MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

Thursday, January 28, 2016

AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

REMEMBERING THE CHALLENGER: City recalls its link to fearless astronaut Ronald McNair, an inherited son of Harlem, 30 years after shuttle tragedy

Long before becoming the second African-American to reach outer space, New York was his home away from home.

Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 72 seconds into its flight in 1986

Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated over Cape Canaveral, killing 7 crew members including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher.

TRASH TALK: Sanitation worker who told cops he was attacked while cleaning snow was actually soliciting a prostitute, lost phone in fistfight

Michael Morelli, 31, initially told cops he was attacked as he cleaned snow off a fire hydrant in Queens at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.

MORNING FRIGHT: Florida woman, 99, wakes up to exotic animal caressing her face

The kinkajou, a monkey-like animal that belongs to the raccoon family, was staring straight into the unidentified elderly woman’s face when she woke up Monday night in her home.

Porn star Lisa Ann says Kanye West sent her nude photos

'HATERS GONNA HATE': Convicted killer Jodi Arias boasts about comfy prison life, love from supporters

Jodi Arias was sentenced to life in prison for killing boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008 in a grisly murder. Now, she has revealed details of her life in Perryville Women’s Prison in Arizona.

Black Memphis man shot dead by police during foot chase

Authorities say Jonathan Bratcher, 32, was one of two men who ran away from a Chevy Impala after it crashed.

3 Oregon occupiers give themselves up, 5 others leave following Ammon Bundy’s call to stand down

Oregonian Duane Ehmer, 45, Utahn Dylan Anderson, 34, and Georgian Jason Patrick, 43, were arrested on Wednesday, according to the FBI.

Cate Blanchett to take the stage on Broadway

The bubble boy who's allergic to life: Canadian toddler baffles doctor with mystery illness

Deagan Clavette suffers from dozens of allergies that has left him unable to leave his room. Simply stepping outdoors leaves him unable to breathe and he has even lost consciousness and gone into shock.

TAKE AS LONG AS YOU WANT: Time limit on state math, reading tests nixed for New York schoolkids

New York schoolkids can take as long as they want to complete state reading and math evaluation tests this year.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Academy honchos reveal #OscarsSoWhite drama that led to historic change

Amid the furor, the tradition-bound Academy quietly did something it's not known for: It took swift action.

Ferguson and leaders reach tentative agreement on police reform after Michael Brown's death

Under the agreement, all patrol officers, supervisors and jail workers will be required to wear body cameras and microphones.

Rihanna releases new album ‘Anti’ after online leak

Trump to skip Fox debate, hold event in Iowa to benefit veterans — Fiorina challenges him to face-off

After the former reality show star said he wouldn’t attend the event, Fox News put out a statement chiding Trump for his sensitivity.

OH, SHOOT! Orange County deputy loses AR-15 rifle after putting loaded gun on patrol car trunk, driving off

The patrol rifle was in its case inside a black bag filled with three other loaded magazines, according to the California agency.

Oregon militia leader issues statement from jail, telling others at wildlife refuge to 'stand down' and 'go home'

A local sheriff called on the remaining occupiers of an Oregon wildlife refuge to "move on" without "bloodshed."

Bodies of 2 women, 50 and 69, found 2 miles apart in Brooklyn

The nude body of Haydee Rivera, 50, of Brooklyn, was found face down on the banks of the East River near a ferry dock at N. 5th St. and Kent Ave. in Greenpoint about 7:45 a.m., officials said.

PUT A RING ON IT! Liam didn’t ‘formally propose’ to Miley

DRESS MESS: Mom goes viral with open letter to sales assistant who told daughter, 13, she needed Spanx

A Kansas mom has gone viral after writing an open letter to a sales assistant who advised her daughter to wear Spanx.

CLASSIFIED AS A CRIME? Colorado man robbed at gunpoint by Craigslist creeps could face charges for fatally shooting suspect

Despite being robbed at gunpoint, the homeowner isn't necessarily protected by self-defense laws.

LaVoy Finicum, Arizona rancher and Oregon occupation spokesman, killed during arrests of militia members

Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum’s son-in-law Spencer Finch told the Daily News that a fellow protester relayed information to family members that the occupation spokesman was shot by authorities.

SHAUN KING Why are conservatives silent over police brutality?

Do conservatives even care about police brutality?

Did Jennifer Lopez tear her pants? The jury is still out

Trump 'clown posse' gets bigger, wins backing of Thomas Dadey

ALBANY — The Donald Trump “Insane Clown Posse” just got bigger.

Educator feels vindicated over N-word T-shirts pic, says Phoenix students openly racist when she taught there

Cicely Cobb says the viral image reflects the hostility she faced while teaching at the school.

No charges for 8 LAPD cops who fired 100 bullets at innocent women during manhunt

The two women, a mother and daughter, were delivering newspapers in a neighborhood where police were protecting a Dorner target’s home.

Texas executes man who murdered game warden in 2007 shootout

James Freeman, 35, was asked by the warden if he had a final statement. “No, I do not,” he replied.

Autos

FIRST DRIVE and REVIEW: 2016 Cadillac CT6

The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is not trying to be anything other than a Cadillac

COLOSSAL CADDIES: 10 Cadillac sedans that left a very BIG impression

GM’s top luxury brand has fought to maintain its status in a very changing and turbulent car world.

LEGO and Porsche get technical

LEGO is going all out with their new Porsche Technics set.

Odell Beckham Jr. to appear in Buick ad during Super Bowl 50

Beckham and Emily Ratajkowski will plug Cascada convertible in Buick's first-ever Super Bowl ad.

'Meet the new Box' - Porsche unveils new 718 Boxster and S

It may look like the old one, but Porsche's baby roadster is all new, including two new turbocharged flat-fours for the first time.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD REVIEW and TEST DRIVE

Chevy’s workhorse Silverado pick-up truck lives large in the Big Apple.

New York

EXCLUSIVE L.I. woman gets $45G over Queens cop's racy picture, video grab

A woman who accused a Queens cop of invading her privacy by texting himself racy pictures and videos from her cell phone has settled her suit with the city for $45,000, the Daily News has learned.

Brooklyn bus shooting suspect’s gang lingo social media posts refer to gun

Kahton Anderson was a member of the Stack Money Goons gang when he took a gun out of his backpack and shot at rivals of the Twan Family gang in Bed-Stuy in retaliation for an earlier incident.

Squatter dies after fire breaks out in unoccupied Bronx home

A squatter was killed in a two-alarm fire inside an unoccupied home in the Bronx Wednesday night, fire officials said.

Starving and injured pit bulls saved in Bronx raid

Cops searching for drugs in a Bronx man’s home found 10 malnourished and injured pit bulls living in their own filth, police said.

MTA board official trusts that Gov. Cuomo will keep his promise on repair funds

Board vice chair Fernando Ferrer was unconcerned that Cuomo’s budget only included commitment to get the agency the $8.3 billion it needs.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Daughter of ‘Son of Sal’ serial killer’s last victim says her life is still ‘upside down’ 3 years later

A Long Island woman’s life was turned “upside down” when she learned her beloved father was murdered by the “Son of Sal” serial killer.

Police find missing ‘severely autistic’ woman who vanished in the Bronx

Nicole White, 35, was last seen walking along Archer St. by White Plains Rd. in Parkchester just before 4:15 p.m., according to police. She slipped away from her caretaker, cops said.

De Blasio will not attend Groundhog Day ceremony at Staten Island Zoo

The mayor famously dropped Chuck in his first Groundhog Day as mayor. The animal died a few weeks later. The cause of death was never determined, prompting suspicion that de Blasio's fumbling was fatal.