MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

'UNFORTUNATE' OUTCOME: Pregnant North Carolina woman who disappeared ahead of C-section no longer expecting, family says

Carrie Bradshaw-Crowther, 49, turned up Monday afternoon in Boone, a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains roughly 90 miles from her Salisbury home, nearly a week after she went missing.

EAST HARLEM HAVOC: Cop shoots gunman who allegedly blasted another man — then pointed weapon at officers, police sources say

Two special-victims officers were in an unmarked car when they saw the 26-year-old man shoot a 21-year-old man near E. 102nd St. and First Ave. shortly before 8 p.m., according to police sources.

Arizona bar apologizes to transgender woman for alleged discrimination, says bartender mistook her for hooker

An Arizona bar publicly apologized Monday for alleged discrimination against a transgender woman — with the owner claiming one of his workers mistook the customer for a hooker.

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The Health Benefits of Adding Orange Juice to Your Breakfast

What’s one important New Year’s resolution to keep you and your family healthy all winter long?

Pumpkinhead, Brooklyn-born underground rapper, dead at 39

Uber driver accused of firing handgun at drunk passenger who tossed a rock through his moon roof: reports

Police say Marvin White, 44, picked up Alan Slawson, 20, and four other passengers in his BMW SUV at around 3 a.m. following a party in the suburban town of Rolling Meadows.

Air Force deserter facing child sex charges goes on 'bucket list' trip ahead of court-martial

David Lawrence Helm, who faces child sex assault charges in Illinois, was stopped while riding a motorcycle in Reno, Nev. after going on the run to scratch a few items off his "bucket list."

Woman busted for smuggling 10 kilos of cocaine at JFK claims she thought she was carrying diamonds: complaint

A woman who was busted for smuggling 10 kilos of cocaine to the U.S. from Guyana told authorities she thought the contraband was diamonds, a Brooklyn Federal Court complaint says.

PHOTOS Hollywood's most controversial racial miscasting

Alabama pharmacist puts hostage-taking gunman to sleep with pills

Police say the situation began Tuesday morning when the gunman tried to rob the Redmont Pharmacy in Red Bay and took five people hostage.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's campaign account spending to pay for $30G in car services raises flags

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s use of his campaign account to pay for $30,000 in car services over nine years has raised concerns for advocates of government reform.

Disgraced ex-senator Hiram Monserrate struggling to pay restitution, doesn't visit parents despite claiming to live with them

The crooked Queens pol, who was expelled from the Senate after assaulting his girlfriend, earns $1,244 a month working at a Brooklyn law firm and $2,227 a month from pension and other benefits.

Pentagon recommends sending 500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq in fight against ISIS

The Obama administration is nearing a decision on how to improve and accelerate the training of Iraqi security forces in light of recent setbacks against the Islamic State.

Victor Espinoza just has a contender so far in girlfriend race

Steep penalties may be coming for NYC landlords using Airbnb

Manhattan City Council members Helen Rosenthal and Ydanis Rodriguez will propose tough new penalties Wednesday aimed at property owners who violate the city’s ban on short-term rentals.

Staten Island 4-year-old jumps into van's front seat, puts vehicle in reverse and seriously injures 2-year-old boy

A 4-year-old child jumped into the driver’s seat of a van outside a Staten Island day care center and put the vehicle in reverse or neutral — injuring a 2-year-old boy standing behind it, sources said.

UN peacekeepers gave Haitian women food and medicine in exchange for sex, report reveals

U.N. peacekeepers gave more than 225 Haitian women food and medicine in exchange for sex, according to an internal report.

Brooklyn PTA president busted for stealing $14,000 from school account

Suzanne Olney, 45, the parent association president at Public School 216 in Gravesend, was arrested at her home by cops from the 61st Precinct, according to police sources.

Teresa Giudice to surrender Maserati to pay off feds

HAMMOND Legislating 101: Take notes, Albany pols, on how to do your job without being arrested on corruption charges

Thank you to Syracuse Sen. John DeFrancisco for explaining why the state Legislature is having so much trouble

Relatives of Georgia Applebee’s manager who was killed in parking lot call for murderer to come forward

The family of fatally shot Fayetteville, Ga. Applebee’s manager Gregory Smith implored the guilty party in his death over the weekend to come forward on Tuesday.

Rick Santorum holds campaign stop in Iowa — and only one voter shows up

Santorum quickly sat down to lunch at Darrell’s Place in Hamlin, Iowa, with her, The Des Moines Register reported.

Missouri killer executed for murder of girlfriend, 2-year-old daughter

Richard Strong, 48, was executed at the state prison in Bonne Terre for the deaths of Eva Washington and her daughter, Zandrea Thomas, more than 14 years ago.

A ‘HUGE MISTAKE’: Brittney Griner talks her rocky marriage

New York service dog jumps in front of bus to save blind owner

Good dog, Figo. A golden retriever threw itself into the path of an oncoming bus to protect its blind owner in Putnam County, N.Y.

Brave 4-year-old boy leads cops to arrest stepfather for allegedly beating 1-year-old sister to death

The child’s claim led Mesa police to arrest 27-year-old Andrew Johnson Issacs on suspicion of child abuse, though charges could be updated after an autopsy is completed.

Upper West Side doctor, wife sold whopping $77 million in oxycodone after writing 20,000 prescriptions: prosecutor

Dr. Rogelio Lucas, 77, and spouse Lydia, 80, his office manager, are accused of pumping over $77 million worth of painkillers into the black market since 2009, according to the city's narcotics prosecutor.

Dr. Drew’s ex-colleague says celebrity doc's past cocaine use is overblown, result of ‘vendetta’

Richard Blade says the inflated drug rumors are part of an ongoing smear campaign by their former KROQ colleague, Jim 'Poorman' Trenton.

Autos

2015 Volkswagen Golf R – A subtler kind of sports car

2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic: Test drive and review

The new 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic pushes this luxurious Benz into true sports sedan territory.

2015 Lincoln MKC – Test Drive and Review

For the first time in a long time, you won’t need convincing to drive a Lincoln. The MKC is a smooth, stylish, and affordable luxury SUV.

New York

EXCLUSIVE Rabbis urging City Council to pass 'Right to Know Act,' requiring cops to get permission to search residents

More than 50 rabbis are urging the City Council to pass a police reform bill requiring cops to get permission to search residents.

De Blasio lends support to 'Lavern's Law' to give more rights to medical malpractice victims

Mayor de Blasio lent his support to "Lavern's Law" to give more rights to medical malpractice victims Tuesday.

Long Island banana mogul Thomas Hoey Jr. is 'without resources to retain an attorney' for upcoming trial

Former millionaire Thomas Hoey is now so broke, he will have a court-appointed attorney represent him in his upcoming trial on charges he stole nearly $1 million from the pension plan for employees.

Brooklyn man convicted of manslaughter in brick, strangulation death of schizophrenic mother

Atiba Brown, 26, dodged a potential life sentence on Tuesday when the jury found him guilty of manslaughter under extreme emotional disturbance — not murder — for hitting Christiana Jones.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

EXCLUSIVE Groups spend more than $13 million to push education reforms

Two groups have spent more than $13 million to push education reforms while laws are being debated in Albany, a new report says.

Hazardous chemicals would be banned from toys, kids' clothes under proposed City Council bill

Benzene, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and arsenic would be banned from toys sold in the city. The toxic prohibition would also apply to car seats, crib bedding, and other products geared to children.

Daughters of fallen FDNY lieutenant to throw out first pitch at Citi Field

Two little girls are set to take the mound at Citi Field on Wednesday night, and they are bringing their own cheering section.

Amber Heard on her marriage to Johnny Depp: It’s no biggie

Queens Councilman to introduce amendment to Right of Way law

Rory Lancman says he plans to introduce an amendment to the mayor's Right of Way law tomorrow that would further define when a driver could be handcuffed for hitting a pedestrian or cyclist.

Ohio fugitive traveling with wife, stepdaughter may be linked to slain man found in Miami motel: police

Police say Michael Douglas Evans, 30, cut off his ankle GPS device last month and fled from his hometown of New Philadelphia in eastern Ohio with Kristy Evans, 34, and her daughter Jala Barnett.

WATCH Adorable little boy removes top hat and charms Queen Elizabeth

This is the adorable moment an enchanting little boy took off his top hat and shook hands with the Queen.

Bad weld caused Brooklyn ferry dock collapse, long delayed report says

Last year's collapse of a Brooklyn ferry dock was caused by a failed piling weld, a long-awaited report has revealed.

She’s a ‘Trainwreck’! Amy Schumer jumps into couple’s photo

Oregon sex creep: I was only briefly interested in 13-year-old girl

Richard Biggs claimed he wanted to hook up with a young, legal-age woman when he posted an online ad, but he was enticed by an emailed come-on from an undercover cop posing as a child.

TSA officials detail airport concerns after bomb threat

A potential threat Tuesday afternoon forced the evacuation of several floors of a Senate office building and interrupted a TSA hearing.

Va. Supreme Court slows plans to close Sweet Briar College

The Supreme Court of Virginia has tapped the brakes on Sweet Briar College's planned closure, saying debate on the issue is 'far from over.'

Ga. woman charged with murder for taking abortion pill, giving birth to live 5-month-old fetus that later died

Kenlissa Jones, 23, gave birth in a car on the way to a hospital, shortly after taking Cytotec, which she purchased on the Internet.

Sports

Tanaka outduels Scherzer in Yankees' 6-1 win over Nationals

There were a pair of aces at Yankee Stadium Tuesday, but only one lived up to the billing by the time the night was over.

Baseball Insider: What is it like to be no-hit? What will Mets do about it?

What is it like to be no-hit? How embarrassed, angry, depressed or philosophical does it make a man? For Terry Collins, it means blowing through a set of swinging doors after your postgame news conference, and ripping off your belt while stomping down the hallway.