUT: Miley sings 'FU' to Selena Gomez cutout during concert

Bondy: Brazil gamble may decide FIFA president's future

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Up on a hill Tuesday, with just two days left until the World Cup opener at Arena de Sao Paulo, workers were busy covering a flimsy-looking scaffold that serves as an entry to the stadium.

SOCCER HOOLIGANS, BEWARE! World Cup fans should be on their best lest they end up inside one of Brazil's notorious — and extremely overcrowded — prisons

These are the chilling images of the jail cells hooligan England football fans will be banged up in if they cause trouble at the World Cup.

Hillary Clinton's first book-signing draws long lines — and high hopes she will run for President again

About a thousand people waited on line outside the Barnes & Noble on Union Square in Manhattan, including some who camped out overnight.

Derek Fisher vows to restore 'championship DNA' in New York as he's introduced as Knicks head coach

The recently-retired guard said he isn't coming to New York to 'hang out again as friends' with Phil Jackson, but to help turn the Knicks into a winner.

Kris' Instagram account hacked, posts rant against Kanye, French

SEE IT: Camera strapped on American bald eagle captures flight

In an incredible video taken from an eagle's back, viewers are treated to a bird’s-eye-view while soaring through the skies around Apopka, Fla. as part of the magnificent creature's rehabilitation.

Hackers — not Internet commenters — brought down the FCC’s website after John Oliver’s net neutrality rant: report

Hackers — and not a flood of Internet commenters sent by comedian John Oliver — were responsible for bringing down the Federal Communication Commission's website, according to the government agency.

BUSTED: Small-town California mayor caught dropping load of dog poop on neighbor’s lawn

Dennis Kneier, mayor of San Marino — a wealthy city in southern California — was caught on camera leaving a bag of dog feces on his neighbor’s doorstep, according to a report.

Canadian prison guards couldn’t shoot at convicts escaping in helicopter: jail guards union

Armed Canadian prison guards could do little to prevent this weekend’s brazen helicopter escape from a Quebec City detention center, according to the head of the jail guards’ union.

Sports

VIDEO Check out the top ten World Cup goals of all time

There is something about the World Cup that brings out the best in soccer: the legendary games, the career-defining performances and, of course, the wonder goals.

Former Cy Young winner Welch dead at 57

Former Dodgers and Athletics pitcher Bob Welch, best known in New York for preventing the Yankees from taking home the 1978 World Series, has died at 57.

Bondy: U.S. can't afford to lose to Ghana in World Cup opener

Michael Bradley has seen the stats, knows the score, and nurtures bad memories of the last match against Ghana. History tells the veteran U.S. midfielder that the Americans don’t necessarily need to win their first match on Monday, but they’d better not lose it.

Marc to Kings: Not in our House! Staal defiant, rest of Rangers despondent

There were no Mark Messier-like guarantees flying out of a despondent Rangers locker room Tuesday afternoon, but at least one voice tried to make a stand for the team’s collective pride.

Kate 'shocked' by exes A-Rod, Lance's doping scandals

Occupy Wall Street protesters receive $583K in settlement

A few of the 99% just got richer. Fourteen protesters arrested on disorderly conduct charges while marching through the East Village in 2012 received a payout of $583,000 — the largest Occupy Wall Street-related settlement in the city to date, lawyers for the plaintiffs said Tuesday.