MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE 'JUST CALL THEM N------': Baltimore pol gets into heated argument with CNN anchor over use of word 'thug' to describe rioters

Baltimore Councilman Carl Stokes said using the word "thug" to describe the rioters who terrorized the city on Monday is just another racial code word.

'HE VIOLATED ME': Rikers correction officer told she could be FIRED for fighting off inmate’s sexual assault: report

Officer Samantha Moscoso said to ABC 7 of the alleged Sunday morning attack by inmate Dexter Bell, 25. Bell — who she did not know was a sex offender — grab her between her legs.

MTA to ban all political advertising following anti-Muslim poster campaign

The resolution is expected to pass Wednesday at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board meeting after the finance committee approved it earlier in the week.

LAYOVER AT THE GENIUS BAR: Glitch with pilots' iPad navigation app delays several American Airlines flights

American Airlines experienced an iPad meltdown Tuesday night when several flights were temporarily grounded by a software glitch with the hand-held device.

Bruce's kids wary of Kris' control over his new TV show on E!

Indonesia uses firing squad to execute 8 people for drug smuggling as int'l pol slams action was 'brutal and unnecessary'

A Filipino woman — who’d been due to face the firing squad as well — was granted a stay of execution, Indonesia’s Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said Wednesday.

Queens great-great-grandfather, 88, fatally struck by hit-and-run driver while riding bike: cops

That driver, who fled after striking Mohamed Ali, 88, on 131st St. near Rockaway Blvd. in South Ozone Park, was still at large on Tuesday.

Ohio man accidentally shot himself in Chick-fil-A while pulling up his pants in bathroom: cops

The 45-year-old man was licensed to carry the concealed Glock pistol that fired one shot, grazing his leg, but the weapon did not have a safety, the Journal-News reported.

Baltimore protests over Freddie Gray's death continue as city fights to recover from violent riots

LUPICA Fanless game in Baltimore between Orioles and White Sox reflects somber racial divide

Buck Showalter is not just one of the best managers of his time in baseball. He is not just an intelligent baseball man.

OPINION Lester Spence: Baltimore was a ticking time bomb long before Freddie Gray's death lit the spark

Anyone trying to make sense of the riots that overtook Baltimore must understand the backdrop behind the violence

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake known for successfully handling protesters in past

Baltimore’s embattled mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is no stranger to protests and city politics.

THE KING OF PROTEST: Dancer grooves to Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat it’ blocks from burned-out CVS

He climbed atop a box truck on Monday and shimmied on the roof while the King of Pop’s beloved “Beat It” blared.

Eric Garner’s mom: Baltimore riots should be a wakeup call for New York state lawmakers

EDITORIAL Someone must show Baltimore a way forward — starting with President Obama

The lawlessness in Baltimore reflects a belief that police forces have been unjustifiably killing black men at an alarming rate.

OPINION Marc Morial: Freddie Gray's death can be an opportunity for historic change

Sometimes difficult circumstances present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring about historic change.

‘Our great African American President hasn't exactly had a positive impact’: 2016 hopefuls react to riots

Some addressed the continuing unrest in Baltimore head-on, while others treated Tuesday as just another day on the internet stump.

PHOTOS Baltimore residents pick up the pieces after rampaging rioters loot and set fires after Freddie Gray funeral

Baltimore eupted into violence as protesters clashed with police over the death of Freddie Gray — a 25-year-old black man who died after he suffered a spinal cord injury sustained while in police custody.

Hilary Duff is on Tinder — looking for Mr. Swipe Right!

Four NYCHA senior managers canned after selling off MILLIONS of dollars of brand new, unused supplies: officials

Housing Authority Chairwoman Shola Olatoye announced Tuesday that four top managers overseeing the NYCHA inventory sell-off “have been relieved of their duties.”

At least one injured, one arrested in shooting at Ferguson protest: reports

At least one man was hit and one person was arrested in Ferguson, Mo. when shots rang out at a 50-person protest Tuesday night, according to reports.

It’s not delivery! Thieves steal 80 frozen pizzas from warehouse, gobble up 5 and try to sell the rest to Alaska cops

Two men who stole 80 pizzas from an Alaska warehouse were busted after they bizarrely tried to sell them to cops, state troopers said.

‘Partridge Family’ child star actress dead at age 52

EDITORIAL A taxpayer bailout for the taxi industry, when one of its money men can hire Nicki Minaj for his son's Bar Mitzvah?

Thanks largely to competition from Uber, the high-tech car-hire service, New York’s cab barons are panicked because

Gonzalez Protesters eye bogus classes used to boost graduation rates at John Dewey H.S. in Brooklyn

Project Graduation pupils simply had to show up and fill out individual “course packets,” according to teachers assigned the course.

Cuomo gives NYC one week to clean up homeless shelters that regularly have code violations

In a letter obtained by the Daily News, Sharon Devine, acting commissioner of the state Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance, warned the city homeless services department it could be facing big fines.

New York

City Councilman accused of firing staffer for turning down sexual advances is looking for new interns

Bronx pol Andy King posted a notice Tuesday seeking three interns - a day after revelations he would be sued by the former staffer for the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, which he co-chairs.

East Village building owner is using gas explosion as excuse to evict restaurant: lawsuit

The owner of 128 Second Ave., convinced that Stage has been illegally siphoning gas for years, refused to pay the fine or take money from Stage for it.

Judge who handled stop and frisk cases shows regret for similar lawsuit moving to another court

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Shira Scheindlin declared the NYPD’s stop and frisk program unconstitutional in a series of rulings in 2013.

City Council unanimously passes legislation requiring used car salesmen to post full selling price of vehicles — including any fees

The City Council passed tighter regulations Tuesday to stop used-car salesmen from taking drivers for a ride.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Catholic school teachers threaten New York Archdiocese with 1-day strike over threat to close schools

Teachers at some city Catholic schools are threatening a one-day strike to protest a contract battle with the archdiocese.

PICTURED GOTCHA! Coyote that eluded cops in Queens is caught in Middle Village near Juniper Park

The not-so-ferocious beast was cornered in a Middle Village front yard on 77 Pl. around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday and then subdued with a tranquilizer dart, police sources said.

City plans to combine small, struggling schools starting with two middle schools in Brooklyn

City officials issued a plan to combine small, struggling public schools Tuesday as New York University researchers released a report showing the creation of tinier city high schools led to gains in student achievement.

Has he proposed? Hannah on Jeter wedding rumors

EDITORIAL Hitched to gay marriage: It's too late for the Supreme Court to turn back the clock on Adam and Steve

The nine justices of the U.S. posed downright philosophical questions Tuesday.

Georgia teacher booted from classroom over rant: ‘If your parents voted for Obama, they're evil’

A Georgia teacher was yanked from the classroom after telling students President Obama was an anti-Christian Muslim, school officials said.

COLD CASE SOLVED: Arizona firefighter collared in murders of ex-wife, mother-in-law and her friend 15 years later

Police were stumped by the cases — the first in August 2000, when the smoke eater’s ex-wife Linda Watson (right) went missing.

Kendall struggled early as model: They 'laughed at me'

LOST AT SEA... AGAIN! Search suspended in Hawaii for fisherman lost at sea for second time in five months

For the second time in five months, the Coast Guard has suspended a search for Hawaii fisherman Ron Ingraham.

TRENDING DOWN: Twitter's stock price plunges after info leak reveals poor quarterly results

Twitter’s stock price plunged before the close of trading after a leak showed poor quarterly results.

Boston Bomber's pal absent as his earlier FBI interview shows older Tsarnaev brother’s radicalization

A friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev provided insight into Tamerlan’s radicalization in an FBI interview but is no longer in evidence.

Sports

Cowboys owner Jones passed on Pacquiao investment chance

The run-up to the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on Saturday has been unsurpassed in the area of publicity.

Love’s return to Cavs ‘highly unlikely,’ shoulder surgery a possibility: GM

The Cavaliers could be without Kevin Love for the long haul.

Mets can’t pull off second straight comeback on Marlins

After beating the Marlins with a ninth-inning rally on Monday, the Mets fell short in a 4-3 loss at Marlins Park Tuesday.

At Kentucky Derby, Far Right could prove to be just right

Far Right wasn’t a million dollar baby, but after Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, he could prove priceless.

Autos

Toyota Prius: You’ve come a long way (hybrid) baby!

When the first Prius arrived in the U.S., many people - and automakers - didn't take this strange fuel-sipping economy car too seriously.

Car logo origins: From the Ferrari horse to the Lamborghini bull

Ever wonder why Chevrolet has a bowtie for its logo or Subaru has a group of stars? Find out the stories behind some of the most well-known logos in the world.