MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS EARLY BIRD NEWS

BREAKING NYPD cops in standoff near Columbus Circle with man who earlier threw hoax bomb into police van

Cops were in a standoff with a man in a vehicle near Columbus Circle early Thursday, witnesses and officials said.

DO UNTO OTHERS...: Illinois pastor collared for breaking into rival church

An Illinois pastor is facing criminal charges after he was busted breaking into a rival church.

TRULY NEW YORK'S BRAVEST! 'Heroic' NYPD cops drive away from crowd after flashing device tossed into police van; object later determined to be fake

Cops were on high alert in Midtown early Thursday after reports that someone tossed an item into an NYPD van.

Man in jail after tattooing penis on woman who asked for yin yang

An Austrian tattoo artist is behind bars after he sneakily inked a penis on a woman instead of the yin yang symbol she requested.

SEE IT DID NAZI THAT COMING! Laura Ingraham blasted for questionable gesture at RNC

ROBERT GEORGE Don and Ted's Not-So-Excellent Adventure

There was Sen. Ted Cruz giving a final farewell to his supporters who had followed him all the way to Cleveland.

Trump ghostwriter hit with cease-and-desist letter after trashing billionaire

Donald Trump ghostwriter Tony Schwartz has been slapped with a cease and desist letter after calling out the wannabe president.

Cab driver offers ride to Bronx teen, abducts her at gunpoint, then rapes her: police

A livery cab driver’s offer of a ride turned into a nightmare for a Bronx teen who was abducted at gunpoint, blindfolded and raped.

'DESPERATE' FOR LOVE: Nicollette Sheridan divorces 6 months after wedding

'THE NEW SCAPEGOAT IS THE IMMIGRANT': Gov. Cuomo extends Worker Exploitation Task Force to protect laborers from poor work conditions

Gov. Cuomo’s year-old Worker Exploitation Task Force is getting an extended run.

Baton Rouge shooter Gavin Long suffered from PTSD, left manifesto calling attack 'necessary evil'

The former Marine who killed three cops in Baton Rouge suffered from PTSD and left a manifesto calling his plot a “necessary evil."

Don and Ted's not-so-excellent adventure ends with Cruz's refusal to endorse Trump

There was Sen. Ted Cruz giving a final farewell to his supporters who had followed him all the way to Cleveland.

Nebraska volleyball program quietly cuts ties with youth coach accused of being sexual predator

A Nebraska volleyball program has apparently ended its relationship with accused sexual predator Rick Butler.

NO KID-DING! Jon Gosselin now a prep cook at T.G.I. Fridays

Florida judge accused of demeaning racist comments, saying black people should 'go back to Africa'

A Florida judge is accused of making demeaning comments about women and telling black people to "go back to Africa."

UNWELCOMING RETURN! Rikers inmates attack correction officer after coming back from vacation

A city correction officer just returning from vacation was attacked by a group of inmates on Rikers Island.

Mike Pence makes powerful RNC speech, but loses spotlight to Ted Cruz

Mike Pence was upstaged once again in spite of a solid speech at the Republican National Convention.

DOGGONE GOOD MOVE! Pooch pilot program will give con moms some love, caring lessons

Man’s best friend will soon give mothers in a Lower Manhattan federal prison a little love.

'SO NOT A SEXUAL ACT': Kunis shamed for breastfeeding her child in public

Cabs jump on Bandwagon, Arro e-hail apps to ramp up competition with Uber

Cabs are jumping into carpool service to compete with Uber and other e-hail apps.

SHAUN KING It's now breaking point for Black America, and without indictments of Sterling and Castile's killers, the country may explode

People have protested and marched and picketed for years on end to stop such police brutality and to hold officers accountable.

INSTA-CRIME: Forensic psychologists reveal why people are posting evidence to their crimes on social media

Shortly after the murder, the suspect pulled out a phone and showed the world on social media.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO Unsolved point-blank slayings in California may be connected

Four unsolved execution-style murders in San Jose, Calif., dating from 2013 to last month may be connected to gangs, police said.

LOVE NOTE: Rams cheerleader leaves romantic graffiti for Klay Thompson

Texas’ strict voter ID law struck down because it discriminates against minorities and the poor

Texas' strict voter ID law discriminates against minorities and the poor and must be weakened before the November elections.

Virginia man contracts flesh-eating bacteria, nearly loses foot after cutting his feet in ocean

A day at the beach turned almost turned into a nightmare.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai dead at age 49 after battle with pancreatic cancer

Takai, 49, died at home surrounded by his family. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

South Carolina woman describes horror of alleged sex abuse by cop

A cop allegedly forced a woman to perform a sex act by threatening to arrest her boyfriend if she didn't comply.

Autos

Takata altered inflator data, states sue Volkswagen, and more

We've also got the latest on Volkswagen's diesel repair efforts, the new Ford F-Series Super Duty, and more in today's Daily Drive-Thru.

Many drivers of newer cars faced problems due to tech glitches

New is definitely not better when it comes to car durability, a new study shows.

3 states sue Volkswagen over emission test cheating

The suits claim Senior executives at Volkswagen AG covered up evidence that the company cheated on U.S. diesel emissions tests for years.

BUYER'S GUIDE 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty Full Report

Ford's best-selling Super Duty truck lineup is redesigned and better than ever for 2017, with bigger capacities, more luxury features, and stronger construction. The rest of the heavy duty pickup world just got put on notice.

PHOTOS First Pictures! 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Ford says the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty is "the best heavy duty truck" they have ever made, and the specs certainly seem to back up that claim.

REVIEW First Drive: 2017 Infiniti QX30 marks a new approach to luxury

If you’re seeking an affordable and practical entry-level luxury vehicle that's sportier than average, pay attention to the Infiniti QX30.

New York

NYPD cop loses vacation days over shield stolen from her car in Brooklyn

A cop whose shield was stolen from her car in Brooklyn is being issued a “command discipline."

NYPD takes battle on K2 to court, filing nuisance cases against two Brooklyn delis suspected of selling drug

Following a rash of K2 overdoses, the NYPD has filed nuisance abatement actions against Brooklyn delis suspected of dealing synthetic marijuana.

HOMING IN ON RACISTS: Airbnb hires former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to create anti-discrimination policy

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has agreed to help Airbnb create a “world-class” anti-discrimination policy, the company announced.

Police find baby who was abducted by her mom from Bronx foster care agency

A 6-month-old baby was illegally taken from a foster care agency in the Bronx by her mother Wednesday, sparking an hours-long search that ended with the child’s safe recovery in Brooklyn, police said.