MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

EXCLUSIVE Mystery Mount Sinai patient who sparked Ebola scare in New York City is revealed and recalls his 72 hours of terror in isolation — VIDEO

While New York held its collective breath last week, frightened over reports that an anonymous patient at Mount Sinai Medical Center was infected with the deadly Ebola virus, Eric Silverman’s feverish eyes were glued to CNN. “Is that me they are talking about?”

Read the alarming text messages between Mount Sinai patient with Ebola symptoms and stunned friend

Eric Silverman texts his friend Zak beginning at 8:27 a.m. Wednesday from the isolation room at Mount Sinai Hospital where he was being treated with IV antibiotics — at first Zak thought it was all a joke.

Passenger plane carrying at least 40 people, including 7 children, crashes in residential area of Iran's capital: report

A small Iranian passenger plane crashed Sunday while taking off from an airport near the capital, Tehran, state media reported. The country's state-run news agency said 40 people were feared killed in the crash.

Sunbathing Utah teen critically injured after car runs over her in driveway

The teen, who was not identified, was wearing headphones and didn’t hear the vehicle start, according to police. The car was driven by a relative.

THE SPY WHO 'KILLED' ME: Florida husband bugged his wife’s phone before her murder: report

First he bugged her phone, and then he killed her. Those are the new charges against a Florida man accused of slaying his wife and hiding her body.

Florida church cancels funeral after discovering deceased was gay

A Tampa church canceled the funeral of a man the night before the ceremony was set to go ahead after finding out he was gay.

James Cameron talks with News about hitting new low

Lupica: Jets will stick with Geno Smith no matter how well Michael Vick plays

You know why the Jets have to be right about Geno Smith? They have to be right because if they’re not, it means they were wrong about two quarterbacks in a row.

'Johnny Football' Manziel looks sharp in preseason debut with Browns with 7 passes for 63 yards

Johnny Manziel showed off some of his fancy footwork, and the Cleveland rookie looked sharp with his arm too in his preseason debut, although the Browns lost to the Detroit Lions 13-12 on Saturday night.

EXCLUSIVE CIty consultant hired for de Blasio ID card plan previously flagged over 'questionable spending'

In April, an obscure quasi-governmental agency called the NYC Technology Development Corp. hired a consultant to map out the implementation of the city’s new municipal ID card.

NO TIPS FOR YOU: NYPD reminds visitors that costumed characters in Times Square do not need to be tipped for photoscostumed characters is optional

The NYPD is using information in the fight against unscrupulous Spidermen and Cookie Monsters in Times Square, reminding visitors that tips are optional and report any complaints.

Hamill: Hoping for a hit in charity softball game with Mets greats

I wanna get a base hit off Doc Gooden. Or Johnny Franco. That might happen Aug. 19 at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ MCU Park when I play in a celebrity softball game.

Julia jokingly jabs at Halle Berry: 'I'm the prettiest'

Washington state man accused of drugging 14-year-old kidnapping victim

When a grocery store clerk recognized a missing teenager wandering the aisles of his Washington state store, the girl claimed she was with her grandfather, police say.

Christian bridal shop owner in Pa. turns away lesbian couple to avoid breaking 'God's law'

A Christian bridal shop owner in Pennsylvania had a message for a pair of blushing brides-to-be: We don’t serve lesbians. The unidentified couple tried to schedule an appointment at W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, only to be told by an employee that the owner currently “[does] not service same-sex couples.”

Passed out partygoer of Michigan rave defends toxicity: 'I handled this one well'

To 27-year-old Ray Hulin — who was caught by local TV crews lying motionless on the floor after a massive rave dubbed ‘Project P’ — his filming was the one shot of the night that was below the belt.

Zambia bans visitors from West African Ebola countries

Citizens four West African countries hard-hit by the raging Ebola virus are banned from Zambia, national officials announced Saturday.

Remembering Sharon Tate: Actress killed by Mansons

Tibet tour bus plunges off cliff, killing unknown number

A tour bus carrying about 40 people fell off a 30-foot cliff in southwest China's mountainous region of Tibet on Saturday, causing some fatalities, the country's official news agency reported.

Raissman: Will Stephen A. Smith's arrival at SiriusXM cause friction and/or raise Mad Dog’s game?

Since SiriusXM suits acquired his services in 2008 and started his own channel, Christopher Russo was not just the Mad Dog, he was the Top Dog of satellite radio’s sports wing. With SXM honchos now escorting a Rottweiler into the kennel in the form of Stephen A. Smith, Doggie’s reign is in serious jeopardy of ending. Has Russo met his bark — and bite?

Ex-Charles Manson follower denied parole — for the third time

A board recommended parole for 71-year-old Bruce Davis in March, but Gov. Jerry Brown reversed that decision Friday.

N.J. wife helps cops bust spa after following hubby inside the massage parlor and witnessing sex acts

A shady massage parlor was raided by cops after a Rutherford wife trailed her husband inside the storefront and got an eyeful, cops said. She aided in the arrest of Shanji An, left, and Mei Shu Jiang, right.

New York

Girl, 7, who survived savage knifre attack in Brooklyn elevator, recovers and ready to head back to school

Two months after surviving a knife-wielding maniac’s attack in a Brooklyn elevator, 7-year-old Mikayla Capers danced and posed for pictures Saturday in her first public appearance since the stabbing.

12-year-old girl shot in the leg on Queens basketball court, two men arrested

The girl, identified by neighbors only as Aliyah, was hit in the left leg when at least one shot was fired at a court along Beach 59th St. near Beach Front Rd. in Arverne at 4:43 p.m., police said.

Bill de Blasio has a lot to gain should Brooklyn win the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Mayor de Blasio will have a lot on the line this week when he wines and dines Democratic Party leaders who will decide whether to hold the party's 2016 presidential convention at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

ALL CLEAR? MTA says no more bedbugs have been found on subway lines

An MTA spokesman on Saturday said there were no new signs of bedbugs on subways, and they haven’t cropped up on other train lines.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Breastfeeding moms nurse babies on A train for the 'Breastfeeding Subway Caravan'

SCORES OF breastfeeding moms and their supporters flooded a Brooklyn-bound A train Friday and encouraged straphangers to go with the flow.

Rev. Al Sharpton announces ‘Justice Caravan’ for chokehold-victim Eric Garner

The Rev. Al Sharpton announced Saturday that demonstrators attending a Staten Island protest in two weeks will arrive via buses before marching on the district attorney’s office.

Woman, 25, found dead by a dog walker in Riverside Park with beer cans and pills lying nearby: cops

A 25-year-old Manhattan woman was found dead in Riverside Park early Saturday and cops are unsure how she died.

Kim's most 'selfish' act yet: A 352-page book of her selfies

Renisha McBride’s shooter is ‘shocked’ by guilty verdict

A suburban Detroit man convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of a young, unarmed woman on his porch is "shocked" by the verdict and deeply remorseful over her death, his attorney said Friday.

Former Giants DT Linval Joseph shot in leg during Minneapolis nightclub shooting

Former Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph was among those injured in the nightclub shooting that rocked the Minneapolis area early on Saturday morning.

Boston Marathon survivor reunited with lost service dog

A Boston Marathon bombing survivor has been reunited with her beloved service dog less than a day after the pooch ran away from home Friday.

Jennifer Aniston opens up about her ideal weight

Man blasts Israeli music, droves car decorated with Iraeli flags past a mosque in Brooklyn, cops said

Chaim Weiss, 20, was allegedly caught on a surveillance camera repeatedly driving past the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge in a car “festooned with four Israeli flags” and blasting music, officials said.

Trash cash! Florida workers find 2,000 silver coins during demolition

Jackpot! City workers in Florida discovered more than 2,000 silver coins when they tore apart the walls of a condemned house.

EXCLUSIVE Racy prison letter, discovery of condoms in purse drove Pennsylvania dad to murder wife in front of kids

A peek inside his wife’s purse sent a jealous Pennsylvania husband into a homicidal rage, leading him to murder his wife and bring his kids to NYC before offing himself.

Sports

Yanks can't capitalize on day Jeter passes Honus Wagner as offense sputters vs. Tribe

There was energy aplenty at the Stadium on Saturday. Paul O’Neill’s Monument Park plaque was unveiled in a pre-game ceremony and Derek Jeter sent an additional jolt through the ballpark when his sixth inning single moved him past Honus Wagner and into sole possession for sixth place on baseball’s all-time hits list.

The season that wasn't: 1994 Yankees primed for World Series before strike ended the dream

The two men whose best chance for October glory may have come in the year they canceled the World Series don’t really discuss 1994 when they see each other, Buck Showalter says. It’s hard not to think about what might have been, though, and when Showalter sees his old first baseman, he and Don Mattingly exchange what Showalter describes as “kind of a look."