MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

VIEW' TO A KILL: ABC execs suddenly wield ax — sparing only Whoopi Goldberg — in house cleaning of morning staple

In a stunning move, ABC executives have canned everyone on the morning talk-show except for Whoopi Goldberg.

SHIA LA-JERK! Drunken star hauled from Manhattan theater in handcuffs after throwing wild tantrum at show, 'smacking' actors' butts and vowing to 'f--- up' cops

Actor Shia LaBeouf transformed into a jerk, interrupting a performance of Cabaret starring Michelle Williams at Studio 54 on Thursday night, cops and sources said.

FBI seizes 80,000 emails from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in phone-hacking scandal

The FBI has seized 80,000 potentially damning emails from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., giving the media titan worries on both sides of the Atlantic in the ongoing phone-hacking scandal.

Former Wisconsin cop tied to S&M web forums suspected in murders of women found in suitcases

Police walked bags of evidence and a refrigerator out of the West Allis apartment of an ex-officer suspected in the murders of two women found stuffed in suitcases in the Town of Geneva earlier this month.

Scorned Missouri man accused of tossing ex’s dog out third-floor window after rejection: cops

William (Tripp) Rabourn is accused of throwing an 8-month-old pooch named Oliver to his death after the dog’s owner, Gabriel Ervie, rejected his sexual advances earlier that night, according to a report.

Brooklyn drug kingpin and aspiring rapper facing mandatory life sentence after he's convicted of three murders

Ronald (Ra Diggs) Herron remained stoic Thursday as the jury returned the verdict in Brooklyn Federal Court after just one day of deliberations.

Sexy convict eyes publicist to launch modeling career

'She left them there to die': Single mom left small kids home alone for 5 days while she was stuck in jail, cops say

Cops say 23-year-old single mom Qiara Emerson, abandoned her 1- and 3-year-old children for five days in an Auburn condo.

Massachusetts mom allowed white supremacist husband to beat, torture daughters: prosecutors

One month after Justin Ladd, 33, was indicted on 41 criminal counts, his wife, Anne Ladd, 32, has been arrested on a slew of charges accusing her of permitting and aiding the assault, Salem News reported.

Texas woman charged with sex assault after alleged three-way with teen boys

Iliana Raquel Reyes, 29, is accused of molesting children after she allegedly had a sexual three-way with two teenage boys in her swimming pool, according to a local report.

Isola: Knicks President Phil Jackson again asks Carmelo Anthony to take less money

Phil Jackson was frolicking in Turkey just last week, and the second the Knicks president returns stateside he is back to playing a game of ‘max deal’ chicken with Carmelo Anthony.

TGIF! Check out this week's hottest celebrity photos

Gonzalez: Queens Library director Galante not getting $800G

The trustees of the Queens Library won’t be giving their controversial director, Thomas Galante, an $800,000 golden parachute after all.

New York City Council votes to create municipal ID cards for undocumented immigrants

The 43 to 3 vote will launch the largest local ID program in the nation - also allowing transgender, homeless, and elderly people who sometimes struggle to get driver’s licenses to secure an ID.

Talk about a chicken fight! Fired Chick-fil-A worker robbed a KFC at gunpoint: cops

Jeffrey Coley sped off with $516.02 after pulling into a Rock Hill Kentucky Fried Chicken with a gun, cops said. He was cuffed after a high-speed car chase.

Black bear crashes child’s birthday party through skylight, eats cupcakes

The bear was walking across a skylight Saturday when the bottom fell, sending the animal plummeting into the home. Once there, the homeowners say the bear helped himself to some cupcakes.

Former IRS official at center of scandal sought audit of Republican senator

Congressional investigators say they uncovered emails Wednesday showing that an ex-IRS official at the heart of the tea party investigation sought an audit involving a GOP senator in 2012.

Miss Delaware, 24, stripped of crown for being TOO OLD

Mom of Bronx teen who allegedly shot at cops says he's a 'sweet child'

Police call the 15-year-old gunslinger they say fired on them a wanna-be cop killer, but his mom says he’s a 'sweet child.'

How a World Cup loss to Germany become a U.S. win

Yes, the Americans lost to Germany 1-0. But not every loss is a defeat — as newcomers to following the World Cup are finding out.

RFK Jr.'s role caused alleged mistress to end marriage with hubby

Chelsea Chapman Kirwan got her doctor husband Laurence Kirwan to scrap their prenup a month after she reportedly crossed paths with Kennedy at a gym in July 2012.

Post columnist Fred Dicker calls senator a 'spear chucker'

New York Post political columnist Fred Dicker called an upstate senator a “spear chucker” for the predominantly black New York City Democratic delegation in a controversial on-air comment Thursday.

Roof collapse at Texas home injures dozens: report

As many as 30 people are reported injured after the second floor of a garage apartment collapsed during what one neighbor described as a religious gathering at the Houston-area home, according to a report.

New York

Some LIRR union leaders will take part in contract talks with MTA as possible strike date looms, spokesman says

At least some LIRR union officials will participate in a contract negotiations Friday as a possible strike date looms, a union spokesman said Thursday.

Teacher is leading pre-K expansion at Brooklyn school

Teacher Karen Gerdts is leading the charge at New Bridges Elementary for an expansion from two pre-K classrooms to five by September.

City Council approves law to grant ID cards to undocumented immigrants

The City Council voted Thursday to give the city’s half a million undocumented immigrants a municipal identity.

City budget leaves out money to make the Rockaway Ferry permanent, upsetting residents and local pols

This ferry is dead in the water. The Rockaway Ferry will be docked this fall after failing to make the cut in the city’s 2015 budget Tuesday morning.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Homeless residents protest Rescue Mission, saying it pocketed their $300 cash gift from Chinese millionaire

Angry residents of the New York City Rescue Mission were planning Thursday to bite the hand that's been feeding them after the shelter pocketed the $300 cash gifts they had been promised by a Chinese millionaire.

Rangel must amend form after failing to report China trip

Rep. Charles Rangel, fresh off a tight primary win, is scrambling to amend his annual financial disclosure form after failing to report an all-expenses paid junket to China last year.

Gov. Cuomo signs bill to reform operations at embattled Queens library system

Gov. Cuomo Thursday signed into law a bill designed to improve the operations of the embattled Queens library system. "Those entrusted to serve the public have a responsibility to act in the public's best interest," Cuomo said. "It’s clear that wasn't happening here and additional accountability was needed."

EXCLUSIVE: Sigler reflects on Gandolfini a year after his death

SCARCELLA BACKLASH: Three brothers wrongfully convicted of murder in 1980s to sue city

Three brothers cleared of murder convictions after decades behind bars have put the city on notice they each intend to file $150 million lawsuits alleging frame-ups by retired NYPD homicide Detective Louis Scarcella.

Chemotherapy Barbie ‘Ella’ brings comfort to young cancer patients

Here’s a Barbie that can be a real role model for little children.

Mayor sets aside $32.5M for mental health services for inmates

Mayor de Blasio earmarked $32.5 million, split between the correction and health departments, to create four observation units for the most aggressive inmates. Officials say about 20 to 40 inmates at a time — all of them with severe mental illnesses — will get customized treatment in the special units.

Thousands flee Ukraine for Russia as cease-fire nears end

As a shaky cease-fire in the east entered its final hours Thursday, thousands of Ukrainians in cars stuffed with belongings lined up at the border to cross into Russia, some vowing never to return.

Obama asks Congress for $500 million to aid Syrian opposition

The President asked Congress Thursday for $500 million to train and arm members of the Syrian opposition, as U.S. struggles for a way to stem a civil war that has also fueled Al Qaeda-inspired insurgency in Iraq.

Paris Hilton channels Lady Gaga in video shoot

Raissman: ESPN voices leave viewers in the Darke on World Cup coverage

The first half of USA-Germany included play-by-play mouth Ian Darke spinning an imaginary globe nestled inside his mind. It landed on a place he called “Cloud Cuckoo Land (CCL).” By the end of ESPN’s telecast on Thursday, we had arrived at that destination point.

Arkansas GOP official resigns after saying Hillary Clinton would ‘get shot at the state line’ if she ran for President

A district chairman with the Republican Party of Arkansas resigned after he was quoted saying that Hillary Clinton "would probably get shot at the state line" if she ran for president in 2016, the GOP announced Wednesday.

Former Senator Howard Baker Jr. — who famously asked 'What did the president know and when did he know it?' about Nixon — dies at 88

Former Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr., a moderate Republican known as the politician who inquired what President Richard Nixon knew during the 1973 Senate Watergate hearings, has died.

St. Louis man gets jail after stealing from his boss to pay STRIPPER

Kevin Dowell was ordered to spend a year and a day behind bars and repay employer more than $100K. He falsified documents to pay an exotic dancer.

North Carolina teen fatally shot after speaking out about gun violence

Ravon Jordan, 19, was shot twice in the head Sunday morning outside a Fayetteville house party, cops say. He had asked City Council just a month earlier to curb the violence at a nearby apartment complex.

Sports

U.S. women’s goalie Hope Solo apologizes following arrest

U.S. women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo has apologized to her fans via social media following her arrest for domestic violence last weekend. Solo posted her apology on her Facebook page and also posted a link to the statement on her official Twitter account.

Coffey: At Wimby, Keys to her game are power and speed

You head out to the tennis hinterlands to see a 19-year-old kid from Florida, and to see if Malcolm X was right. “Power never takes a step back. Only in the face of more power,” he said.

Lawrence: Cavs get it right this time around with Wiggins

It’s getting to be a running joke in the NBA and a bad one at that. Every year the draft starts, and there’s an announcement that the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock. It happened again Thursday night at Barclays Center.

Bondy: Detractors motivate U.S. during World Cup, even as it gains foothold

The whole day was disorienting, crazy. The U.S. players kept hearing about all these wonderful celebrations back home, about watch parties that were closing down streets in New York. But here in Recife, there was only toil and trouble, the gurgle of water, water everywhere.

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

LATEST NEWS: U.S. women’s goalie Hope Solo apologizes following arrest; Bondy's World Cup Diary: Now that soccer is popular, on to marbles; Bondy: Detractors motivate U.S. during World Cup, even as it gains foothold; Up next for U.S. during World Cup: Belgium; Raissman: ESPN voices leave viewers in the Darke on World Cup coverage; View All

Summer lovin': LeAnn and Eddie get affectionate during seaside stroll

Men at high risk for HIV may misjudge their vulnerability, study finds

Many gay, bisexual and queer men who are good candidates for a drug that prevents HIV don’t believe their risk of being infected with the virus is high enough to warrant the drug’s use, suggests a new study.

Islamic terrorists sweeping through Iraq and Syria plan to make suicide bombers out of kidnapped teens, escaped boy says

The bloodthirsty Islamic fanatics battling in Iraq and Syria are preparing to unleash a sick new weapon of mass destruction — teenage suicide bombers.

DREAMS TRASHED: Pair sue New Jersey Lottery for not updating website after throwing out $1 million ticket

Salvatore Cambria and Erik Onyango of Suffern, N.Y., said they bought the $1 million-winning ticket for the March 23, 2013, drawing, but threw it away.

VIDEO Motorcyclist plows into English soccer fan before World Cup game

Mark Fisher, 25, of Penrith, was crossing a street when the driver crashed into him - breaking his arm and causing facial injuries. The accident occurred before England's 0-0 tie with Costa Rica Wednesday.

COUGAR LOVE: Courteney gets engaged to younger rock star beau

British mom who went on spending spree after $88K was mistakenly deposited in bank account must pay it back or face jail

Michaela Hutchings, 23, reportedly blew $8,000 on designer handbags, shoes and sunglasses from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Dior after receiving the unexpected windfall.

Eliot Spitzer faces defamation charges over comments about AIG chairman

Former attorney general Eliot Spitzer will have to face defamation charges in a lawsuit brought upstate by former AIG chairman Hank Greenberg, a Putnam County judge ruled Wednesday.

Wild West nun who stood up to notorious outlaw Billy the Kid may become a saint: Santa Fe Archdiocese

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced Wednesday it is exploring sainthood for an Italian-born nun who challenged Billy the Kid, calmed angry mobs and helped open New Mexico territory hospitals and schools.

U.S. warns against lidocaine as painkiller for teething babies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned on Thursday against using a lidocaine solution as a pain reliever on teething babies' gums, saying it can cause deaths and serious injuries in infants and toddlers.

Kim K. dons a blond wig in sexy selfie — and not much else

Brooklyn judge sentences sex slave pimp to 15 years despite pleas for maximum penalty from victim

Olivia lashes out at critics who say she's too hot for next role

Mark Sanford reveals how Nixon 'hatchet man' Chuck Colson helped him with political rehab

GROPE CENTRAL STATION: Hub a hot bed for perverts — and female riders’ worst nightmare

Straphangers throughout the city reported being the victim of creeps bumping, grinding, groping, flashing or assaulting them more than 3,000 times over a five-year period — and Grand Central Station was the epicenter of the subway sleaze, an unprecedented Daily News data analysis of NYPD subway crime data revealed.

Brooklyn’s Broadway Junction top station for weapons possession: data

Hectic hub on Bedford-Stuyvesant/East New York border recorded 320 weapon-possession reports from July 2008 through June 2013.

EDITORIAL: Safety on track as NYPD keeps driving down subway crime

Thanks to the terrific data-crunching on display in the Daily News’ three-day series on subway crime, you can zero in on trends in lawlessness at the stations you frequent.

VIDEO ‘YOU’RE GETTING F---ING ARRESTED’: Subway rider fights back against perv

I was on a southbound No. 4 train en route to Chinatown, where I was going to meet a friend for dinner. Without warning, a man on the train made the unwise decision to make me the target of a sexual assault. He tried to rub himself against me by taking advantage of a packed subway train.