Today is Saturday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2016. There are 364 days left in the year.
Today is Saturday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2016. There are 364 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Jan. 2, 1900, U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announced the “Open Door Policy” to facilitate trade with China.
On this date:
In 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1893, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first commemorative stamp to honor the World’s Columbian Expedition and the quadricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ voyage.
In 1921, religious services were broadcast on radio for the first time as KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the regular Sunday service of the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.
In 1935, Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in Flemington, New Jersey, on charges of kidnapping and murdering the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann was found guilty, and executed.)
In 1942, the Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.
In 1955, the president of Panama, Jose Antonio Remon Cantera, was assassinated.
In 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts launched his successful bid for the presidency.
In 1971, 66 people were killed in a pileup of spectators leaving a soccer match at Ibrox (EYE’-brox) Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland.
In 1974, President Richard Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 miles an hour as a way of conserving gasoline in the face of an OPEC oil embargo. (The 55 mph limit was effectively phased out in 1987; federal speed limits were abolished in 1995.) “Singing cowboy” star Tex Ritter died in Nashville at age 68.
In 1981, police in Sheffield, England, arrested Peter Sutcliffe, who confessed to being the “Yorkshire Ripper,” the serial killer of 13 women.
In 1986, former baseball owner Bill Veeck (vehk), remembered for his well-publicized stunts and promotional gimmicks, including an exploding scoreboard and a dwarf pinch-hitter, died in Chicago at age 71.
In 1991, Sharon Pratt was sworn in as mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first black woman to head a city of Washington’s size and prominence.
Ten years ago: A methane gas explosion at the Sago (SAY’-goh) Mine in West Virginia claimed the lives of 12 miners, but one miner, Randal McCloy, Jr., was eventually rescued. The roof of a skating rink collapsed in the German town of Bad Reichenhall (bahd RYK’-ehn-hahl), killing 15 people. No. 4 Ohio State beat No. 5 Notre Dame 34-20 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Five years ago: The U.S. Navy said it would investigate raunchy videos broadcast to the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. (Capt. Owen P. Honors, who’d produced the videos as the ship’s executive officer, was removed as the Enterprise’s commander but was later allowed to remain in the Navy.) A magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook southern Chile, sending tens of thousands of people fearing a tsunami to higher ground. Maj. Richard “Dick” Winters, who’d fought in several major battles in World War II and whose quiet leadership was chronicled in the book and television miniseries “Band of Brothers,” died in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, at age 92. Actress Anne Francis, 80, died in Santa Barbara, California.
One year ago: The United States imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea, targeting the North’s defense industry and spy service in an attempt to punish Pyongyang for a crippling cyberattack against Sony. California began issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants who were in the country illegally. Little Jimmy Dickens, a diminutive singer-songwriter who was the oldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, died at age 94.
Today’s Birthdays: Country musician Harold Bradley is 90. Singer Julius La Rosa is 86. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is 74. TV host Jack Hanna is 69. Actress Wendy Phillips is 64. Actress Cynthia Sikes is 62. Actress Gabrielle Carteris is 55. Movie director Todd Haynes is 55. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher David Cone is 53. Actress Tia Carrere is 49. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 48. Model Christy Turlington is 47. Actor Taye Diggs is 45. Rock musician Scott Underwood is 45. Rock singer Doug Robb (Hoobastank) is 41. Actor Dax Shepard is 41. Actress Paz Vega is 40. Country musician Chris Hartman is 38. Ballroom dancer Karina Smirnoff (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 38. Rock musician Jerry DePizzo Jr. (O.A.R.) is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelton Kessee (IMX) is 35. Actress Kate Bosworth is 33. Actor Peter Gadiot (TV: “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”) is 31. Jazz singer-musician Trombone Shorty is 30.
Thought for Today: “Love doesn’t grow on trees like apples in Eden — it’s something you have to make. And you must use your imagination too.” — Joyce Cary, Anglo-Irish author (1888-1957).