MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

Monday, February 1, 2016

AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

LUPICA: Trump's showmanship turned the race for president into the greatest show on Earth — but the real games begin in Iowa

Before those first votes are cast in schools and community centers, it is Trump who has turned this into the greatest show on Earth, whatever you think about his propositions.

Former Daily News reporter Michael Feeney dead at 32; served as president of New York Association of Black Journalists

Michael J. Feeney, a former Daily News reporter who served as president of the New York Association of Black Journalists, died Sunday of complications from a staph infection in his kidneys.

FAMILY TRAGEDY: Two kids, grandmother killed while going to church after car thief crashes into their vehicle during Georgia police chase

A 76-year-old woman and her two grandchildren, ages 12 and 6, were killed on their way to church Sunday morning when a suspect smashed into Dorothy Wright’s car while fleeing College Park officers.

LOVETT Ex-George Pataki aide says Republicans need to fight back against ‘the Donald Trumps of the world’

David Catalfamo, a one-time communications director for ex-Gov. George Pataki, said party hard-liners may be able to impact primaries in New York, but can’t win general elections.

'Grease: Live' on Fox TV was as impressive as it was fun

Rival biker gangs blame each other for deadly fight at Denver motorcycle expo that killed 1, wounded 7

An attorney for the Mongols accused a member of the Iron Order for killing one of its members during a 1 p.m. knife and gun fight Saturday.

Man found hanging by T-shirt in Brooklyn holding cell

A 28-year-old man was found dead, hanging by his T-shirt, inside the holding cell of a Brooklyn police precinct, sources said.

EXCLUSIVE Queens charity for kids with severe mental health issues to close down with $10M in debt

Steinway Child and Family Services, which provides services to children with severe mental health issues, is $10 million in the red, records show.

Rihanna surprises fans at impromptu karaoke session

Ohio seminary student arrested for alleged plan to have sex with adopted baby in Mexico

A seminary student from Ohio got busted in California for allegedly plotting to have sex with an adopted infant in Mexico, police said.

Witness to migrant disaster off Turkey's coast that killed 37 describes screams

Gulcan Durdu, who lives on the beach in the Aegean resort of Ayvacik, cried Sunday while recounting the tragedy that happened at dawn the previous day.

California motorist killed as toppled oak tree crushes vehicle during powerful wind storm

A motorist was fatally struck by a tree that was knocked by powerful winds as a winter storm hits California.

LGBT spiritual group attempts to buy anti-gay Atlah Church

A spiritual group supporting LGBT people is seeking to scoop up the controversial Atlah Church in Harlem.

'KUWTK' airs show filmed during Odom hospital scare

EL CHAPO'S CRONIES CAPTURED: 24 members of Sinaloa Cartel arrested along Ariz. border in 'Operation Diablo Express'

A daylong law enforcement operation around the Ariz. border resulted in the arrest of 24 alleged Mexican drug cartel members.

Obama to make his first presidential visit to a U.S. mosque

Obama will visit a mosque in Baltimore this week - his first-ever presidential trip to a Muslim house of worship in the U.S.

Schumer calls for feds to contain, stop Zika virus spread

Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling for a quick push by the federal government to contain the Zika virus.

Murders, shootings down as January probably safest month ever in NYC, says Commissioner Bratton

NYPD Commissioner Bratton proclaimed "murders and shootings are down very dramatically.”

‘Hills’ star Audrina Patridge shows off baby bump in selfie

Trump, Cruz, Rubio exchange fire day before neck-and-neck Iowa caucuses

Trump, Cruz and Rubio continued slinging mud at one another Sunday, just hours before the Iowa caucuses were slated to get underway.

TAKING FLIGHT: Massive elephant flings unsuspecting buffalo through the air at Kenya game reserve — SEE THE PHOTOS

A series of photos shows a massive elephant flinging an unsuspecting buffalo through the air.

Bernie Sanders predicts victory in Iowa caucuses

Sanders, locked in a statistical dead heat with Clinton in Iowa, predicted Sunday victory for his campaign.

Mayor de Blasio said there’s no ‘horse trading’ in NYC

Mayor de Blasio insisted there was no horse-trading in the push to move carriage stables into Central Park.

John Scott, voted to NHL All-Star Game as joke, wins MVP

TEENAGE MONSTERS: 2nd Virginia Tech student arrested in connection with 13-year-old girl's kidnapping and murder

Natalie Marie Keepers, a sophomore engineering student, was charged in connection with the death of Nicole Lovell. Keepers, of Laurel, Md., faces one felony count of improper disposal of a body.

Boko Haram burns kids alive in northeast Nigeria: witness

A survivor hidden in a tree says he heard the screams of children among people burned to death.

BOROUGH BATTLE: Bernie Sanders challenges Hillary Clinton to debate in Brooklyn, where both candidates have strong ties

Sanders grew up in Brooklyn, and Clinton has her campaign headquarters there.

NYC helicopter tourism will cut number of flights in half

The city has reached a deal with the helicopter tourism industry to cut the number of flights by 50% in order to reduce noise.

Autos

2016 Subaru Forester Test Drive and Review

Parking the 2016 Subaru Forester 2.0XT in your driveway is like welcoming a new puppy to the family.

COVERT CADDIES: 5 Cadillacs you’ve probably never heard of

Cadillac is one of America’s oldest and most famous automakers, but there are some models you may have missed over the years.

Acura NSX Super Bowl Ad features Van Halen

Acura ‘Runs with the Devil’ in their Super Bowl spot.

7 best used SUVs and crossovers for under $10,000

We’ve found 7 of the best used SUVs for under $10,000 so you can keep your regular car safe and warm this winter.

Subaru lets the dogs out for Puppy Bowl XII ad campaign

Five dog-related commercials will run during Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl on Feb. 7.

Dusty Corvettes: Classic Corvette collection uncovered in NYC

Originally given away by VH1, this fleet of Corvettes represents every model from the introduction of the 'Vette through 1989. See the fleet of Corvettes time forgot.

New York

EXCLUSIVE NYC's outer boroughs see 6.4% jobs surge under de Blasio

The number of jobs in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island jumped 6.4% from the end of 2013 through the middle of 2015.

NYC apartment flippers bring in multimillion-dollar payoffs

Apartment flippers are bringing in multimillion-dollar payoffs by selling pads less than a year and a half after buying them.

Two men wanted in iPhone and tablet thefts in Bronx subway station

The men targeted commuters on at the E. 143rd St. and St. Mary’s St. 6 train station in the South Bronx, police said.

Gov. Cuomo backs Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky for Long Island state senate seat

Kaminsky, a former federal prosecutor, will square off against Republican Christopher McGrath, a personal injury lawyer, in a special election called by Cuomo for April 19.

Advocates urge NYPD Inspector General to investigate treatment of city homeless

Communities United for Police Reform, Picture the Homeless, and more than 50 other groups wrote to IG Philip Eure requesting the formal probe.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand pushes to change Veterans Affairs rules on medical marijuana

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow its doctors to discuss medical marijuana with patients in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Eleanor J. Clark, prosecutor who won conviction against killer John List and wife of longtime Newser, dies at 73

Eleanor J. Clark, the wife of longtime former New York Daily News reporter Patrick Clark, has died after a long illness.

N.J. boy, 4, dies after falling out fifth-story window

A preliminary investigation showed that the child fell from an apartment building on 700 Newark Ave. and was found in an adjacent parking lot around 2:30 p.m.