MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

CHURCH MASSACRE: Nine people shot and killed at black church in Charleston, South Carolina in what is believed to be a hate crime; cops searching for white male suspect in his 20s

Nine people in a Charleston, S.C. black church were shot and killed Wednesday night in a suspected hate crime by a white suspect who remains at large, police said. read full story »

SEND IN THE CLOWNS: Donald Trump reportedly paid actors $50 each to attend campaign launch, pose at supporters

Donald Trump says he's a straight shooter — and if you don't like it, don't support him for President.

ONE SICK PUPPY: Florida woman took selfies of herself having sex with a pit bull: cops

Ashley Miller, 18, was charged with two counts of sexual activities involving animals after Bradenton investigators found the graphic photos stashed on her cell phone.

Minneapolis teen charged with murder after stomping girlfriend’s crying daughter to death

Cody Feran-Baum, 17, admitted to investigators he kicked little Sophia O’Neill in the back, laid her on the floor and stomped on her back, authorities said.

James Holmes' psychiatrist called killer's mother before Aurora movie theater slaughter

James Holmes' psychiatrist was so worried before the Colorado movie theater attacks she violated his health care privacy to call his mother.

Greek goddess! Kate Hudson flaunts beach body while on holiday

Thousands of city cabbies struggle as Ramadan routine begins

Thursday morning marked the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, meaning that from sunrise to sunset, observant cabbies will have to hustle for fares without food or water.

Real estate company bookkeeper stole $1.3M from comatose boss — claiming he was due for a raise: prosecutors

Christopher Myles, 45, allegedly bought a house near Buffalo with his stolen loot and spent more on furnishings, personal expenses, meals, trips and jewelry from Tiffany and Swarovski.

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A Culinary Achievement: See Which Restaurants Made it on the World’s Best List

Find out why the world is talking about these four great Australian restaurants.

National Enquirer widow aims to block his story, says son

MOVE OVER, HAMILTON! U.S. Treasury plans to add a 'notable woman' to the $10 bill

Alexander Hamilton will have to make room for a woman on the $10 bill. The U.S. Treasury plans to add a “notable woman” to the bill’s design in 2020, the department announced.

George W. Bush era officials can be held liable for detaining innocent people post-9/11, court rules

Top officials during the George W. Bush era can be held legally liable for the roundup of innocent detainees post-9/11, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Ex-Rikers guard accused of killing inmate Ronald Spear can’t get help with bail

The former Rikers Island correction officer accused of kicking inmate Ronald Spear in the head and then covering up his death is still locked up because no friends or family will sign off on his bond.

SINGLE MAN WALKING! Charlize Theron, Sean Penn break up: report

Calif. girl, 4, shot in chest after dad fires paintballs at car in East Oakland — and rider fires back, cops say

Tyanni Miller, 4, was in stable condition at an Oakland hospital Wednesday, one day after sustaining the gunshot wound. Her father and the driver of their car were arrested Wednesday.

First Lady Chirlane McCray staffing up with scheduler, communications coordinator

She recently hired a $60,000-a-year scheduler, and Mayor de Blasio on Wednesday announced that Erin White, the newest member of his communications team, will handle McCray’s messaging.

Woman’s dismembered body found in abandoned house in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Police identified the victim Wednesday as Terri Lynn Bills, 46, who lived in the town. Her head, arms and feet had been cut from the body and were not at the house, investigators said.

PHOTOS Calling Mr. Grey! Taylor Swift dons ‘50 Shades’ inspired harness

SMOKED! Federal grand jury indicts Rep. Joe Armstrong on fraud, tax evasion charges over cigarette scam

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court alleges that Armstrong devised a scheme beginning in 2006 to profit from an anticipated increase in the state’s cigarette tax planned by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen.

'MOTHER-TO-MOTHER': Hillary Clinton calls family of Walter Scott, unarmed black man killed by S.C. police officer

Hillary Clinton called the family of a black South Carolina man killed by a policeman to express her condolences on Wednesday.

SERIOUS FAIL: Florida H.S. staff members arrested FOUR times in the past year on sexual charges

Greg Vaughn, a social studies teacher, was nabbed by FBI agents last week for allegedly sending panties and nude photos of himself to a 17-year-old girl in Colorado.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Rachel Dolezal seems to be dishonest

Two puppies die, 77 survive after crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Anne Irwin, director of the Bucks County SPCA in Lahaska, Pa., said the rest of the 8-week-old animals survived thanks to the quick response by firefighters who found all the animals.

Wisconsin city bans citizens from using kangaroos as service animals, allows miniature horses

Officials have changed a southeastern Wisconsin city's rules on service animals after a woman took a baby kangaroo into a McDonald's.

Florida man sentenced to 16 years for taking naked photos of teenage autistic girl

William Harvey will serve 16 years and eight months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Anne Conway also ordered Harvey to serve a life term of supervision after his release.

Autos

TEST DRIVE REWIND: An all-access pass into Honda's immaculate museum collection

We get unlimited access inside a secret warehouse in Southern California, where Honda keeps its priceless automotive artifacts.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class breaks cover

Mercedes' new SUV naming structure began with the midsize GLE, with the GLC, they've added their compact SUV entry to the fold.

Rezvani unveils production spec Beast supercar

With the ultra-capable innards of the Ariel Atom track car and a body fit for a Lamborghini, the Rezvani Beast is ready to take flight.

New York

State lawmakers vote over wood frog instead of debating on extending rent regulation laws

With 2 million jittery tenants waiting on the fate of expired rent-regulation laws, the state Senate spent time Wednesday debating whether the wood frog should be the official state amphibian.

De Blasio plans to permanently close large portions of Central, Prospect Parks to weekday car traffic: sources

Under the plan, about 70% of Central Park will be shut off to cars in the next couple of weeks, a source familiar with the proposal said.

City schools deputy superintendent arrested for alleged sexual contact with 14-year-old male student

Education Department administrator John DiFiore, 53, was charged with three misdemeanor counts each of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

State lawmakers eye tougher penalties for subway perverts

State lawmakers moved to toughen penalties against subway grinders Wednesday but stopped short of making the crime a felony.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

De Blasio nominates fresh faces for MTA board as Cuomo’s choices incense transit advocates

Mayor de Blasio nominated David Jones, a nonprofit leader with the Community Service Society who has advocated reduced transit fares for low-income New Yorkers.

Westchester couple suing Walgreen Co. says Duane Reade managers wouldn't let them cash in bottles

Joshua Johnson, 49, and his wife Brenda Gardner, 42, sued Walgreen Co., alleging managers in two of their Duane Reade stores harassed and abused them.

HAMILL Retired black cop says Bill Bratton should give more kids with rough past chance at NYPD

He’s been a crack dealer, an assault suspect and a commanding officer in the New York City Police Department.

Emma Stone talks Andrew Garfield, Sony hack — 'I cried for like an hour'

BAD COP: Off-duty New Jersey officer allegedly hit young man, left him for dead in middle of street

The arrest comes nearly one year after Officer Jose Urena rescued three triplets from a burning home, a feat that earned him the high remarks within the department.

Jury hears closing arguments in trial of WTC BASE jumpers

The jury is out in the case of three One World Trade Center BASE jumpers who parachuted from atop the tower.

Brooklyn landlord is first property owner charged with unlawful eviction under New York campaign protecting rent-stabilized tenants

Daniel Melamed, 39, was indicted on charges of unlawful eviction, child endangerment and filing false documents in harassment of rent-protected tenants at the Crown Heights building he owns.

Shark bites boy, 10, at Florida beach — the latest in increasing marine encounters

Gavin Simpson, a young boy from Georgia, walked away with only a bandaged calf after being nabbed in waist-deep water alongside his twin brother, the victim’s father told WFTV-TV.

Kendall Jenner is red hot, Sarah Hyland keeps things cool

People with outstanding warrants for low-level crimes can get amnesty at 2-day Brooklyn event

The NYPD issues summonses for various misdemeanors and violations on a daily basis — nearly 360,000 citywide last year, according to a report from the state Office of Court Administration.

Accused conspirator in shootout at ‘Draw Prophet Muhammad’ contest in Texas also planned to attack the Super Bowl: prosecutors

The revelation at a court hearing for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem shows that the plot extended beyond last month's shootout at a Prophet Muhammad cartoon event in Texas that led to the deaths of two roommates.

Crowds of Haitians in Dominican Republic line up to file for residency and dodge deportation

The threat of mass deportation loomed for hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic.

Mayor de Blasio to clamp down on weekday car traffic in most of Central Park, Prospect Park

Mayor de Blasio plans to permanently close large parts of Central and Prospect Parks to weekday car traffic, according to sources. De Blasio will make the announcement on Thursday.

Sports

Indians use TWO position players to pitch in blowout loss to Cubs

Ryan Raburn spent the first eight innings at designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians, and David Murphy began the game in left field. Both of them wound up on the mound in the ninth.

Bondy: For a night, Cosmos own New York City (FC)

What are we to make of the Cosmos, who are too good for the second-tier NASL yet too independent to join MLS?

GAME OF DRONES: Giants going high tech at minicamp

The flying saucer hovered high above the most recent Giants practice session, carefully taking in the scene, observing each and every play, emitting a quiet whir for about 20 minutes. Then it came down to the ground, and a coach quietly put it away.