Today in History

Today is Saturday, July 28th, the 209th day of 2007. There are 156 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On July 28th, 1945, a U-S Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York's Empire State Building, killing 14 people.

On this date: In 1540, King Henry the Eighth's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, was executed, the same day Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

In 1821, Peru declared its independence from Spain.

In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment to the U-S Constitution, guaranteeing due process of law, was certified in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

In 1896, the city of Miami, Florida, was incorporated.

In 1914, World War One began as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

In 1932, federal troops forcibly dispersed the so-called "Bonus Army" of World War One veterans who had gathered in Washington to demand money they weren't scheduled to receive until 1945.

In 1945, the U-S Senate ratified the United Nations Charter by a vote of 89-to-two.

In 1965, President Johnson announced he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam to 175-thousand by year's end.

In 1976, an earthquake devastated northern China, killing at least 242-thousand people, according to an official estimate.

In 1977, Roy Wilkins turned over leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to Benjamin L.

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Ten years ago: The CLinton administration and congressional leaders reached a tentative agreement on balancing the budget by 2002 while slicing taxes for (M) millions of families, students and investors. Five people were killed in a flash flood that tore through Fort Collins, Colorado.

Five years ago: Nine coal miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek (KYOO'-kreek) Mine in Somerset, Pennsylvania, were rescued after 77 hours underground. Speaking publicly on the church abuse scandal for the first time, Pope John Paul the Second told young Catholics in Toronto that sexual abuse of children by priests "fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame." Cycling champion Lance Armstrong won his fourth straight Tour de France.

One year ago: Actor-director Mel Gibson launched an anti-Semitic tirade as he was arrested on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, for driving drunk; Gibson later apologized and was sentenced to probation and alcohol treatment. A gunman who identified himself as a Muslim walked into the offices of the Jewish Federation in Seattle and opened fire, killing one woman and wounding five others before he was arrested. Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia was inaugurated for a second term 16 years after leaving office.

Today's Birthdays: Movie director Andrew V. McLaglen is 87.

Actor Darryl Hickman is 76. The former president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, is 69. Rock musician Rick Wright (Pink Floyd) is 64.

Former Senator Bill Bradley (Democrat, New Jersey) is 64.

"Garfield" creator Jim Davis is 62. Singer Jonathan Edwards is 61. Actress Linda Kelsey is 61. T-V producer Dick Ebersol is 60.

Actress Sally Struthers is 59. Actress Georgia Engel is 59. Rock musician Simon Kirke (Bad Company) is 58. Rock musician Steve Morse (Deep Purple) is 53. Broadcast journalist Scott Pelley is 50. Actor Michael Hayden is 44. Jazz musician-producer Delfeayo Marsalis is 42. Actress Elizabeth Berkley is 35. Singer Afroman is 33. Country musician Todd Anderson (Heartland) is 32. Country singer Carly Goodwin is 26. Actor Dustin Milligan is 22. Actor Jonathan Osser is 18.

Thought for Today: "Life has a way of overgrowing its achievements as well as its ruins." Edith Wharton, American author (1862-1937).

(Above Advance for Use Saturday, July 28th)


Copyright 2007, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-15-07 0828CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list