MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

DE BLASIO'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS: Number of homeless people spikes 52% in last five years — grows 6% under de Blasio

The de Blasio administration is struggling to stem the city’s relentless rise in homelessness — as the number of people left without a home grows to 54,745 including 23,000 children.

Man, 60, spots newborn in smoking car and pulls her to safety; 5 people were rushed to hospital after wreck

Jerry McBride, 60, was sitting on a stoop when the car screeched to a halt in Harlem: “I noticed the newborn baby in the back seat. I rushed to the car and pulled her out before any more had happened."

New fear: What happens in Ferguson if no charges?

Conditions calmed this week in Ferguson after nights of sometimes violent unrest stemming from the fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white police officer.

Arizona military mom tries to drown toddler after being told she was going overseas

An Air Force mom in Arizona has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to drown her 20-month-old daughter, authorities said.

WORKAHOLIC-IN-CHIEF: President Obama has spent less time on vacation than predecessors

President Obama, who has faced sharp criticism this week for vacationing and golfing amid crises around the world, actually has spent less time away from the White House than his immediate predecessors.

Too sexy: Critics blast Minaj-like 'Spider-Woman' pose

LOW NOTE: Alabama band teacher had bondage sex with at least EIGHT underage teen girls: cops

A popular Alabama band teacher had inappropriate relationships with at least eight underage students, tying up and gagging the girls during bondage sessions sex in the band room and his house, police said.

Missing Russian student, 20, found dead in Grand Teton National Park after going missing during hike

A Russian student who went missing in Grand Teton National Park has been found dead. The body of 20-year-old Aleksandr “Sasha” Sagiev was found in the park Friday.

NYC JAIL BOSS QUITS: Embattled Rikers Island jail investigations chief steps down

The head of internal investigations at New York City's embattled Rikers Island jail complex has resigned amid intense scrutiny over civil rights violations and inmate deaths.

Hundreds of airport employees — promised raise by airlines — still waiting for bigger checks

Three weeks after the Port Authority adopted a new wage policy for its airport employees, hundreds of workers are still awaiting their $1-an-hour increase.

To have and have not: Lauren Bacall's last will revealed

Arizona 7-year-old dies after choking on lunch in Phoenix elementary school

Little Javier Lopez, a second-grader at Paseo Hills School, became unresponsive in the school cafeteria after choking around 11:10 a.m. He died just before noon. School started for the youngsters on Aug. 11.

PARTY MOM-STER: Connecticut mother supplies booze, condom for teen’s wild bash: cops

Greenwich mom Eliane Mullen, 39, hosted a rowdy drinking and sex party for her 15-year-old daughter and a group of friends, police said, offering up vodka and at least one condom to the teens.

Wyoming cop charged with animal cruelty after death of K9 dog left in hot squad car

Black Labrador Nyx died of heat stroke in July after being locked in a patrol car outside a Mills, Wyo., police station for about five hours as temperatures jumped from 53 that morning to at least 86 degrees.

Calif. lawmakers pass bill to promote searches of gun databases after UC Santa Barbara murders

Three months after the mass shooting that killed six UC Santa Barbara students, California legislators have passed a bill to strengthen the practice of searching gun databases before making welfare checks.

Nicki Minaj dancer bitten by snake in VMA rehearsal

Latest unmanned rocket by SpaceX self-destructs during test flight in Texas

An unmanned SpaceX rocket self-destructed shortly after launching on a test flight at a Central Texas development site, the company said Friday.

Who's the phantom menace that left THIS lying around? Alaska cops investigate ‘suspicious’ light saber

Call Luke Skywalker for backup. Police in Juneau took a call Tuesday to check out a suspicious device spotted on the side of a road.

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says he’s innocent, nothing wrong with gifts accepted from entrepreneur

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell told jurors Friday he was both innocent and contrite as he ended his third straight day of testifying in his corruption trial.

Southern California cop gravely wounded in shootout, his rookie partner kills suspect

A California police officer was fighting for his life Friday after being shot twice during a gun battle, authorities said. The cop's rookie partner managed to kill one of the suspects.

New York

Boy, 20 months old, dies under mysterious circumstances at Bronx day care

A 20-month-old boy died under mysterious circumstances at a Bronx day care run out of a woman’s apartment, authorities and family members said Friday.

Family of Eric Garner, Al Sharpton hope for peaceful Staten Island protest

A DAY before a march against police brutality on Staten Island, the mother of Eric Garner said she hopes the demonstration will be peaceful — and powerful.

NYPD cop faces 17 years in prison for credit card scams, taking payoffs from identity thief

A dirty NYPD cop is facing up to 17 years in prison after admitting to taking payoffs from an identity thief in return for helping him with scams.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Health-code violations at prekindergarten sites have dropped: city officials

Health-code violations at prekindergarten sites have dropped dramatically, city officials announced Friday, less than two weeks before the start of the school year.

Man, 50, fatally stabbed in vestibule of Queens building

The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was stabbed multiple times in the chest inside the building on Broadway near St.

Awkward! Rihanna, Brown cross paths at basketball game

Pentagon fuming after Chinese fighter jet buzzes U.S. Navy spy plane

The Pentagon was not amused by the high-flying antics of a Chinese fighter jet that harassed a U.S. Navy spy in international waters off of China.

Florida man who claims to suffer from ‘sexsomnia’ GUILTY of molesting 7-year-old girl

A jury rejected that defense for Caleb Ruh, 29, who was found guilty on Wednesday of molesting a girl in his care while her mother ran errands.

'This is beyond anything we've seen': Chuck Hagel warns elimination of ISIS may require U.S. attacks in Syria

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey echoed Hagel’s concerns about the fight against ISIS — the savage jihadists behind the beheading of American journalist James Foley.

'One problem I’ve had today is keeping my Wongs straight': Harry Reid apologizes for making jokes about Asians at Las Vegas business lunch

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized Friday for jokes he made about Asians during a luncheon of business leaders in Las Vegas.

Ex-Miss Spain comes out as a lesbian with a sultry Insta-snap

As many as 20 Westerners being held hostage by ISIS: report

The jihadis who cut off the head of American journalist James Foley are imprisoning up to 20 Westerners, including journalist Steven Sotloff, who has been threatened with decapitation by Foley's killer.

Mom of slain Chicago boy said boy left house in a fit over cupcake

The shattered mom of a 9-year-old boy shot and killed in Chicago Wednesday said the boy's horrific slaying came less than an hour after he ran off in a tantrum because she wouldn't give him a cupcake.

In busy Beijing, graphic video of James Foley’s beheading is shown over and over on a giant screen

A gigantic video screen in downtown Beijing is showing gruesome footage of the beheading of American journalist James Foley by Muslim extremists and images of racially charged riots in Ferguson.

American Airlines charging $150 EACH WAY for unaccompanied minors

American Airlines says it will extend its fee for unaccompanied minors to charge $150 extra each way for children between 5 and 14.

Exclusive: Mariah Carey taking her kids on road amid divorce talks

Rocker sparks rage after slamming Robin for committing suicide

Sports

Vacchiano: Time running out to throw Eli Manning a summer block party

For a brief moment at the end of the first half, everything was perfect. The Giants’ new offense was clicking, Eli Manning’s passes were almost all on target, and he had all the time in the world to complete his plays.

Harper: Masahiro Tanaka makes for meaningful September for Yankees

Nothing comes easy for the Yankees these days, certainly not scoring runs, and so even after they scratched out a 4-3 walk-off win against the White Sox on Friday night, their chances of playing meaningful baseball deep into September seem to be iffy at best.

Martin Prado wins game with walk-off single to lift Yankees past White Sox

Martin Prado is earning his pinstripes. The deadline acquisition from Arizona homered in the third and hit a walk-off single up the middle off Daniel Webb to lift the Yankees to a 4-3 win Friday night in the Bronx.

Derrick Rose plays off bench in Team USA rout over Puerto Rico

Carmelo Anthony received the loudest ovation of the night in his first appearance at the Garden since signing his mega contract.

Photos Fans pay tribute to beloved star Robin Williams

Grieving fans from all corners of the globe paid tribute to legendary actor and much-loved comedian Robin Williams following his sudden death on Aug. 11, 2014.

Michelle Rodriguez, Zac Efron split after steamy two-month romance: report

As the summer winds down, so has Michelle Rodriguez and Zac Efron's fast and furious romance. After nearly two months of hot-and-heavy hookups, they've decided to part ways, reports Us Weekly.

Rihanna cools off with some VERY short shorts

The weather is getting warmer, and the shorts are getting shorter. See who in Hollywood isn't afraid to show a little leg ...

Photos Introducing the Facekini: China's most terrifying swimwear trend

Did you get any sun this summer? These beachgoers certainly didn't as they protect their skin in China's latest swimwear trend that's set to go global -- the facekini!

PHOTOS: See the greatest VMA fashion hits and misses of all time

Florida atheists banned from starting public meetings with a prayer, county commissioners decide

In a unanimous decision, the five members of the Brevard County Board of Commissioners has voted to choose clergy from Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Adventists, Mormons, and Muslims — but not atheists.

British doctor once accused of abducting two journalists in Syria may be key to identifying James Foley's ISIS executioner: report

Intelligence sources reportedly believe a British-trained doctor once accused of abducting two Western journalists in Syria might lead authorities to the jihadist who beheaded James Foley.

Naked Portland woman climbs flagpole, wraps herself in flag: cops

Police said that while the unidentified 34-year-old was holding a fire extinguisher and a lighter, she had nothing to do with a building fire a few blocks away.

Russian military fire on Ukraine forces in first confirmation of support for separatists: NATO

Russia sent dozens of aid trucks into rebel-held eastern Ukraine on Friday without Kiev’s approval, saying its patience had worn out with the Ukrainian government’s stalling tactics.

Stacy Keibler, husband Jared Pobre welcome baby daughter

Developers who took $40K from Kickstarter backers for video game they never made finally flee Airbnb condo after squatting for months

Two brothers accused of squatting at a California condo have vanished. Even private investigators hired by Airbnb to stake out the Palm Springs condo never saw Maksym and Denys Pashanin disappear into the night.

Oklahoma dentist whose filthy clinics led to thousands of patients getting tested for HIV, hepatitis permanently surrenders his license

Scott Harrington’s two Tulsa-area clinics have been closed since March 2013, when state health officials urged about 7,000 of his current and former patients to get tested for the diseases.