MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

EXCLUSIVE Worker in fatal elevator plunge dodged death in Afghanistan, but was more afraid of sketchy civilian job

“He would tell us how scared he was,” said John Rapp, an Air Force buddy who last spoke to Christian Ginesi two days before his death.

Florida principal caught with shirt unbuttoned, smoking pot with student: cops

Both Mavericks High School Principal Krista Morton and the 18-year-old were arrested Thursday for marijuana possession, arrest records show.

British PM David Cameron wins seat, Conservative Party earn surprising victory

British Prime Minister David Cameron has easily won his seat, and is stopping just short of declaring an overall victory for the Conservative Party.

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Busy Moms: How to Help Avoid a Cracked Smartphone Screen

The sick feeling of dropping a phone and breaking the screen is all too common.

Why women are lusting after dudes with ‘dad bod’

HORROR IN TENNESSEE: Car crash kills 6, including children and infant

A catastrophic car crash on a Tennessee highway killed six people — including two children and an infant — an injured three others.

5-year-old still missing after Nebraska toddler found alive in dumpster, cops confirm mother dead

A man in the Omaha suburb La Vista discovered 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero (right) sitting on a pile of trash in an apartment complex dumpster. The search is now on for his brother (left).

New Jersey twins have different fathers, superior court judge rules

Yes, it can happen.

Mel Gibson surprises Tom Hardy at 'Mad Max' premiere

VIDEO Indy woman stabs roommate, kidnaps two kids from apartment

The victim’s pastor said the woman was from El Salvador and her husband was trying to join her in America.

HEAR Pilot knew there was engine trouble just before Ky. plane crash that killed everyone except girl, 7

The pilot of a small, doomed plane said his engines were failing just moments before the family jet crashed in Kentucky.

Georgia pastor accused of raping 16-year-old girl arrested after 2 years on the run: police

A Georgia pastor accused of raping a 16-year-old girl has been caught after spending more than two years on the lam, authorities said.

THIS IS MY HOOD! Redman takes on claims MTV ‘Cribs’ episode was hoax

Madoff’s former payroll manager now earns $10.50 per hour at sporting goods store

He’s gone from scamming investors to stocking shelves.

Attorney General Lynch to launch probe into Baltimore police: source

The Justice Department will launch an investigation into claims of excessive force within the Baltimore Police department, a source said.

6-year-old girl who braved Atlantic’s 33-foot waves after yacht sank dies of hypothermia

A 6-year-old French girl who braved hours in the ocean with her father amid 33-foot waves has died of hypothermia, authorities said.

New York

Cop busts man for urinating in Brooklyn subway, finds gun

Lixence Exavier told Officer Jacobo Rosario he 'couldn’t hold it' at the Franklin Ave. 2,3,4,5 station early Thursday, police said.

You'll never guess why Mayor De Blasio was late to present budget

Time is money — but apparently not when you’re presenting a $78 billion city budget.

Lawyers in Etan Patz murder trial get Snickers bars as joke; jury still deadlocked

At the end of the 16th day of deliberations in the trial of Pedro Hernandez, a judge handed lawyers a Snickers bar.

GONZALEZ Feds failed to keep tabs on $3B in school aid

The federal government shelled out $3.3 billion over the past 20 years to launch new charter schools nationwide.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

THE FAKE DOCTOR IS IN! Oxy dealer masqueraded as Manhattan physician as part of $10M drug ring: prosecutors

On the first day of his Manhattan Supreme Court trial, prosecutors portrayed Dr. Hector Castro as a narcotics peddler who doled out oxycodone prescriptions for $125 a pop to anyone who asked.

23 accused of bilking NYC housing programs out of $600,000

One tenant lived in Connecticut but for years kept collecting taxpayer-funded rent subsidies on her former Bronx apartment.

6 Harlem students hospitalized after inhaling noxious fumes — from pepper spray

Six Harlem charter school students were hospitalized Thursday after they were overcome by noxious pepper spray fumes, officials said.

SHOW STOPPER! Mariah Carey debuts Las Vegas residency

Florida woman calls in bomb threat for ride

A Florida woman who allegedly called in a fake bomb threat to get a free ride got her wish – when she was arrested and driven to jail.

Texas man, 89, dies from up to 4,000 bee stings: fire chief

An 89-year-old Texas man died after he was stung by bees up to 4,000 times, police estimate.

GARBAGE PIE: 16 drug traffickers tied to Queens pizzeria busted in Italy

Prosecutors sent a takeout order to Italy for the arrests of 16 drug traffickers tied to a cocaine ring operating out of a Queens pizzeria.

Alessandra acting up, Rihanna parties at the club

Philadelphia teen arrested after hit-and-run leaves Temple U. lacrosse player in coma

Rashan Roberts's arrest comes as Rachel Hall's mother says she will attend her critically-injured daughter's graduation ceremonies.

Secret Service to add more spikes to White House fence

The steel 'pencil point' spikes will be snapped into place at the top of the fence and protrude outward, according to a proposal

Oregon woman plunged 100 feet to her death trying to find sea lions

Jasper Greve lost his wife to the kind of adventure that beckoned itself three beers into their last night together.

Sports

Myers: Brady's anger clear in agent's DeflateGate rip

The words were attributed to Don Yee, but the sentiments are surely shared by Brady.

Mets armed for another prolonged winning streak

With his team fighting its way out of a slump and grinding through a slew of injuries with young players, Terry Collins was stumped.

La’el Collins, who went undrafted, signs three-year deal with Cowboys

Every time the Giants made a draft pick they stared at the name of La’el Collins, who took a long, strange tumble through the NFL draft.

Bob Uecker gets trapped in Brewers booth

Brewers broadcaster and funnyman Bob Uecker was locked in the radio booth at Miller Park when the door handle broke.

Autos

Review and Test Drive: 2015 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn

Heavy-duty pickups no-frills work trucks, right? Wrong! This Ram loads on luxury to battle the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

Photos Safest midsize cars: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners

When picking a midsize car for the family, safety is key. These 12 cars have earned the Top Safety Pick+ award, certifying them as the safest midsize cars on the market.