MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

EARLY BIRD

gal eagle Sandy Rubenstein accused of rape after Sharpton’s 60th bash as cops probe if victim was 'incapable of consent'

The attorney (pictured left, standing behind Rev. Al Sharpton), who has been front and center in many of the city's most notable police brutality cases, allegedly assaulted a 42-year-old business executive and "top official" of Sharpton's National Action Network, police sources told the Daily News. read full story »

EXCLUSIVE Daily News delivery driver uses skills behind the wheel to help cops chase down would-be car thief — VIDEO

Charlene Munn, who has been driving for The News since 2009, helped the NYPD collar a wannabe car thief when she invited two cops into her truck and joined the predawn pursuit of a fleeing suspect.

As New Jersery nun moves closer to sainthood in first beatification Mass to be held in United States ...

A New Jersey nun credited with curing a boy's eye disease moved a step closer to sainthood Saturday in what church officials said was the first beatification Mass held in the United States.

... Pope Francis reaffirms that ISIS must be stopped — and is calling on all Christians and other religious minorities to help

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican, once again backing war to stop the ruthless Islamic State, is demanding that Christians and other religious minorities have the right to return to their homes in Iraq and Syria.

Brandon Belt blast in 18th inning pushes Giants past Nationals in longest postseason baseball game

What eventually became the longest game in postseason baseball history began as a referendum on two teams, the male anatomy, and who had how much of what, and where.

Dallas Ebola patient now in CRITICAL condition, hospital says

Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Duncan is now in critical condition, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said Saturday. He was previously listed in serious but stable condition.

How Jessica Chastain kept her cool on set

Iranian man rescued by Coast Guard while trying use floating hamster wheel to get from Florida to Bermuda

An Iranian endurance runner and peace activist was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday while trying to paddle from Florida to Bermuda in what is best described as a floating hamster wheel.

Lupica: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell becoming undone by his own policy on personal conduct

As we make sure going forward that football players guilty of domestic abuse and domestic violence get everything they deserve, let's make sure due process doesn’t get laid out at the same time.

Apology from France follows death threat emailed to Harvard students

A death threat emailed to hundreds of Harvard University students on Friday was followed by an apology on Saturday, as security was increased across campus.

Florida's Citi Bike program plans expansion in Miami, Coconut Grove even amid NYC bike-share woes

The popular but embattled bike-share program will grow in Florida, adding 750 new bikes and 70 new stations, according to Citi Bike officials.

Sultry Bronx Poison Ivy gets ready for NY Comic Con

BUTT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Massachusetts woman stashed drugs under enhancing padding: police

‘I don’t have a butt so I wear these and another pair of underwear,’ Jill Roy, 33, of Wareham, told police while being booked into jail on drug charges.

French nurse cured of Ebola after contracting virus in Liberia: officials

The unidentified Doctors Without Borders nurse was airlifted from Liberia to France for treatment last month, becoming the first French national to develop the deadly disease.

BASH-LORETTE PARTY: Seattle woman attacked by bridesmaids in dispute over a HOT DOG: cops

Seattle investigators believe a bridal party is likely responsible for the late night mugging of a woman after the bridesmaids took offense to her midnight snack, according to a police report.

'BABY DOC' DEAD: Ousted Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier dies of heart attack

Jean-Claude-Duvalier, the self-proclaimed "president for life" of Haiti whose corrupt and brutal regime sparked a popular uprising that sent him into a 25-year exile, died Saturday of a heart attack, his attorney said.

Curmudgeon charm of Bill Murray comes through once more

Raissman: With sex now considered performance-enhancing, we look at who's getting it and how it's working

Prince Amukamara has brought new meaning to the National Football League’s “Active List.” This better have registered on NFL insiders such as Jay Glazer (Fox) and Chris Mortensen (ESPN).

Pope Francis says he believes in angels and we all have one

Pope Francis believes in angels — and says everyone should listen to them.

Washington state shop owner killed chasing down beer thieves

Yongmin Pak, the owner of James Market in Sedro-Woolley, died Thursday as she chased after a man who stole two cases of beer. She had been hit by a car once before in an effort to stop a different group of shoplifters.

JFK Airport locked down after man bypassed security checkpoint — for a smoke

Kennedy Airport’s Terminal 8 was locked down for nearly two hours Saturday after a man toting a carry-on bag passed through a security checkpoint without being screened, Port Authority officials said.

New York

New York woman has been around for 85 years and hasn't flown in an airplane — until last week

She's 85 going on 500 ... miles per hour. Lifelong New Yorker Marilyn Kleimann decided to wing it last week as she got on a plane for the first time and flew 2,500 miles to Los Angeles.

Brooklyn woman struck by hit-and-run driver while trying to rescue dog that was fatally hit by another car moments earlier

A 31-year-old Brooklyn woman was in critical condition after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver Friday night while trying to rescue her pooch, which was fatally hit by another vehicle moments earlier.

VIDEO Citi YIKES! Sicko caught on camera smearing feces on Citi Bikes seats in Midtown

A man toting a bag full of feces was seen on surveillance camera footage smearing excrement onto the seat of every Citi Bike locked into a docking station in Midtown early Friday.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Transit cop pulls suicidal man from path of subway train

Officer Carlos Guzman was patrolling the platform at the L train's First Ave. station Friday morning when he spotted a despondent 48-year-old homeless man. As the man tried to drop down onto the tracks, Guzman sprung into action.

Ex-cop won't go to jail for shooting partner in wrist after night of drinking

Jay Poggi, 57, who had served 31 years on the force before getting canned following the April incident, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor assault, officials said.

Bella Thorne talks leap from child actress to rising star

9/11 flag that flew at the Capitol during terror attacks destroyed in blaze at Flight 93 Memorial

The National Park Service says a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2001, was consumed in a fire at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.

SPEED DEMON: Metro-North engineer has been recorded speeding FOUR times in week before last year's deadly derailment

An analysis of data records shows that William Rockefeller broke the limit on four out of six runs during the week before the Dec. 1 derailment, which killed four people and injured 70 others.

First enterovirus death in New Jersey is 4-year-old preschooler in southern part of the state: CDC

The boy, whose name was not released, died last Thursday in the first death of a child in New Jersey linked to the virus. It's not clear yet if the illness played a direct role in the boy's death.

Hong Kong police arrest 19 in pro-democracy protests

Hong Kong arrested 19 people, some believed to have organized crime ties, during a night of running brawls stretching into Saturday as mobs tried to drive pro-democracy protesters from the streets where they've held a weeklong, largely peaceful demonstration.

LiLo's on-stage mess pales to Time Out shoot drama

Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 resumes after 4-month hiatus

After a four-month hiatus, the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is about to resume in a desolate stretch of the Indian Ocean.

Washington postal worker charged with ramming person with truck — THREE TIMES

A mail carrier laughing her head off was arrested by police in Washington state after she rammed her U.S. Postal Service truck into a resident. Three times.

Women should not wear jeans, claims Indian singer K.J. Yesudas

A famous Indian singer has said women should not wear jeans because it provokes "undesirable" behavior.

First Lady Chirlane McCray aide Rachel Noerdlinger avoids trouble for failing to divulge she lives with an ex-con

Rachel Noerdlinger, the embattled aide to First Lady Chirlane McCray, will not face disciplinary action for failing to disclose on a background check form that her live-in boyfriend is an ex-con.

Sports

Mehta: GM John Idzik has Jets on path to irrelevancy this season

John Idzik emerged from the Jets’ 19-day search for a general manager last year with plenty of questions surrounding him. His reputation as a rigid salary-cap manager preceded him, but there were justified concerns about a lack of scouting knowledge that have been exposed in the past 20 months.