There are 343 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
- On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, legalized abortions using a trimester approach.
On this date:
- In 1901, Britain's Queen Victoria died at age 81.
- In 1905 (New Style calendar), thousands of demonstrating Russian workers were fired on by Imperial army troops in St. Petersburg on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."
- In 1909, actress Ann Sothern was born in Valley City, N.D.; U.N. Secretary-General U Thant was born in Pantanaw, Burma.
- In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson pleaded for an end to war in Europe, calling for "peace without victory." (By April, however, America also was at war.)
- In 1922, Pope Benedict XV died; he was succeeded by Pius XI.
- In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy.
- In 1959, 12 workers were killed in the Knox Mine Disaster in Port Griffith, Pa., when a mine became flooded with water from the Susquehanna River.
- In 1973, former President Lyndon B. Johnson died at age 64.
- In 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 to win Super Bowl XVIII, played at Tampa Stadium in Florida. (The game broadcast on CBS-TV featured Apple Computer's famous "1984" ad introducing the Macintosh PC.)
- In 1995, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104.
Ten years ago:
- Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., abruptly called for dismissal of charges against President Bill Clinton to "end this sad and sorry time for our country."
- Clinton called for spending $2.8 billion to protect the nation from cyber terrorism and chemical and germ warfare.
- Pope John Paul II arrived in Mexico on his first visit in 20 years.
Five years ago:
- South Dakota politician Bill Janklow was sentenced to 100 days in jail for an auto accident that killed a motorcyclist.
- Enron Corp.'s former top accountant, Richard Causey, surrendered to federal authorities; he pleaded innocent to conspiracy and fraud charges. (Causey later pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.)
- Actress-dancer Ann Miller died in Los Angeles at age 81.
One year ago:
- Actor Heath Ledger was found dead of an accidental prescription overdose in New York City; he was 28.
- Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced by a U.S. federal judge in Miami to 17 years and four months on terrorism conspiracy charges.
- Republican Fred Thompson quit the race for the White House after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states.
Today's Birthdays:
- Former Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., is 81.
- Actress Piper Laurie is 77.
- Actor Seymour Cassel is 74.
- Author Joseph Wambaugh is 72.
- Actor John Hurt is 69.
- Singer Steve Perry is 60.
- Country singer-musician Teddy Gentry (Alabama) is 57.
- Movie director Jim Jarmusch is 56.
- Hockey Hall-of-Famer Mike Bossy is 52.
- Actress Linda Blair is 50.
- Actress Diane Lane is 44.
- Actor-rap DJ Jazzy Jeff is 44.
- Country singer Regina Nicks (Regina Regina) is 44.
- Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Gay (Shai) is 40.
- Actor Gabriel Macht is 37.
- Actor Balthazar Getty is 34.
- Actor Christopher Kennedy Masterson is 29.
- Pop singer Willa Ford is 28.
- Actress Beverley Mitchell is 28.
- Rock singer-musician Ben Moody is 28.
Thought for Today:
"Advertising has done more to cause the social unrest of the 20th century than any other single factor."
Clare Boothe Luce, American author, politician and diplomat (1903-1987).
"Let's all be careful out there!"
