Published Friday, February 19, 2021 | 9 pm
Updated 6 minutes ago
Today in history
Today is Saturday, February 20, the 51st day of 2021. There are 314 days left in the year.
Today’s highlight in history:
On February 20, 1905, the United States Supreme Court, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts maintained 7-2 mandatory vaccination laws designed to protect public health.
On this date:
In 1792, President George Washington signed an act creating the United States Post Office.
In 1839, Congress banned the duel in the District of Columbia.
In 1933, Congress proposed the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution to repeal Prohibition.
In 1942, Lieutenant Edward “Butch” O’Hare became the first US Navy flying ace in World War II, shooting down five Japanese bombers while defending the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in the South Pacific.
In 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth while flying aboard the Mercury’s Friendship 7 spacecraft, which circled the globe three times on a flight that lasted 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds before falling. safely in the Atlantic Ocean 800 miles southeast of Bermuda.
In 1965, the America’s Ranger 8 spacecraft crashed onto the moon, as planned, after sending thousands of photos of the lunar surface.
In 1987, a bomb left by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski exploded behind a computer store in Salt Lake City, seriously injuring store owner Gary Wright. Soviet authorities released Jewish activist Josef Begun.
In 1998, Tara Lipinski, from the United States, won the gold medal for female figure skating at the Nagano Olympic Games (NAH’-guh-noh); Michelle Kwan won the silver.
In 1999, film critic Gene Siskel died in a hospital outside Chicago at age 53.
In 2003, a fire caused by pyrotechnics broke out during a Great White concert at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and wounding about 200 others.
In 2007, in a victory for President George W. Bush, a divided federal appeals court ruled that Guantanamo Bay detainees could not use the US judicial system to contest his indefinite arrest.
In 2010, Alexander Haig, a soldier and statesman who held high positions in three Republican governments and some of the top US military positions, died in Baltimore at the age of 85.
Ten years ago: Security forces loyal to Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi unleashed heavy shots as thousands marched in the rebellious eastern city of Benghazi, eliminating the mourners trying to bury the victims. Trevor Bayne, 20, won the Daytona 500 in just his second start in the Sprint Cup. Kobe Bryant won his fourth All-Star MVP award record, scoring 37 points and leading the West to a 148-143 victory over the East in the NBA All-Star game.
Five years ago: Donald Trump achieved victory in the Republican primaries of South Carolina; Hillary Clinton won a crucial victory over Bernie Sanders on the Democratic benches in Nevada. A funeral mass was held for Supreme Court judge Antonin Scalia at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Lindsey Vonn won the record crystal globe title of the 20th World Cup in La Thuile (lah tweel), Italy, surpassing the great Swede Ingemar Stenmark.
A year ago: Japan’s Ministry of Health said two passengers died who were removed from a quarantined cruise ship after being infected with the new coronavirus; both were in their 80s and had pre-existing illnesses. Sixteen Americans who were brought to the United States from the cruise ship were in hospitals, either because the results of the delayed tests showed that they had the virus or because they had symptoms. A survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that more Americans expressed some concern about getting the flu than getting the coronavirus. Trump legalist Roger Stone was sentenced to more than three years in prison for crimes, including lying to Congress and obstructing the House’s inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. (Trump would commute the sentence just days before Stone reporting for detention; he then gave Stone a full pardon in December 2020.) Morgan Stanley announced it was buying E-Trade Financial for $ 13 billion in shares.
Today’s birthdays: Actor Sidney Poitier is 94 years old. The Hall of Fame Bobby Unser is 87 years old. Roger Penske, singer and songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, is 80 years old. Hockey minority leader Phil Esposito, 79. Mitch, Sen. McConnell minority leader, R-Ky., Is 79 years old. Film director Mike Leigh is 78. Actress Brenda Blethyn is 75. Actress Sandy Duncan is 75. Actor Peter Strauss is 74. Rock musician Billy Zoom (X) is 73. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is 70 years old. Actor John Voldstad is 70. The heir to Patricia Hearst is 67. Actor Anthony Head is 67. Country singer Leland Martin is 64. Actor James Wilby is 63 years old. Rock musician Sebastian Steinberg is 62. Comedian Joel Hodgson (HAHD’-suhn) is 61 years old. The Basketball Hall of Fame Charles Barkley is 58 years old. Rock musician Ian Brown (Stone Roses) is 58 years old. Actor Willie Garson is 57 years old. French Stewart is 57 years old. The actor Ron Eldard is 56 years old. Model Cindy Crawford is 55. Actor Andrew Shue is 54. Actor Lili Taylor is 54. Actor Andrea Savage is 48. Singer Brian Litt rell is 46. Actor Lauren Ambrose is 43. Actor Jay Hernandez is 43. actor Chelsea Peretti is 43. country musician Coy Bowles is 42. actor Michael Zegen is 42. actor Majandra Delfino is 40. actor Jocko Sims is 40. singer-musician Chris Thile (THEE’-lee) is 40. A actress and singer Jessie Mueller is 38. MLB All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander is 38. Comedian Trevor Noah is 37. Actor Jake Richardson is 36. Actor Daniella Pineda is 34. Actor Miles Teller is 34 years old. Singer Rihanna is 33. Actor Jack Falahee is 32.