MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

'THE GUY JUST SNAPPED': Cops fatally shoot Queens gunman who opened fire inside bar and shot at NYPD: police

Police rushed to the scene after receiving calls that a 30-year-old white man fired a shot — seemingly unprovoked — into the ceiling of the SBS Hillside bar around 9:15 p.m., according to a witness who was working at the bar at the time.

EXCLUSIVE Man who settled suit against the city for $200G for abuse at Rikers Island now clinging to life after getting shot in Brooklyn

Shameik Smallwood, 27, was blasted in the leg and groin Tuesday afternoon during a dispute in a Brownsville apartment. Police sources said he tried to scramble down the fire escape as his attackers opened fire.

Fiery crash kills five Georgia Southern nursing students one last day of hospital training

All five of the dead were nursing students at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, about 30 miles from the crash site.

Alleged rapist 'preyed on numerous different children' at Upper West Side school: prosecutor

Jamal Baughan, 22, used his position at Roads to Success, stationed at Public School 191 on W. 61st St., to get close to four students, including one he raped and another he kissed, Prosecutor Sophia Khan said at his arraignment.

Gwyneth's pretty 'single'-minded, says pal Mario Batali

Worldwide ‘cabal’ of gov't leaders is covering up proof of aliens, former Canadian defense minister claims

Paul T. Hellyer, a former Cold War era Canadian defense minister, told a group of UFO believers that a “cabal” of world government leaders has covered up proof that aliens exist.

Homeless man with 42 prior arrests pushed Penn Station subway rider onto E train tracks: police

Carl Smalls, 50, was pacing the Penn Station subway platform and cursing before he shoved the innocent straphanger, Richard Gang, 53, causing him to lose his footing and lurch into the side of a northbound E train around 10:30 a.m., the sources said.

City parks worker gets fined $1,000 for violating ethics rules by accepting $8 box of chocolates and Godiva liqueur gift

Cristina Badillo, 40, was fined for running afoul of city ethics rules after taking the Godiva liqueur and an $8 box of Whitman’s chocolates as a gift from a grateful arborist whose tree-pruning application she processed.

Jenner's news puts TIME spotlight on 'Transparent' creator

Bronx superintendent suspected of murder gets four years in prison for beating wife two weeks after pal's slay

Nasean Bonie, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison for beating his wife in a separate crime that happened just two weeks before the slay victim’s mysterious disappearance.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 'HE MADE A GOOD DECISION': Bodycam video shows fatal cop-involved shooting in Oklahoma

The footage shows Donald W. Allen, who police said had a history of mental illness, approaching an officer with a raised pistol before shot.

John Hinckley, who tried killing President Reagan, is fit to leave mental hospital: lawyer

John Hinckley was 25 when a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting of Reagan in 1981. Ever since, Hinckley has lived at a Washington mental hospital.

Kimye dine with Ralph Lauren at swanky NYC club

De Blasio again denies rumors of White House run, stating he's focused on City Hall reelection in 2017

“I’ve really said no a lot,” de Blasio said when asked at an unrelated press conference. “I’m going to say no again.”

Nepal bus plunges off mountain highway, killing 17 Indian pilgrims, injuring 27: officials

The bus veered off the Prithvi highway about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Kathmandu, police officer Tejendra said.

Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch's confirmation vote set after Senate passes human trafficking bill

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who is running for President, was the only senator not to vote on the trafficking bill. Lynch would become the first black woman to head the Justice Department.

New York

Students in NYC's elite high schools are from wealthier neighborhoods than regular school students: study

The city’s Independent Budget Office found the average income for Census tracts where kids at nine specialized high schools lived averaged $62,457, compared with $46,392 for other public high schools.

Man, 58, in grave condition after he's found with stab wound to leg in Brooklyn apt.: cops

The victim was discovered in an apartment on Prospect Pl. near Nostrand Ave. in Crown Heights on Wednesday night, according to police.

Bronx child psychologist at at Albert Einstein Medical Center arrested in teen-sexting sting: prosecutors

Justin Miller, 34, was sending the sexts for over a year — and was busted after arranging to meet the fake teen, prosecutors said.

State math exams begin at city schools for grades 3-8 as opt-out movement continues

State math exams kicked off in city schools for students in grades 3-8 Wednesday as the number of kids who opted out of the controversial tests statewide reached 184,666, according to one unofficial tally.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

New York had more than $500M in Medicaid waste during past four years: DiNapoli

New York had more than $500 million in Medicaid waste during the past four years, a new report from state Controller Thomas DiNapoli says.

Jurors in Etan Patz case fail to reach decision after week of deliberations

Accused killer Pedro Hernandez admitted in 2012 to luring the 6-year-old to the basement of the store and choking him lifeless.

EDITORIAL Big-talking Bill leaves city's future to the imagination with pie in the sky 'One New York' plan

In his mayoral campaign, Bill de Blasio made bold promises to apply progressive values to transform New York for the better.

Guess which pop star takes in Wednesday's Mets game?

'We're going to defend ourselves': U.S. battle plan now includes cyberwarfare, new Pentagon strategy warns

The 33-page strategy says the Defense Department "should be able to use cyber operations to disrupt an adversary's command and control networks, military-related critical infrastructure and weapons capabilities."

Tennessee teen posts ‘kill list’ in middle school bathroom: sheriff

A middle schooler was arrested in Tennessee for posting a “kill list” on a bathroom wall, authorities said.

Family of Michael Brown to file wrongful death lawsuit against City of Ferguson

The family of Michael Brown is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Ferguson, Mo., nearly a year after the black teenager was shot and killed by a white police officer in a case that sparked enduring national outrage.

KATHIE LEE & HODA Irate Reds manager should get a cuss word thesaurus

FBI, TSA alert airlines to hackers that may try to access planes' navigation systems through Wi-Fi

The FBI and Transportation Security Administration warned airlines this week to watch out for hackers who might try to gain access to planes’ navigation systems through their Wi-Fi.

Baltimore police did not need ‘probable cause’ to arrest Freddie Gray: lawyer

Freddie Gray, 25, suffered the catastrophic injury under mysterious circumstances following his April 12 arrest.

Retired Calif. cop arrested for stealing $500K from woman he once arrested

Michael Scott Beal, 55, faces nine felony counts of grand theft for taking more than $500,000 from Nancy Joe, who he cuffed for prostitution in 2002 and later falsely promised to marry, according to court documents and reports.