(Following Advance for Use Monday, April 21st)


Today in History

Today is Monday, April 21st, the 112th day of 2008. There are 254 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On April 21st, 1918, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the German ace known as the "Red Baron," was killed in action during World War I.

On this date: In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.

In 1789, John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.

In 1816, Charlotte Bronte, author of "Jane Eyre," was born in Thornton, England.

In 1836, an Army of Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.

In 1910, author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, died in Redding, Connecticut, at age 74.

In 1940, the quiz show that asked the "$64 question," "Take It or Leave It," premiered on CBS Radio.

In 1960, Brazil inaugurated its new capital, Brasilia, transferring the seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.

In 1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explored the surface of the moon.

In 1975, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned after ten years in office.

In 1977, the musical play "Annie," based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip, opened on Broadway.

Ten years ago: Astronomers announced in Washington they had discovered possible signs of a new family of planets orbiting a star 220 light-years away, the clearest evidence to date of worlds forming beyond our solar system.

Five years ago: Military officials in Iraq announced the arrest of Muhammad Hamza al-Zubaydi (HAHMZ'-uh ahl-zoo-BY'-dee), a key figure in the bloody suppression of the Shiite (SHEE'-eyet) Muslim uprising of 1991. State-run media in China reported the government had dismissed Beijing's mayor following the disclosure of a steep increase in SARS cases in the Chinese capital. Scott Peterson pleaded innocent in the deaths of his pregnant wife and unborn son.

Robert Cheruiyot (CHEHR'-ee-aht) became the 12th Kenyan in 13 years to win the Boston Marathon; Svetlana Zakharova of Russia won the women's race. Jazz singer Nina Simone died in France at age 70.

One year ago: The Fallujah, Iraq, city council chairman (Sami Abdul-Amir al-Jumaili), a critic of al-Qaida who had taken the job after his three predecessors were assassinated, was himself killed by attackers in a passing car. American billionaire Charles Simonyi returned to Earth from a dream voyage to the international space station, riding a Russian capsule to a soft landing in Kazakhstan.

Professional sailor Reid Stowe and his girlfriend, Soanya Ahmad, set off from from North Hoboken, New Jersey, on a 1,000-day, nonstop globe-girdling cruise. (Ahmad abandoned the cruise in February 2008, citing seasickness.)


Today's Birthdays: Ice skater Werner Groebli ("Mr. Frick") is 93. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is 82. Actress-comedian-writer Elaine May is 76. Actor Charles Grodin is 73. Singer-musician Iggy Pop is 61. Singer-songwriter Paul Davis is 60. Actress Patti LuPone is 59. Actor Tony Danza is 57. Actress Andie MacDowell is 50. Rock singer Robert Smith (The Cure) is 49. Rock musician Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 49. Actor John Cameron Mitchell is 45. Rapper Michael Franti (Spearhead) is 42. Rock singer-musician Glen Hansard (The Frames) is 38. Comedian Nicole Sullivan is 38. Actor James McAvoy is 29.

Thought for Today: "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." Mark Twain (1835-1910).

(Above Advance for Use Monday, April 21st)


Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 04-13-08 1144CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list