June 30, 2008 - Today In History

Today is Monday, June 30, the 182nd day of 2008. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

One hundred years ago, on June 30, 1908, the Tunguska Event took place in Russia as an asteroid exploded above Siberia, leaving 800 square miles of scorched or blown-down trees.

On this date:

In 1294, Jews are expelled from Berne Switzerland

In 1397, Denmark, Norway and Sweden sign Union of Kalmar under Queen Margaretha

In 1548, Emperor Charles V orders Catholics to become Lutherans

In 1834, Congress creates Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)

In 1859, French acrobat Blondin (born Jean Francois Gravelet) walked a tightrope above the gorge
of Niagara Falls as thousands of spectators watched.

In 1891, National Forest Service organized

In 1894, London Tower Bridge opens

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

In 1921, President Harding nominated former President Taft to be chief justice of the United States,
to succeed the late Edward Douglass White.

In 1934, Adolf Hitler carried out his "blood purge" of political and military rivals in Germany in what
came to be known as "The Night of the Long Knives."

In 1936, the novel "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell was published in New York.

In 1940, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forms

In 1958, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 64-20.

In 1963, Pope Paul VI was crowned the 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1971, The 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, was ratified by the states.

In 1971, a Soviet space mission ended in tragedy when three cosmonauts aboard Soyuz 11 were
found dead inside their spacecraft after it had returned to Earth.

In 1985, 39 American hostages from a hijacked TWA jetliner were freed in Beirut after being held
17 days.

In 1986, the Supreme Court, in Bowers v. Hardwick, ruled 5-4 that states could outlaw homosexual
acts between consenting adults. (However, the nation's highest court effectively reversed
this decision in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas).

Ten years ago: Officials confirmed that the previously unidentified remains of a Vietnam War
serviceman buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery
were those of Air Force pilot Michael J. Blassie.

Five years ago: Israeli and Palestinian commanders shook hands as bulldozers dismantled check-
points and Palestinian traffic flowed freely in the Gaza Strip. Comedian

One year ago: Two men rammed a jeep loaded with gasoline canisters into the main terminal at
Glasgow Airport in Scotland, failing to set off an explosion, but seriously burning
one of suspects; the attack came a day after two cars rigged as bombs were found
in London.

Today's Birthdays:

Singer Lena Horne is 91.

Actor Tony Musante is 72.

Actress Nancy Dussault is 72.

Singer Glenn Shorrock is 64.

Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 57.

Actor David Garrison is 56.

Rock musician Hal Lindes (Dire Straits) is 55.

Actor-comedian David Alan Grier is 53.

Actor Vincent D'Onofrio is 49.

Actress Deirdre Lovejoy is 46.

Actor Rupert Graves is 45.

Boxer Mike Tyson is 42.

Rock musician Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra) is 39.

Actor Brian Bloom is 38.

Actor Brian Vincent is 38.

Actress Monica Potter is 37.

Actor Rick Gonzalez is 29.

Actress Lizzy Caplan is 26.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Fantasia ("American Idol") is 24.

Thought for Today:

"Many a man thinks he is patient when, in reality, he is indifferent." —

B.C. Forbes, Scottish journalist
(1880-1954).