MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

EARLY BIRD

EXCLUSIVE Brooklyn man imprisoned 29 years for murder to have conviction tossed thanks to years of lobbying by late boxing legend Hurrican Carter

David McCallum (right), one of the two men put behind bars in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of Nathan Blenner, has fought for his innocence for decades. Rubin (Hurricane) Carter (left, center), who was wrongfully convicted in a triple murder, pleaded McCallum be released in a letter published by The News just months before his death.

SEE IT 'Turmoil brings havoc': Six Hong Kong police officer reassigned after being caught on video beating protesters

Six Hong Kong police officers caught on video beating protesters have been reassigned while hundreds of other officers drove activists from an underpass in the dead of night in the worst violence since the street demonstrations for greater democracy began more than two weeks ago.

Mayoral aide, whose boyfriend is ex-con, owes city nearly $900 for unpaid parking tickets: report

A top aide to Mayor de Blasio, who has been under heavy scrutiny since her relationship with a troubled ex-con was revealed, reportedly owes the city close to $900 in parking tickets.

Sandy Rubenstein slow to get rape charges to avoid DSK repeat: attorney

Manhattan prosecutors have been slow to charge Sanford Rubenstein with rape because they fear another high-profile loss — like the one suffered in the bungled prosecution of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

American killed by camel that escaped its pen at Mexico beach resort's wildlife center

A 60-year-old American was killed by a camel which escaped from its pen and attacked him at a wildlife center he owned in the Mexican beach resort of Tulum, local emergency services said on Tuesday.

Take it or leave it? Mrs. Clooney's new name sparks feminist debate

'I KEEP ASKING WHY?': Tragic Maryland car crash kills two kids and three adults — 10 kids now motherless

Sisters Typhani Wilkerson (left) and Tameika Curtis (right) were killed, leaving their combined 10 children motherless. A GoFundMe page has been established by their brother Michael Wilkerson.Two Maryland children and three adults were killed Friday night in what officials are calling one of the worst traffic accidents they've ever seen.

Alabama church sues pastor who refuses to resign despite confessing to using drugs, sex with church members while having HIV

An Alabama church board has filed a lawsuit seeking to remove the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church pastor who refuses to leave, despite a vote to oust the man, who confessed to using drugs and having sex with church members while being HIV-positive.

Chemical weapon exposure sickens U.S. military members: report

Nearly two dozen members of the U.S. military have been exposed to old chemical weapons in Iraq — and secret stashes of the deadly munitions remained scattered across ISIS-held territory.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife donate $25M to CDC to fight Ebola outbreak

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are donating $25 million to the CDC Foundation to help address the Ebola epidemic.

Amy Poehler dishes on doing cocaine, ecstasy in new book

Dallas nurses say they were ‘unprepared’ to handle Ebola victim

Nurses at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital say they were “unsupported and unprepared” to handle the nation’s first Ebola victim.

Dallas nurse with Ebola 'doing well,' says she's grateful for prayers

Nina Pham, the Dallas nurse infected with Ebola, broke her silence to express gratitude for all the kind messages she's received.

Wisconsin high school football captain nabbed in online child sex sting — 'This is not Match.com, it's Close Encounters on Craigslist'

A Wisconsin high school football captain was among two dozen people busted in an online child sex crackdown, authorities said.

DOCTOR 'BOO!': Dr. Nancy Snyderman blasted by critics over 'crappy' apology for breaking Ebola quarantine to go to N.J. restaurant, now facing Twitter backlash

Four days after she was spotted outside a New Jersey restaurant, NBC News Chief Medical Editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman issued an apology Monday for violating her Ebola quarantine. But some — like Matt Lauer, Rosie O'Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg — were not so forgiving.

Google Glass user who wore specs 18 hours a day treated as first addict — says ditchind specs was 'much worse' than withdrawing from alcohol

An enlisted serviceman recently underwent a 35-day Google Glass detox in San Diego after experiencing withdrawals which he described as 'much worse' than withdrawing from alcohol.

Doutzen Kroes shares intimate family vacation snap

Harvard junior, an illegal immigrant who brought dying mother, to Mexico can return to United States on temporary probation

A Harvard University student stuck in Mexico for months after breaking an immigration rule was told Tuesday that he will be allowed to return home to the United States.

Brown recluse spider bite kills 10-year-old Montana boy: coroner

A venomous spider bite caused the bacterial infection that ultimately killed a 10-year-old Montana boy, an autopsy revealed. Keith Pierce was running wild in a flag football game on Oct. 4. Nine days later he was dead, the result of a leg infection caused by a brown recluse spider bite.

NEWLYWED TRAGEDY: Just-married Ohio groom, friend killed after truck careens off road, rolls over and crashes into utility pole as they were driving to reception

An Ohio couple's new life together ended just hours after it began when a truck carrying the newlyweds and two friends careened off a road, killing the groom and one of his friends.

UNHOLY: Prominent D.C. rabbi secretly filmed women bathing inside synagogue: police

Barry Freundel, 62, faces a voyeurism charge after he allegedly used a hidden camera to film women in the mikvah, a ritual bath used in Orthodox Judaism.

Brother of alleged Holly Bobo killer charged with rape after admitting he sexually assaulted the nursing student

Tennessee authorities Tuesday indicted John Dylan Adams on two counts of rape in the ongoing investigation of Holly Bobo’s murder.

New York

Russian mobster, convicted of running international illegal betting operation, wants $8M for his Madison Ave. apartment

A convicted Russian mob enforcer recently sentenced to five years in the big house has put his even bigger house on Madison Ave. on the market for $7.85 million.

Long-awaited lottery to begin for two towers of affordable Hunter's Point South

Nearly 50,000 New York City residents are expected to enter a lottery, starting Wednesday, to win the chance at an affordable apartment in a brand new luxury rental tower on the Long Island City waterfront.

Transgender woman in critical condition after 4 men attack her in apparent Brooklyn hate crime

Cops are hunting for the fearsome foursome responsible for the vicious assault at the corner of Bushwick Ave. and Halsey St. in Bushwick at 11:20 p.m. Monday.

Cops need to seriously investigate recent crimes against Jews in Brooklyn, pols and community leaders demand

Police need to aggressively investigate two high-profile crimes against Jews in Brooklyn, a group of local pols and community leaders demanded Tuesday.

Queens man forged deed, stole 70-year-old woman's family home, trashed antiques: DA

Darrell Beatty, 49, of Laurelton, was busted on his way into Queens Housing Court, where he was battling Jennifer Merin’s efforts to boot him from her home on 141st Ave. in Laurelton.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Study reveals rats in NYC carry variety of infectious bacteria and 'large number of unknown viruses'

A new study of the city’s rat population exposed the rodents as four-legged petri dishes carrying an assortment of infectious bacteria and the Seoul hantavirus — which can cause an Ebola-like fever.

Queens doctors urge New Yorkers to be ‘very calm’ if they think they have Ebola

Chill out, New Yorkers: a little fever or nausea does not mean you have Ebola — particularly if you haven’t left the five boroughs lately.

WATCH Hammer-wielding bigot attacks Brooklyn man while yelling anti-gay slurs

The 33-year-old victim was followed into the lobby of his apartment building on Washington Ave. near Empire Blvd. on Monday morning when he was attacked.

PICTURED 'It’s like a part of the family is going away': Bed-Stuy mural of heroines set for demolition

The writing is on the wall for a beloved Bedford-Stuyvesant mural.

GIN AND JOUST: Snoop, Iggy trade jabs on social media

HOLD FIRE, FINEST: After deadly choke hold, NYPD makes $25M retrain push to tame cops antics

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton ordered Deputy Commissioner of Training Benjamin Tucker to conduct a “top-to-bottom” review of instruction on the use of force after a Staten Island man died in a cop choke hold.

Oregon’s 'first lady,' governor's fiancee, admits to pot growing while in 'abusive relationship with a dangerous man' in the past

The colorful past of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s fiancee includes a phase as an aspiring marijuana farmer.

Two babies alive for ‘some time’ before being found dead in vermin-infested Blackstone home: prosecutor

At least two of the three babies whose skeletal remains were found in a filthy, vermin-infested Massachusetts home may have been alive “for some period of time” before they were found, a prosecutor said in court Tuesday.

Buck's antler shatters car window, impales Arkansas teen in jaw

An Arkansas teen left the hospital Tuesday after literally colliding head-on with a deer. Five days after parading on the football field as part of Paragould High School's homecoming court, 17-year-old Tori Lyn Henry was left fighting for her life after being broadsided by a deer while driving down a busy roadway in Jonesboro, Ark.

Infant who survived three days beneath father’s corpse is ‘back to her normal self’: aunt

Betty Jean Kelly, who was discovered Friday night pinned between her father and his bed's headboard in Pleasant Hill, is still experiencing some swelling but is expected to make a full recovery, Kristy Fields told the Shreve Port Times.

Tom takes epic selfie with 'Dead,' 'Gotham' stars

'BARBARIC SPECTACLE': Man sues Oklahoma over brother's botched execution that took nearly an hour

A lawsuit filed Monday by Clayton Lockett's brother argues that his slow, 'barbaric' death by lethal injection last spring violated his constitutional protection from cruel and unusual punishment. Executions typically take 10 minutes.

5 teens charged for drenching autistic Ohio boy with bodily fluids in prank Ice Bucket Challenge: DA

Five teens have been criminally charged in juvenile court with dumping a bucket full of urine and tobacco spit on an autistic Ohio teen who believed he was participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

HOLY COW! Illinois cow named by Guinness as tallest in the world, standing at 6-foot 4-inches

A farmer in Orangeville Ill. is the proud owner of 6-foot-4 Blossom who just received designation by Guinness World Records as tallest in the world.

SURPRISE FIND: Doctors find tumor in California teen football player's leg after game injury

A high school quarterback in California was hospitalized after breaking his leg during a routine tackle Friday night — but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Rob Astorino offers $1,000 to anyone who gets Cuomo to talk

Rob Astorino is offering $1,000 to anyone who will crash Gov. Cuomo’s book signing event in Union Square Wednesday and get him to answer five questions on camera about his now defunct anti-corruption commission.

Sports

Islanders embarrass NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden in 6-3 win

Mike Kostka was going to be benched the rest of Tuesday night’s game. The Rangers defenseman had committed two turnovers that led directly to Islanders goals. But after the Blueshirts’ rivals unloaded three goals on Henrik Lundqvist in the opening six minutes of the third period, Alain Vigneault sent Kostka back over the boards.

Vacchiano: Cowboys seeing a complete Romo, bad news for Giants

As the story goes, Jerry Jones was determined to draft Johnny Manziel when the Dallas Cowboys were on the clock in May, because he wanted to restore some excitement and relevance to his beloved team.

Royals take 3-0 ALCS lead on O's, win away from 1st World Series since 1985

No World Series champion in the wild-card era has ever swept its way through the postseason. The Royals are threatening to change that. Neither an off day nor a rainout could slow the Royals’ magic carpet ride as Kansas City moved within one win of the World Series Tuesday night, pulling out a 2-1 win over the Orioles in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

Bondy: As NBA tries to save time it should lose the timeouts

There isn't a sportswriter alive who doesn’t want the games to get shorter and the deadlines to grow longer, so there will be no disagreement here about the experiment going on in Brooklyn on Sunday. There are, however, a few suggestions.

THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY

Honorable mentions: See which schools got the nod

Decisions, decisions: How to pick the best place to educate your teen

With more than 400 free, public high schools to pick from, the families of city students have their work cut out for them when it comes to choosing a secondary education.

The methodology: See how the city's institutions got ranked

U.S. News & World Report ranked the New York City high schools that had data on 12th-graders from the 2012-13 school year. Schools were first screened based on how well they performed on state tests.

Brooklyn: Edward R. Murrow High School adds TV studio

Standing on a whole city block, Brooklyn’s Edward R. Murrow High School takes full advantage of its big footprint, with nine gyms, two theaters, and a business office with the latest communication technology.

Queens: Scholars’ Academy offers close-knit community

It's hard to get lost in the crowd at Scholars' Academy. The close-knit school of 1,300 middle and high school students has collaboration at its heart.

Mark your calendar: Key dates in the application process for 2015-16

From registration to fairs, here are all the dates to mark on your calendar for this upcoming school year.

Bronx: University Prep Charter High School delivers personal attention

New Principal Leticia Pineiro joined University Prep Charter High School during the lull of summer vacation. But that doesn't mean she took it easy.

Martha trims staff, gets ready for big tussle with Gwyneth

Killers of NYPD cop Edward Byrne up for parole again

The four men — Scott Cobb, Philip (Marshall) Copeland, David McClary and Todd Scott — were convicted of the 1988 execution-style murder of Byrne and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown want to make sure they stay there.

Obama says he’ll wait until after midterm elections to name attorney general replacement

President Obama does not plan to announce his choice for attorney general before the November elections, shielding the nomination from the midterm election politics while setting up a potential year-end showdown with the lame duck Senate.

MEIN METH: Hitler constantly high on the drug while leading Nazi Germany: report

New research shows that the German Nazi leader was on a constant supply of crystal methamphetamines to stay awake and energized, according to the UK Independent.

Russia hits back at Australia after leader physically threatens Vladimir Putin

A Russian diplomat on Tuesday dismissed the Australian prime minister’s threat of a physical confrontation with the Russian president as immature, warning that Vladimir Putin is a judo expert.

Dexter hits Broadway in glitter and 3-inch stilettos

PARK STABBING: Knife-wielding suspect in custody after two Boston Park Rangers are jabbed on Boston Common

Two Boston Park Rangers have been hospitalized after being stabbed on Boston Common, one with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Family of homeless Denver street preacher who died in police custody wins $4.65 million

A federal jury on Tuesday found five Denver sheriff’s deputies used excessive force against a homeless street preacher who died in the city’s downtown jail and awarded his family a record $4.65 million in damages, a verdict an attorney said should send a message to law enforcement everywhere.

Federal appeals court reinstates Texas voter ID law, will take effect for November elections

A federal appeals court has reinstated a Texas voter ID law that the U.S. Justice Department describes as the state’s latest tool to suppress minorities in elections.

Domestic abuse victims have tough time seeking public housing from NYCHA

For Avora Williams, it hasn’t been easy seeking a safe haven in public housing to escape the physical abuse she says she suffered from her son’s father.

Zach looks slimmer than ever at New York Film Festival

'There are going to be periods of progress and setbacks': Barack Obama says ISIS terrorists present marketing challenge

President Obama conceded Tuesday that ISIS terrorists present as much a marketing challenge as a military predicament.

Bill de Blasio honored for fighting advocates of charter schools

Mayor de Blasio accepted an award Tuesday from a liberal group that lauded him for taking on advocates of charter schools and “centrist” Democratic policies tied to Bill and Hillary Clinton.

City Board of Elections fights nepotism with note to workers

The embattled city Board of Elections is fighting nepotism with a memo. The board voted Tuesday to give all its workers a written reminder of the City Charter’s prohibitions on using their jobs to enrich themselves and their families.

Hey, Bey, where's Larry & Curly? Siren debuts Stooges-inspired cut

Connecticut police kill armed man after stabbing on coach bus: cops

The busy I-95 corridor was shut down in Norwalk, Conn. Tuesday night after a Connecticut State police officer shot and killed a man armed with a box-cutter on a coach bus after the suspect stabbed two passengers, according to reports.

SEE IT NCAA grants wish to dying college basketball player, moves season opener

There will be no hoopla, just gratitude. The start of the NCAA college basketball season will begin at a small Division III Catholic university. A freshman suffering from an inoperable brain tumor will get her dying wish of playing basketball after the NCAA, in an unusual decision, allowed Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati to move its season opener to accommodate the teenager's grim prognosis.