MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

PICTURED: The Colorado teen arrested for attempting to fly to Syria and join ISIS alongside jihad soldier who seduced her via Skype

Shannon Maureen Conley, 19, was arrested at the Denver International Airport by the FBI in April and charged with conspiring to help a foreign terrorist organization, which included the Islamic State of Iraq, newly unsealed federal documents show.

Woman, 21, shot on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ mass shooting has died: police

Brittany Thomas from Hammond, La., had been fighting for her life after Sunday morning's brazen shooting between two men that injured 10 people in all, according to police.

Obama on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights: 'Few pieces of legislation have defined our national identity as distinctly, or as powerfully'

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most significant civil rights achievements in U.S. history.

Captured Benghazi suspect to remain in U.S. custody after court appearance: Judge

A federal judge on Wednesday directed a Libyan militant charged in the 2012 Benghazi attacks to remain in U.S. custody after his own lawyer conceded that he had no reasonable chance of being released.

Mayor de Blasio has sour taste over judge tossing out conviction of 'Cannibal cop'

A federal judge’s ruling to free the cannibal cop gave Mayor de Blasio a touch of agita.

Andy Cohen's office at 30 Rock reduced to the size of a pebble

Arthur officially becomes HURRICANE as storm barrels towards North and South Carolina

Hurricane warnings have been issued the Carolinas, as well as tropic storm warnings in Virginia, as the storm is predicted to head northeast on Thursday.

New Jersey native wanted for Seattle double homicide spotted in Point Pleasant Beach

New Jersey native Ali Muhammed Brown, 30, wanted in suspicion for killing two men he met while partying at a Seattle gay club last month, has been spotted back home in an armed robbery.

EXCLUSIVE City building design big keeps cushy side job at Columbia

The city’s new design and construction commissioner received a waiver from ethics rules so he can continue teaching at Columbia University and receiving Columbia housing and tuition benefits as he draws his $205,180 city salary, records show.

IS MITT IN? Romney in New Hampshire, but insists he's not running for President

Romney, who lost to President Obama in 2012, campaigned again Wednesday in New Hampshire, a key presidential battleground, on behalf of ex-Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who this year moved to his beach home in the Granite State to take on Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Whitney biopic role is certainly not Bobbi's birthright

Homeless man remains in police custody in Strahan death threat case

The homeless man who allegedly threatened to kill Giants great Michael Strahan was being held Wednesday, pending a psychiatric evaluation and treatment, sources said.

Flatiron District drunk who claimed 'my father owns half of f------ Manhattan' identified as underage NYU student

Surprise — Gerry Shalam’s father does not own half of Manhattan. The belligerent carouser caught spewing tall tales on camera is not even of legal age to consume alcohol.

'Women are either sexualized or ignored': Goldman Sachs is a ‘boys club’ that undermines women, former employees say

Goldman Sachs is home to a "boys club" atmosphere of trips to strip clubs and rounds of binge drinking, two women who worked for the giant financial firm claim in court papers.

A-Rod used testosterone in 2007 — and MLB knew all about it, book claims

A-Rod's use of exogenous testosterone was reportedly already at a level of physical addiction in 2007, according to a new book about his role in Biogenesis.

WWE 'Diva' jailed, fired then rehired after allegedly shoplifting

EDITORIAL Balanced literacy is baaaack

Pondiscio: Bad ideas in education are like horror movie monsters. You think you’ve killed them, but they refuse to stay dead.

Sheriff: Teen dies while trying to rescue younger brother at Oregon’s Wildwood Falls

A Lane County sheriff's officer says a 16-year-old boy died after he tried to rescue his younger brother, who had slipped on rocks near the top of Wildwood Falls near Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Man with two AR-15 rifles, suicide note that said he wanted to ‘die in combat’ arrested in West Village

Victor Greer, 46, of Reading, Pa., was pulled over shortly after 1 a.m. while driving the wrong way down Seventh Ave., police said. He has yet to be charged.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to using cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and crack

Liquor-loving, crack-smoking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is blaming his woes on using “every drug you can probably think of,” but not heroin.

New York

STOLEN GLORY: American flag flown over World Trade Center after 9/11 snatched from home of fallen FDNY firefighter’s family

The sister of an FDNY firefighter killed during the 9/11 attacks said an American flag that flew over the ruins of the World Trade Center was stolen from outside her Long Island home.

BADA BING BADA BOOM? Local pols fear errant rocket from mall's fireworks show — held just one block away from chemical warehouse — could cause mass explosion

Civic leaders want to douse the annual Independence Day fireworks display on July 5 at the Atlas Park shopping center because they fear a spark could fly into a nearby chemical warehouse, triggering a disastrous explosion.

Former City Councilman Halloran shook hands when making deals: FBI Agent

To consummate a dirty deal, former City Councilman Daniel Halloran “shook hands, clinked glasses and decided that half would be paid up front and the rest once it was done,” an undercover FBI agent testified Wednesday in the pol’s corruption trial.

Brooklyn Muslims turn vacant Burger King into temporary mosque

Muslims are having it their way at a vacated Brooklyn Burger King.

De Blasio definitely rules out giving NYPD 'Cannibal Cop' his job back

“I don’t think he should ever get his job back,” de Blasio said Wednesday of the just-freed Gilberto Valle, who got out of jail this week after his conviction was overturned.

Cardinal Dolan pens blog post supporting low-wage airport workers

New York City’s most powerful Catholic cleric said Wednesday he supports the poorly paid guards, cleaners and porters at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports who have been battling the Port Authority and airlines for better wages.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

DC 37, the largest municipal labor union, ends four-year stalemate with $1.75 billion deal

The largest municipal labor union, representing 120,000 workers, has ended a four-year stalemate and reached a $1.75 contract deal with the city.

'I think I need a lawyer': Suspect's request could undermine insanity defense in child elevator stabbings

St. Hubert said, "I think I need a lawyer," following his arrest last month for fatally knifing 6-year-old Prince Joshua (P.J.) Avitto and wounding 7-year-old Mikayla Capers, according to court papers. The statement could undercut his lawyers attempts to file an insanity defense.

Update man guilty of threatening Rep. Maloney

An upstate man pleaded guilty Wednesday to making threatening phone calls to Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s office.

As potential LIRR strike looms, mediation board calls unions, MTA back to bargaining table

With a potential Long Island Rail Road strike less than three weeks away, the National Mediation Board has called the two sides to a meeting in an effort to kickstart stalled negotiations.

Colorful (and illegal) July 4th tradition divides residents of Inwood

Inwood has gained a colorful reputation for its homespun Fourth of July fireworks, but not everybody is welcoming the return of the explosive Independence Day tradition.

Liv Tyler suffers wardrobe malfunction in NYC

New bombs prompt elevated airport security overseas

Concerned about a new generation of bombs that can evade detection, the Obama administration on Wednesday ordered “enhanced” security at some overseas airports.

British watchdog investigates Facebook for mood manipulation study

The British data watchdog is investigating whether Facebook Inc violated data-protection laws when it allowed researchers to conduct a psychological experiment on its users.

Two Bronx women say NYPD cops shot their dogs while out for a walk, file suit

A pair of Bronx women say cops opened fire on their dogs while they were taking them out for a walk earlier this year.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl reintegrating to civilian life with trips to library and grocery store

The freed POW is being reintegrated into society and has been escorted several times out of his care facility outside Fort Sam Houston in Texas, an Army spokeswoman told CNN.

SEE IT Czech man cheats death as flying concrete debris from demolition zooms past his head

The large rock missed smashing into his face by mere inches during the razing of the OP Prostějov clothing factory last week.

Shia's downward spiral: See the transformation

PICTURED The baby-faced Chechen jihadist who's emerged as the face of ISIS terror group that's declared new 'caliphate' across Iraq, Syria

A bloodthirsty Chechen jihadist has risen to become one of the top commanders of ISIS, the Al Qaeda splinter group that has declared a new "caliphate" across the fractured border of Iraq and Syria.

Two NYC building safety firms indicted on charges of falsifying reports — even signing dead man’s name

Two firms hired to guard against worker injuries at building sites across Manhattan routinely lied on documents — including using the signature of a dead safety manager, authorities announced Wednesday.

Citi Bike rates may spike 50% to save bike-sharing program

The cost of Citi Bike annual memberships could rise by more than 50% under a new deal to save the cash-strapped program.

No evidence Oscar Pistorius has 'history of abnormal aggression or explosive violence': psychologist

A psychologist who evaluated the sprinter claimed in a report that Pistorius’ ‘degree of anxiety and depression present is significant,’ and that he could possible kill himself if the conditions worsened.

Half of all American adults suffer from a chronic illness, CDC says

Half of all adults in the U.S. have at least one chronic disease, like diabetes , high blood pressure or obesity, found the CDC. And more than a quarter have two or more conditions.

Sports

Lin-sulted! Rockets showcase Melo in Jeremy's No. 7 jersey

Carmelo Anthony was welcomed at Toyota Center in Houston on Wednesday with a billboard of him wearing a Rockets uniform.

Kidd denies Brooklyn power play move: It's not true

Jason Kidd denied that a lust for power led to his leaving the Nets and becoming head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in a stunning turn of events that has left both franchises bruised and picking up the pieces.

'Secretary of Defense,' Tim Howard, talks Barack Obama, future

Tim Howard is so popular right now, he could probably run for President and win.Until that happens, the U.S. soccer team goalie and star of its stirring World Cup run, will have to settle for fielding a call from this country’s current leader.

As Serena recoups, Martina questions 'illness'

Serena Williams’ “viral illness” may have derailed her doubles run at Wimbledon, but her Instagram game is still on point.

Goalie Tim Howard plays down heroic effort in U.S. loss to Belgium

Sometimes, you gain your most meaningful praise not from your allies, but from opponents. And to a man on Tuesday, the Belgians came out of the locker room and said they had never seen a goalkeeping show like the one by Tim Howard on Tuesday.

LATEST NEWS: Bondy World Cup Diary: My Cup of memories; U.S. match versus Belgium draws 21 million viewers; Bondy: U.S. soccer's here to stay; 'Secretary of Defense,' Tim Howard, talks Barack Obama, future; Tim Howard is hero to Americans after World Cup performance; View All

Keeping up with the karnival: Kim K. and family hit the rides

Navy names 1st female four-star admiral — service's highest rank

Michelle Janine Howard was promoted Tuesday after serving in the Navy for 32 years. In 1999, she became the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship.

Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy charged in corruption probe for allegedly using his influence to thwart 2007 election campaign probe

The step, which often but not always leads to trial, is a major setback to Sarkozy's hopes of a comeback after his 2012 defeat by Socialist rival Francois Hollande.

Suicide bomber kills 8 in attack on air force bus in Afghan capital

Army Gen. Kadamshah Shahim said the bomber was stopped before he could enter the bus, likely limiting the number of casualties.

Cameron Diaz, Benji Madden lock lips at NYC restaurant

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES Tourists in Ibiza being sold 'Cannibal' drug linked to vicious face-eating attack on homeless man in Miami: cops

Cops on the Spanish party island have launched a severe crackdown on powerful Methylenedioxypyrovalerone - after an outbreak of extreme violence among takers.

Boy, 12, who opened fire at New Mexico middle school will stay in state custody until he’s 21: judge

A judge on Wednesday ordered the maximum sentence for a then 12-year-old Mason Campbell who opened fire in a Roswell middle school gym earlier this year, injuring two students.

STILL HUNGRY! Mom of 'Cannibal Cop' plans to make home-cooked meal for son's first full day home after conviction is thrown out

Elizabeth Valle (right) said he planned to make a nice breakfast for her son Gilberto Valle — who was just cleared for plotting to kidnap, rape and devour his wife and other women.