MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

SEE THE VIDEO Armed robber opens fire on 2 NYPD officers, both wounded but alive, responding to Bronx burglary — manhunt launched for two suspected thugs

Officer Andrew Dossi was shot in the arm and back while Officer Aliro Pellerano was shot in the arm and abdomen at about 10:30 p.m. in Fordham Heights, police sources said. Both went to St. Barnabas Hospital, where they are expected to recover.

Rachel Noerdlinger, former City Hall aide to First Lady Chirlane McCray, hired at Mercury Public Affairs

The former top aide to First Lady Chirlane McCray announced on Twitter on Monday that she was hired as managing director at the PR firm.

Woman, 25, jumps to death at Connecticut mall: police

A woman, 25, jumped to her death at a Connecticut mall Monday, police said.

'SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND': Grieving mother of girl, 14, killed in Kentucky plane crash mourns daughter

Sierra Wilder died along with her aunt, uncle and 9-year-old cousin Friday night when their small plane crashed while the family was attempting to return home to Illinois from a vacation in Florida.

THAT WAS FAST! Recently engaged Cameron, Benji tie the knot in L.A. home

School bus collision with train leaves 2 dead in North Dakota, at least 11 injured

The school bus driver reportedly failed to yield to the oncoming train just east of Larimore before 4 p.m., killing the driver and a 17-year-old student.

Arizona woman hoards more than 100 animals, including zebras, at house: cops

Noah and his ark have nothing on an Arizona homeowner.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES Miss BumBum contestant reveals SHOCKING damage to leg from botched plastic surgery

Brazilian model Andressa Urach, 27, who finished second in the contest for the nation's best backside, spent a month in the hospital after an infection spread from injections she had in her legs.

Beverly Johnson has no regrets revealing details of Bill Cosby attack

Cheap gas benefits consumers, but oil companies and stock market suffer

Cheaper gas is benefiting consumers, but it has hurt oil companies and caused the stock market to spiral downward Monday.

GOOD RIDDANCE! Disgraced S.I. Rep. Michael Grimm officially resigns following guilty plea to tax evasion

Rep. Michael Grimm has officially resigned his congressional seat in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner.

Christie’s brother RIPS Jerseyites with 'their panties in a ringer’ over Gov’s support for Dallas Cowboys

Chris Christie’s younger brother Todd slammed haters criticizing Christie's support of the Dallas Cowboys.

White hot! Celebs hit the beach to beat winter chill

TWISTED METAL: Pedophile rock star, partner spoke on sex tape of having baby so they could rape and kill it: authorities

Pedophile rocker Ian Watkins and his partner spoke in sex tape of having a child so they could rape and kill it, a court charged.

Infant’s body recovered from alligator-infested Florida river after bizarre tragedy

Divers recovered the body of a 7-month-old infant from a Florida river Monday morning after the child and his uncle drowned Sunday evening.

U.S. veteran left with permanent erection after given sleep medication at VA Hospital: attorney

Edward Stalling was not only left impotent but a laughing stock among doctors at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, his attorney said.

SHIRKING THEIR DUTIES? Arrests down 56%, tickets drop by 92% last week in apparent NYPD slowdown

Police rank-and-file appear to have been engaging in a work slowdown to show their displeasure with the mayor.

Three hundred more Daily News readers give aid to slain NYPD officers’ kin as fund hits $307K

A Daily News fund to help the loved ones of slain NYPD Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu got a boost Monday from nearly 300 readers.

'DISRESPECTFUL': Angry de Blasio denounces NYPD cops who turned their backs to him during fallen officer's funeral

“I can't understand why anyone would do such a thing in the context like that,” an angry de Blasio said during a press conference. “And I think it defies a lot of what we all feel is the right and decent thing to do.

Bill Bratton must step in and stop the feud between NYPD, de Blasio: expert

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton have a near-mutiny on their hands.

New York

EXCLUSIVE City pays $142K to settle lawsuits with 3 Occupy Wall Street protesters who said NYPD roughed them up

The city has coughed up $142,500 to settle lawsuits from three Occupy Wall Street protesters who said the NYPD mishandled them.

Family of DC Comics’ founder in battle with widow’s lawyer and business manager over her will

The family of the widow of the DC Comics’ founder is fighting with her lawyer and business manager over her will.

Bill and Hillary Clinton to attend former Gov. Mario Cuomo's funeral Tuesday

Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join mourners at Tuesday's funeral for the liberal lion.

State AG: Queens company owes $300K in Medicaid settlement

A Queens-based transportation company will pay the state back $300,000 in a settlement related to Medicaid payments.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

EXCLUSIVE City and union officials make $207M pact to settle outstanding labor contract for public school custodians and building engineers

City and union officials make $207 million pact to settle an outstanding labor contract for public school custodians and building engineers.

FDNY: Fire at Queens church before Sunday Mass started near organ

The Sunday fire that tore through a prominent Catholic church in Queens started near the parish’s organ, FDNY officials said.

New Jersey man arrested for stealing $1K worth of breast pumps: police

Joseph Galucci, 34, was charged with shoplifting after video capturing the Dec. 1 theft was posted on social media, police said.

Tom Jones, will.i.am shamelessly sneak a peek at Rita Ora

New Yorkers familiar with Etan Patz case are not exempt from jury duty: judge

New Yorkers familiar with the Etan Patz case are not exempt from jury duty, a Manhattan judge told about 100 potential panelists Monday.

CRITTER ATTACK: Florida reptile store owner put lizard in mouth, smacked employees with reptile: police

Benjamin Herman Siegel, 40, faces several charges, including battery and cruelty to animals after the incident Friday at Ben Siegel Reptiles, his Deerfield Beach, Fla., business.

Slain Arizona special-needs teen just wanted to 'be normal,' anguished father says

A special-needs 15-year-old student allegedly killed by her boyfriend in Arizona just wanted to "be normal," her heartbroken father said.

SLEAZY RIDER: Boston cop uses racial slurs during assault on Uber driver, good Samaritan: police

Officer Michael Doherty, a 16-year veteran of the Boston force, has been placed on paid leave as his own department probes allegations against him, which were reported about 3 a.m. Sunday.

'Angels' sizzle in Victoria's Secret swim campaign

Wisconsin police search for owner of diamond ring left on department's Christmas tree

A Wisconsin resident liked a Christmas tree enough to put a ring on it.

SEE IT Texas officer fired for using Taser on 76-year-old man

A Texas police officer was fired Monday for using a Taser on a 76-year-old man in a confrontation caught on camera in December.

Sharyl Attkisson, former CBS reporter, sues federal government over computer, phone hacking

Attkisson claims the Department of Justice of hacked and monitored her work and private electronics as she reported on government scandals.

CLEANED UP FOR COURT: Accused ‘Rambo cop killer’ Eric Frein sports very different look as he faces judge

Eric Frein was well-groomed as he arrived Monday morning for a preliminary court hearing in the murder of Cpl. Bryon Dickson.

Sports

Rams owner planning 80,000-seat NFL stadium near L.A.

Stan Kroenke plans to build a stadium in Inglewood that could be ready to host a team —his, perhaps? — as soon as 2018.

Pedro Martinez reveals he wanted to be a Yankee

Yankees fans can only dream about it now, but Pedro Martinez says he flirted with donning pinstripes.

Serena Williams orders espresso mid-match in Australia

Feeling lethargic and jetlagged, Serena Williams decided a coffee might perk her up after losing her first set Sunday.

NFL VP of officiating denies conspiracy to help Cowboys

Dean Blandino may have partied on the Cowboys team bus back in August, but he wasn't planning some January conspiracy.

SEE IT Penguins play iPad game at California aquarium

San Francisco cops fatally shoot man wielding BB gun outside police station: police chief

Two San Francisco police officers gunned down a man armed with an airsoft pistol Sunday after he drew the realistic-looking weapon.

Nearly 50 monkeys discovered in trunk of car in China

Forestry police made a monkey of animal traffickers in central China when they found nearly 50 wild apes in the trunk of a car.

Juror who declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in grand jury case sues to remove lifetime gag order

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of unnamed juror who wants to speak about investigation but would be in violation of Missouri law by doing so.