Today is Friday, March 3, the 62nd day of 2006. There are 303 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
Seventy-five years ago, on March 3, 1931, “The Star-Spangled Banner” officially became the national anthem of the United States.
On this date:
In 1706, 300 years ago, composer Johann Pachelbel, best remembered for his “Canon in D,” died in Nuremberg, Germany, at age 52.
In 1845, Florida became the 27th state.
In 1849, the U.S. Department of the Interior was established.
In 1849, Congress created the Minnesota Territory.
In 1879, Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood became the first woman to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1940, Artie Shaw and his orchestra recorded “Frenesi” for RCA Victor.
In 1969, Apollo 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to test the lunar module.
In 1974, nearly 350 people died when a Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris.
In 1991, in a case that sparked a national outcry, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video.
In 1991, 25 people were killed when a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 crashed while approaching the Colorado Springs airport.
Ten years ago: Israel declared all-out war on the militant group Hamas after a bus bomb in Jerusalem killed 19 people, including the bomber, the third such suicide attack in eight days.
Five years ago: A plane carrying members of a National Guard engineering crew crashed in heavy rain near Macon, Ga., killing all 21 people on board. The foot-and-mouth scare made its way from Britain to mainland Europe with the discovery of blisters on the snouts of three pigs in northern Belgium, sparking drastic measures. John Ruiz became the first Hispanic WBA heavyweight champion by defeating Evander Holyfield in a unanimous 12-round decision.
One year ago: President Bush visited CIA headquarters, where he promised agency employees they would retain an “incredibly vital” role in safeguarding the nation’s security despite the creation of a new post of national director of intelligence. Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly around the world alone without stopping or refueling, touching down in central Kansas after a 67-hour, 23,000-mile journey.
Today’s Birthdays: Socialite Lee Radziwill is 73. Actress Hattie Winston is 61. Singer Jennifer Warnes is 59. Actor-director Tim Kazurinsky is 56. Singer-musician Robyn Hitchcock is 53. Actress Miranda Richardson is 48. Actress Mary Page Keller is 45. Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 44. Football player Herschel Walker is 44. Rapper-actor Tone-Loc is 40. Rock musician John Bigham is 37. Actress Julie Bowen is 36. Country singer Brett Warren (The Warren Brothers) is 35. Actor David Faustino is 32. Singer Ronan Keating (Boyzone) is 29. Rapper Lil’ Flip is 25. Actress Jessica Biel is 24.
Thought for Today: “We are creatures of the moment; we live from one little space to another; and only one interest at a time fills these.” — William Dean Howells, American author and editor (1837-1920).