MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

'I THOUGHT HE WOULD KILL ME': Knife-wielding brute pushes woman holding baby girl to the ground, snatches purse in Manhattan park

The attacker found 39-year-old Elena Sobina feeding her tiny 6-month-old daughter, Kelly, on a bench perched on a hill in Fort Tryon Park near Riverside Drive around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

NYPD work slowdown possible after 1% raise proposal for PBA members

In at least one Brooklyn command, a delegate from the PBA suggested at roll call that cops give 1% while on a patrol — a reference to the raise a state arbiter proposed.

California creep arrested in stabbing of hero airman who helped thwart France terror train attack

James Tran stabbed 23-year-old Spencer Stone four times during an Oct. 8 brawl outside a Sacramento bar, police said.

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[Watch] One Fallen College Football Player Shares His Story

The highest-performing people are all passionate, curious, and ambitious.

REBEL YELL: Wilson bashes 'superficial' Kendall and Kylie

Georgia trooper cares for children of parents killed in Halloween car wreck: 'The whole purpose was to preserve their Halloween'

Nathan Bradley, 25, had to break the news to the Howard children that their parents Donald and Crystal were killed when their SUV flew off the road and hit a tree.

Gunman kills 3, then himself in Central Maine home: authorities

Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says the shooting erupted Wednesday night in Oakland.

NOT SO SHARP: Vermont man busted with 7 knives, stun gun in checked bag at JFK Airport

A 43-year-old Vermont man was arrested at JFK Airport for carrying seven knives and a stun gun in his checked bag, authorities said.

BUY BOND! ‘Spectre’ of 007 movies past gives film spirit

EXCLUSIVE Five of New York City’s district attorneys seek 32% pay raise in hopes of having $250G annual salaries

The prosecutors made the plea in a letter to the commission formed by City Hall to consider pay raises for elected officials, playing up their high-level duties.

BURN-IE SANDERS! Left-wing prez wanna-be introduces legislation to end federal laws banning marijuana

Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to end federal laws banning marijuana on Wednesday.

Louisiana investigators to meet with city marshals who fired at fleeing car, killed 6-year-old boy during chase

Col. Mike Edmonson, head of the Louisiana State Police, said he would travel to the central Louisiana city of Marksville on Thursday to speak with the marshals.

Princeton grad accused of slaying hedge fund manager father appears sane, fit to stand trial: psychologist

The Princeton grad accused of slaying his hedge fund manager father is seen giving coherent, intelligent answers to a forensic psychologist in footage played in court Wednesday.

From 'The Color Purple' to hot sauce, check out Oprah's 'Favorite Things'

Workers discover 19th century human remains in Greenwich Village

The workers unwittingly stumbled upon some long-term tenants of Greenwich Village — unearthing a vault with human remains that date to the 19th century — while upgrading water mains under the park.

Chipotle E. coli victim says he will never go back: 'It doesn't seem to make sense to take that risk again'

Chris Collins was one of at least 39 people in Oregon and Washington state to be sickened with E. coli in an outbreak linked to the popular chain.

First victim of Russian Metrojet plane crash in Egypt laid to rest

The first victim of Saturday's plane crash over Egypt was laid to rest on Thursday following a funeral service in a city in northern Russia.

JUST PLANE WRONG! Council pols want to boot Kuwait Airways from JFK for refusing to fly Israeli passengers

Councilman Rory Lancman, pictured left, and other pols asked the Port Authority to terminate the airline’s lease if it doesn’t immediately change its policy of not selling tickets to Israeli passport holders.

No doubt about it, Gwen and Blake officially an item

SEE THE VIDEO THIS COP'S ALL HEART! Hero trooper performs CPR on Ohio infant, saves her life

An Ohio trooper helped save a baby girl’s life when he performed CPR on her by the side of the road, officials said.

Cops capture gunman in SWAT team standoff at San Diego apartment building

A gunman firing out the window of a San Diego apartment building with a long-range rifle was arrested after a five-hour SWAT team standoff Wednesday, police said.

Ex-Speaker Sheldon Silver told doc to keep scheme a secret, feds’ witness says at corruption trial

The star witness in the government's case against Sheldon Silver said the assemblyman asked him to keep their arrangement under wraps.

SEE IT 'Two groups of girls came together in the cafeteria and started fighting': Bronx student captures wild lunchroom brawl

Footage of a vicious cafeteria brawl at a Bronx school is going viral on social media.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: We love a good Spanxing!

Construction worker saved life of stabbing victim in University of California, Merced attacks

The Merced Sun Star identified the construction worker as Byron Price, 31. Price's father said he was treated and released from the hospital. Neither Price returned calls for comment to The Associated Press.

Cops hunt man who threatened 19-year-old woman with knife in Brooklyn train station

The suspect approached the victim on the northbound platform in the Smith St. and 9 St. train station in Gowanus on Sunday around 5 a.m., according to cops.

Another mistrial for Ala. cop who body slammed Indian father

Eric Parker didn’t show any visible reaction in court. The first jury deadlocked in September.

Queens man suspected of killing girlfriend, setting body on fire, busted in Miami

A Queens man wanted for murdering a 28-year-old girlfriend and then attempting to burn the body in their apartment bathtub was caught.

AUTOS

PHOTOS: James Bond Cars - scenes of iconic rides from the movies

Bond's cars are as big stars as the actors, so check out scenes of iconic 007 rides through the years.

LA AUTO SHOW: next generation Mazda CX-9 ready to be unveiled

The three-row midsize Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV is set to make its debut at the LA Auto Show.

ABOUT TIME: Hyundai to launch 'Genesis' luxury brand in December

Perhaps a few years overdue, Hyundai is finally launching its 'Genesis' luxury brand this December to take on the world's strongest players.

TRUCK YEAH!: The top 5 pickup trucks at SEMA 2015

From race cars prototypes to limousine concepts, these are our favorite pickup trucks for the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association

New York

Dean Skelos’ lawyers claim plan to go after Cuomo’s girlfriend was just ‘political gossip’

Attorneys for Skelos and his son, Adam, say the plan, caught on a wiretap, to make an issue out of celebrity chef Sandra Lee’s income, would prejudice a jury if allowed into their upcoming corruption trial.

EXCLUSIVE Nearly half of roughly 95,000 students learning English are struggling at NYC schools

The city is doing a poor job educating English language learners in the public schools, a new report from the pro-charter-school group Families for Excellent Schools claims.

Friday's NYC forecast expected to be 73 degrees — just short of 1948 record

The mercury is expected to rise to 73 degrees Friday, which would be just short of the record high of 74, set in 1948.

NYC warns men to avoid illegal aphrodisiac called 'stone' that can lead to poisoning and death

The city is warning men looking for a pick-me-up to stay away from an illegal aphrodisiac called “stone” that can lead to poisoning and death.

Man found dead in Queens home: cops

Police are investigating a 57-year-old Queens man who was found dead in a home, authorities said Thursday.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

West Village guitar store founder pleads guilty to girlfriend’s ax murder

Dennis Guglielmo, 71, was facing charges he had repeatedly whacked Alice Birnbaum, 59, in the head with an ax and then stabbed her in the chest with a knife in 2012.