Today in History
Today is Sunday, Sept. 4, the 247th day of 2022. There are 118 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Sept. 4, 2016, elevating the “saint of the gutters” to one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa, praising her radical dedication to society’s outcasts and her courage in shaming world leaders for the “crimes of poverty they themselves created.”
On this date:
In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.
In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces led by Gen. Robert E. Lee began invading Maryland.
In 1888, George Eastman received a patent for his roll-film box camera, and registered his trademark: “Kodak.”
In 1944, during World War II, British troops liberated Antwerp, Belgium.
In 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus used Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine Black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.
In 1969, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report calling birth control pills “safe,” despite a slight risk of fatal blood-clotting disorders linked to the pills.
In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won a seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics in the 400-meter medley relay.
In 1974, the United States established diplomatic relations with East Germany.
In 1999, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed a breakthrough land-for-security agreement during a ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
In 2005, six days after Hurricane Katrina left a devastated New Orleans in chaos, police stormed the Danziger Bridge, shooting and killing two unarmed people and wounding four others. (Five New Orleans police officers were found guilty of civil rights violations in connection with the shootings, but a federal judge threw out those convictions in Sept. 2013 and ordered a new trial, concluding the case had been tainted by “grotesque prosecutorial misconduct.” The five officers entered guilty pleas in April 2016 under a plea agreement.)
In 2006, “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, 44, died after a stingray’s barb pierced his chest.
In 2018, Amazon became the second publicly-traded company to reach $1 trillion in market value, following closely behind Apple.
Ten years ago: Democrats opened their national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, by ridiculing Republican Mitt Romney as a millionaire candidate who “quite simply doesn’t get it”; first lady Michelle Obama lovingly praised her husband as a devoted spouse and caring father at home and a “man we can trust” to revive the nation’s weak economy as president.
Five years ago: Texas emergency management officials said at least 60 deaths were attributed to Hurricane Harvey. (The death toll from the storm would reach 68 in Texas; damage in the state was estimated at $125 billion.) Colombia’s government and the country’s last remaining major rebel group signed a cease-fire ahead of a visit by Pope Francis. J.D. Martinez hit four home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks, tying the major league record; he was the 18th player in major league history to accomplish the feat. (The Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-0 for their 11th straight win.)
One year ago: A utility official warned that full restoration of electricity to some of the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana battered by Hurricane Ida could take until the end of the month. Taliban special forces in camouflage fired their weapons into the air, bringing an abrupt and frightening end to the latest protest march in the capital by Afghan women demanding equal rights from the new rulers. Willard Scott, the longtime weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show who was known for his self-deprecating humor and cheerful personality, died at 87.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 91. Soul singer Sonny Charles is 82. Actor Kenneth Kimmins is 81. Singer Merald “Bubba” Knight (Gladys Knight & The Pips) is 80. TV personality and veterinarian Dr. Jan (yahn) Pol (TV: “The Incredible Dr. Pol”) is 80. World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 80. Actor Jennifer Salt is 78. World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 73. R&B musician Ronald LaPread is 72. Actor Judith Ivey is 71. Rock musician Martin Chambers (The Pretenders) is 71. Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is 69. Actor Khandi Alexander is 65. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. is 62. Rock musician Kim Thayil is 62. Actor Richard Speight Jr. is 53. Actor Noah Taylor is 53. Actor Ione (eye-OH’-nee) Skye is 52. Actor-singer James Monroe Iglehart is 48. Pop-rock singer-DJ-musician-producer Mark Ronson is 47. R&B singer Richard Wingo (Jagged Edge) is 47. Rock musician Ian Grushka (New Found Glory) is 45. Actor Wes Bentley is 44. Actor Max Greenfield is 43. Country singer Granger Smith is 43. Singer Dan Miller (O Town) is 42. Singer Beyonce (bee-AHN’-say) Knowles is 41. Actor-comedian Whitney Cummings is 40. Actor-comedian Kyle Mooney (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 38. Folk-rock musician Neyla Pekarek (NEE’-lah peh-KAYR’-ehk) (formerly with The Lumineers) is 36. Pop-rock singer-songwriter James Bay is 32. Actor Carter Jenkins is 31. Actor Trevor Gagnon is 27.
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