MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

Lupica: Jason Kidd may take some flak over Nets power grab, but leaving Brooklyn may be the best move

So this is how a good story goes this bad, this fast. Jason Kidd, who played the Nets into two straight NBA Finals when they were still in Jersey, retired as a player just one year ago and almost immediately became their coach.

Jason Kidd denied job to run Nets basketball ops as coach, now talking to Bucks — 'probably' won't return, source says

League sources confirmed that Kidd made a power play and went to Brooklyn ownership with a demand to run basketball operations, similarly to what Doc Rivers holds with the Clippers.

Justina Pelletier, teen afflicted with mysterious illness, released from custody imposed by hospital

Justina Pelletier loved to figure skate, but now she’s bound to a wheelchair. The 16-year-old is back with her family in Massachusetts after spending 16 months hospitalized and in state custody.

George Zimmerman has no home, no job, but spends $100 a month going on vacations, divorce papers reveal

The ex-neighborhood watchman acquitted of murder in the death of Trayvon Martin listed assets totaling $14,000, which accounts for his Honda pickup and debts of $2.5 million in legal fees, report says.

Pakistani family slits throats of couple who married for love

A young couple in Pakistan were tied up and had their throats slit with scythes after they married for love, police said Saturday.

Angel Haze confirms romance with Ireland Baldwin: 'We f---'

Car bomb in Syria kills 2, injures dozens — ISIS blamed by activists

A car bomb exploded in a busy market in a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital Saturday, killing at least two people and wounding dozens.

EXCLUSIVE Fired LIRR president, Helena Williams, remains on payroll amid possible strike

The Daily News has learned that the railroad’s former president, Helena Williams, who was fired two months ago, remains on the payroll after negotiating nice severance package for 30-year pension.

Lupica: Dollars make most sense for Carmelo Anthony, but Phil Jackson should want him back

You start here with Phil Jackson, who had a very good week that might be followed by a bad one if Carmelo Anthony leaves town.

One in four of the NYPD's police academy recruits were born outside the U.S.

Nearly a quarter of the NYPD’s newest batch of cops are foreign born, with the Dominican Republic leading the way as the most popular birthplace.

Obama plans to act on his own while GOP blocks his agenda

President Obama says he’ll keep acting on his own as long as congressional Republicans block his economic agenda.

SEE IT: Hundreds try out to be Brooklyn Nets dancers

Raissman: LeBron and Carmelo Anthony opting out is twin killing for ESPN/FS1

When it comes to providing free sports reality programming the National Basketball Association tops all other sports operations.

Banker husband sues ex-wife, once accused of sexually abusing her kids, for pocketing $263K that was meant for never-hired nanny: court papers

Henry Owsley (left), CEO of the investment bank The Gordon Group, is suing ex-wife Danica Cordell-Reeh (right) for allegedly keeping more than $263,000 she claimed went to a live-in nanny she never hired.

England fan has piece of EAR 'bitten off' at World Cup match: police

British police say an England fan had part of his ear bitten off by a compatriot during a World Cup match in Brazil.

Suspected Benghazi ringleader pleads not guilty during first court appearance in Washington, D.C.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Washington says a Libyan militant charged in the 2012 Benghazi attacks is in federal law enforcement custody.

Kate Moss shows off her hot bikini bod at the beach

Missing California firefighter found dead just ONE MILE from campsite where he was last seen alive

A California firefighter who went missing two weeks ago during a camping trip after he ran after his dog has been found dead among rugged terrain in Los Padres National Forest, authorities said Friday.

North Korea launches two short-range missiles just days after another test fire: report

North Korea regularly test-fires missiles and artillery, both to refine its weapons and to express its anger over various developments in Seoul and Washington.

Elderly Virginia babysitter convicted of assaulting infant, gets community service

Evelyn Fate Pillow, 85, was ordered to perform 400 hours of social service as part of a plea deal. She pleaded guilty to assaulting an infant.

Nanny McFLEE! Fired caregiver who refused to leave Calif. home walks out amid media coverage — and VANISHES: report

Marcella and Ralph Bracamonte told said Friday that 64-year-old Diane Stretton walked out of their Upland home early Thursday morning and hasn't been seen since. Eerily, none of her belongings were taken from her bedroom, however, leaving the family to wonder if this is really the end.

New York

Queens man charged with making terroristic threat after saying he would blow up police precincts

Richard Bolton was reportedly angry about summonses he received from the NYPD. Bolton called 911 claiming he was planning to blow up police stations in Jamaica, but cops said he was actually miles away.

Gay Pride parade to take over Fifth Ave. for its 45th year in NYC

Grand marshals Laverne Cox, from the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” and actor Jonathan Groff, from HBO’s “Looking,” will kick off at noon and lead revelers from Midtown down to the West Village.

Toddler reported missing after grandpa dozed off on train reunited with family

Cops conducted a painstaking search for a missing 3-year-old who was never really lost on Friday, authorities and family members said.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

NYC jails neglected suicide precautions: report

NEW YORK — In one case, a mentally ill New York City inmate hanged himself from a shower pipe on his third try in three days.

All 55 outdoor public city pools are now open for the summer

Everybody jump in, the water is fine! The city opened its 55 outdoor public pools Friday, promising a cool reprieve for residents from the scorching heat of summer.

SEE: Greg Kelly gets inappropriate on air over reporter's body

That didn't go accordion to plan: Arizona border officers seize bag of meth stuffed into instrument

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a Mexican citizen from entering Arizona Monday after they found a stash of meth squeezed into his accordion, according to a report.

Facebook tweaked news feeds to see if users’ emotions are contagious

Data scientists with the social network conducted a large scale psychological experiment that involved 689,003 users to see if feelings expressed on the site are contagious.

Two Ryanair jets collide at London airport

LONDON — Police say two Ryanair jets have collided at London's Stansted Airport, but none of the crew members or passengers were injured.

Tired-looking Pope Francis soldiers on during audiences at Vatican despite health concerns

Pope Francis has had a busy morning of audiences amid new health concerns following his cancellation of a planned outing.

Wimbledon bans colorful underwear at matches

Fisherman drowns in Long Island Sound after jumping out of boat to avoid accident: cops

Jesus Ortega, 46, jumped out his boat in a panic to avoid a cruising power boat that he feared was headed towards him around 11:40 p.m. Friday, police said.

Brooklyn affordable housing units going to families making $100K: officials

Most of the “affordable” housing units to be built at the long-stalled Atlantic Yards project will go to families making at least $100,000 a year — a reflection of the high cost of living in the city, officials said.

'MASSIVE SETBACK': Aereo suspends video streaming service after Supreme Court decision

Aereo, the video streaming service that has sought to provide an alternative to traditional TV broadcasters, said on Saturday it was suspending services after Supreme Court decision.

University students want Hillary Clinton to give lecture at UNLV for free

Hillary Clinton pulled down a cool $300,000 to speak at UCLA in March — and now enraged students want her to forgo a $225,000 fee for a planned visit to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Marilyn to Diana, see Hollywood stars who made The News

Look back at the greatest moments in sports since 1919

Sports

End Zone: 75 years ago, Lou Gehrig gave us a glimpse at courage in the face of death

Morning broke hot for the holiday in the big city. The kid had his day all planned, a Fourth of July that featured no fireworks, just a farewell.

Serena Williams suffers earliest Wimbledon exit since 2005

Five-time champion Serena Williams lost to 25th-seeded Alize Cornet of France 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday.

Lawrence: Nets better off without this soda jerk

So this is how Jason Kidd repays the Nets for handing him a great coaching job when he needed to find something to do after his NBA playing days were over.

Can the MLS capitalize on this summer's World Cup fever?

This is lightning in a bottle. It’s packed bars and filled pints, with a passionate following behind every corner kick, goal and shoulder bite.

World Cup roundup: Suarez's bite, Herrera's epic celebrations highlight Week 2

LATEST NEWS: 'We want more' says Michael Bradley as U.S. preps for Belgium at World Cup; How to Beat Belgium: Keys to a U.S. victory in World Cup knockout round; Daily Newser searches Brussels for USA fans as World Cup match approaches; Historic call for Jersey ref Mark Geiger at World Cup; Coffey's Wimbledon Diary: Meet the Italian John McEnroe; View All

Venus Williams shows off her curves in ESPN's famed 'Body Issue'

PHOTOS: Meet the hottest wives and girlfriends of the World Cup

KFC confirms pit bull attack victim, 3, was NOT kicked out of restaurant

Kelly Mullin claimed little Victoria Wilcher, 3, was booted from the Jackson eatery because her severe scars were disturbing customers.

FIFA bans Uruguay’s Luis Suarez for 9 games and 4 months for biting player

Luis Suarez, the Hannibal Lecter of soccer, was banned by FIFA on Thursday for nine Uruguay matches and four months from any soccer activity - including early season games for Liverpool.

Missouri bride-to-be killed on way to her bachelorette party

Best friends Collette Moreno and Ashley Theobald were driving to Moreno’s bachelorette party on Friday when one bad move caused them to collide with an oncoming car on the crest of a hill.

Chelsea Clinton: I tried to care about money but couldn't

Hillary Clinton insists she isn’t “well-off” and now daughter Chelsea says she could care less about money.

Eminem’s daughter Hailie graduates with honors

Mexican police helicopter opens fire on U.S. border patrol agents, but later denies it

The helicopter was carrying out a law enforcement operation when it mistakenly traveled north into Arizona's Tohono O'odham Reservation and fired, according to border agents.

Tiger leaps onto boat and snatches man in east India in front of his horrified kids

A Bengal tiger snatched a man off a fishing boat in eastern India, dragging him away into a mangrove swamp as his children looked on in horror, the man’s son said Friday.

Passengers likely suffocated on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: report

The passengers and crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 most likely died from suffocation and coasted lifelessly into the ocean on autopilot, a report released by Australian officials Thursday said.

Jessica Simpson stuns in new fragrance ad

Australian shock jock fired for calling prophet Muhammad a pedophile

Michael Smith was fired after an on-air exchange during which he claimed Muhammad was "a pedophile, a pederast, a sexual offender, a man who promoted the idea that it was OK to marry a six-year-old and consummate the marriage when the little girl was nine."