MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

SCOTS SKIRT INDEPENDENCE: Scotland remains part of U.K. after unprecedented turnout for historic referendum

Scots held the world transfixed as they turned out in record numbers for a historic referendum on independence — but in the end, even pro-secession strongholds fell to the surging ‘No’ vote.

Scots drink in NYC bars as country's independence vote comes down

Some independent-minded Scots in New York cried into their beers Thursday night as early returns on the historic vote to break from England took a negative turn.

BRIDGEGATE BOMBSHELL: Justice Dept. finds no evidence yet Christie knew of GWB lane closures in advance

The U.S. Justice Department investigation into the Bridgegate scandal that threatened Chris Christie’s political career has found no evidence so far the Governor knew of the closures in advance, it was reported Thursday.

Unidentified woman crushed by bus in Brooklyn had a crack pipe in her bra: cops

The woman crushed to death by an MTA bus in Brooklyn while trying to retrieve her cellphone still hasn’t been identified, police sources said Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE Gonzalez: Landlords getting loans for affordable units neglect to fix violations, audit reveals

A city program that provides millions of dollars annually in low-interest loans for private landlords to rehabilitate affordable housing units rarely bothered to verify if those landlords repaired building violations that their loan arrangements required them to fix, an audit by state Controller Thomas DiNapoli has found.

EXCLUSIVE: Jenn Sterger — Favre's sexting victim — rips NFL's domestic spree

'You still worry because of the style of work they do': Exotic dancer, friend found HOGTIED and dead on Florida street

The naked bodies of two teenagers one of them an exotic dancer, were found along a Jacksonville remote street Thursday.

Georgia police shoot, kill man in handcuffs after found armed in patrol car: authorities

Charles Smith, 29, was shot and killed after brandishing a firearm while attempting to break out of a patrol car in Savannah late Thursday morning, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Senate approves Obama’s plan to arm, train Syrian rebels in 78-22 vote

In the heat of an election campaign, Congress cleared the way for the U.S. military to train and equip Syrian rebels for a war against Islamic state militants on Thursday, reluctant ratification of a new strategy that President Obama outlined scarcely a week ago.

Michigan couple’s threesome goes awry, results in bathtub meat-flinging choke attack: report

A Michigan couple's ménage a trois took a bizarre turn when a jealous husband flung hamburger meat into his wife's bathtub and then attacked the man the couple invited into their bedroom.

Rivers' doc who allegedly took sick selfie during surgery

Queens cabbie is first International Taxi Driver of the Year

Queens cabbie Frederick Amoafo is headed to New Orleans to receive the first International Taxi Driver of the Year award.

UVA MYSTERY DEEPENS: Police hunting for man spotted putting his arm around missing student before she vanished

The man in the video — captured on surveillance cameras outside a pizza restaurant — told police he tracked the sophomore because she seemed upset and he wanted to help. He said he followed her until she ran into another man, who put his arm around her, he told police.

Doggie donations draw ruff questions from Oregon Attorney General

Obie won his life back, but the owner of the Portland dachshund who became an Internet sensation by shedding nearly three times his current weight faces a challenge by the Oregon State Attorney General's office over the way donations have been spent.

BOOTYLICIOUS! JLo, Iggy sizzle in new video

City ID cards for undocumented immigrants include membership to culture spots

The city's new ID cards will do more than just give undocumented immigrants identification — they’ll grant free memberships to top cultural institutions, from Carnegie Hall to the Bronx Zoo.

Gigi Jordan transferred funds while son was dying: financial adviser

Gigi Jordan's former financial adviser recalled Thursday a late-night request from her to transfer money from her son’s account — around the same time her autistic child lay on a hotel bed dying.

Arizona man killed after getting sucked into wood chipper

An Arizona man was killed in gruesome fashion early Thursday after he was sucked into a wood chipper, authorities said.

Vick: Goodell ‘doing a great job’ with abuse scandals

Raissman: Ignoring NFL a line no one will cross

While they pinball between panic and crisis, Roger Goodell, NFL owners and other league suits find comfort in the fact that there are lines even their most ardent critics won’t cross.

NFL to provide millions to National Domestic Violence Hotline

The NFL will provide millions of dollars over the next five years to the National Domestic Violence Hotline -- the Texas-based organization that provides support, crisis intervention and referrals to domestic abuse victims -- announced late Thursday.

Giants teammates support Eli Manning's stance on violence

Eli Manning wanted to get the attention of NFL players when he called for an end to domestic violence on Thursday. But the Giants’ franchise quarterback may end up getting the attention of a lot more people than that.

Bears' Brandon Marshall on NFL, domestic violence: ‘We have to let the process play itself out’

Opinionated Chicago Bears wideout Brandon Marshall threw a flag for piling on Thursday at the legion of critics ripping the NFL’s handling of domestic violence cases.

OPINION Letitia James: Domestic violence is much more than a crime

The recent news concerning domestic violence and child abuse among NFL players should cause us great sadness. It should also spur us to confront domestic violence honestly and aggressively.

Procter & Gamble cancels NFL campaign: report

The scandal-scarred NFL took another hit Thursday when Proctor & Gamble reportedly sacked plans for a leaguewide initiative to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Vikings owners who say they want to get Peterson case right 'robbed their partners'

The Minnesota Vikings team owners stood by alleged child beater Adrian Peterson until suddenly they didn’t, treacherous behavior, some say, that has been a hallmark of the two brothers for decades.

‘Daily Show’ host Jon Stewart blasts NFL, Vikings over Adrian Peterson case

The NFL is the gift that keeps on giving to Jon Stewart. A week after ripping the league for botching the Ray Rice case, the "Daily Show" host was back at it on Wednesday's program with an epic takedown of the Adrian Peterson fiasco.

New York

EXCLUSIVE Headaches top the list of emergency room ailments at city-run Kings County Hospital

Headaches, a typically non-life threatening ailment, was the leading cause of emergency room visits at the city-run medical center in fiscal year 2014, records show.

Brooklyn vendor beaten, then kicked in the back by cop after being cuffed speaks out

The Brooklyn fruit vendor who was kicked in the back by a cop after he had been subdued and handcuffed by other officers said he can’t stop thinking about the jarring assault and the officer’s cheap shot.

Ramarley Graham's mother says Dept. of Justice is investigating case after meeting with US District Attorney

Constance Malcolm, the mother of slain Bronx teen Ramarley Graham, is praising the Department of Justice for moving forward with an investigation into the shooting of her son by an NYPD officer in 2012.

De Blasio administration moving to ramp up repairing Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes

The de Blasio administration is moving to hire new contractors in an effort to quadruple the pace at which homes wrecked by Hurricane Sandy are being repaired or replaced.

Northern Blvd. intersection gets crossing guard but injured 6-year-old can't attend school

Chunli Mendoza, 6, would be a first-grader at Public School 228 on Northern Blvd. and 93rd St. if she didn’t have a thick brace on her leg, as well as platinum plates and screws in her femur.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

'It was just something that happened': Accused killer sobs during taped confession for 1979 killing of Etan Patz

The accused killer of 6-year-old Manhattan boy Etan Patz burst into sobs and admitted “it was just something that happened” in a chilling videotape played in court Thursday.

Lawyer accused of embezzling $2M from Staten Island cemetery busted for stealing from clients

A ghoulish lawyer who was busted earlier this year for embezzling $2 million from a Staten Island cemetery was stealing from the living too, prosecutors said Thursday.

Pre-K intern charged with sexually abusing 13 children has bail conditions lowered

Malthe Thomsen, 22, is now able to travel within the state, not just the city, and no longer has to wear an ankle monitor.

Convicted crook accused of trying to hire hit man to kill witnesses

A day after getting convicted of an armed home invasion, a career criminal was hauled back to a Brooklyn court Thursday on charges that he offered a hit man $10,000 to take out a key witness against him.

Sexiest Carl Jr.'s ads in honor of Nat'l Cheeseburger Day

Enterovirus D68 continues its spread, but the numbers may not reflect more cases

The CDC is currently processing 'a backlog of specimens' to confirm the respiratory illness. As of Thursday, the bug had moved up to British Columbia.

Bill Clinton talks double-edged sword of social media

Former President Bill Clinton talked about the double-edged sword that is social media during a Thursday night appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

He 'posed no threat to anyone': Family of unarmed shooting victim filed $75M wrongful death lawsuit against LAPD

The family of the California man shot dead by police announced they have filed a $75 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department.

Video emerges of ISIS victim Alan Henning taken days before his capture

A British Muslim organization is making a direct plea to the Islamic State terrorists to release captive Alan Henning, an aid worker who risked his life to help Syrian locals.

Guess which NY Housewife got the 'boot'?

SEE IT 'She said she couldn't steer the bus': Georgia school bus crashes into house, avoiding park full of children

A school bus driver made a split-second decision to crash into a house rather than drive into a park filled with children after being struck by a vehicle.

Las Vegas couple arrested after police found marijuana, guns and a frozen fetus in a jar

Las Vegas cops were hoping to find evidence related to a shooting, but instead, they found a frozen fetus stashed in a freezer.

Fifth-grader who brought loaded gun to Michigan school had classmate hit list

A fifth-grade student who brought a gun to school had a disturbing list bearing the names of other kids he wanted to hurt, according to Michigan authorities.

Australian police stop ISIS plot to kidnap and behead random victim in Sydney

The Islamic State’s sinister plan to spread unholy terror Down Under by snatching a stranger off a Sydney street and cutting off his head was stymied Thursday by police.

Kendall Jenner walks the runway for Milan Fashion Week

She's how old!? Lucy Liu defies laws of time in sexy shoot

Sports

Jeter homers to open final home stand while Yankees win on walk-off error

Derek knows drama. With the final home stand of his legendary career officially underway, Derek Jeter gave the Yankee Stadium fans another thrilling moment, drilling his first home run in nearly seven weeks to help lead the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Rex Ryan: On national TV, Jets will no longer show cracks

No matter what new way the Jets concoct to shoot themselves in the foot — see: Mornhinweg, timeout — the infamous “butt fumble” game will never be forgotten. The Jets host the Bears on Monday night, the first time they’ve been home for a nationally televised game since the 49-19 Thanksgiving disaster in 2012. That memory prompted Rex Ryan to do something he has refrained from doing for quite a while: make a guarantee.

Devin Hester breaks record as Falcons rout Buccaneers, 56-14

Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and high-stepping Devin Hester led the Atlanta Falcons to one of the biggest wins in franchise history.

Madden: Little reason for Mets GM Sandy Alderson to open wallet

It has been so decreed by Sandy Alderson that the Mets’ payroll for 2015 will not likely be increased much from its present estimated $84 million-$85 million and this, of course, has evoked howls of outrage from the legions of Wilpon critics convinced Mets ownership will never spend what is necessary to field a postseason-caliber team.