Today is the 171st day of 2016 and the 92nd day of spring.
Advertisement
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1865, with the arrival of federal troops, slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The day is celebrated as the holiday Juneteenth.
In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created.
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved after a lengthy filibuster in the Senate.
In 1978, Jim Davis' "Garfield" comic strip made its debut.
In 1991, the last Soviet troops left Hungary after 45 years of occupation.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), philosopher/scientist; Moe Howard (1897-1975), actor; Lou Gehrig (1903-1941), baseball player; Lester Flatt (1914-1979), bluegrass guitarist; Salman Rushdie (1947- ), author; Kathleen Turner (1954- ), actress; Paula Abdul (1962- ), singer/TV personality; Laura Ingraham (1964- ), radio host/author; Dirk Nowitzki (1978- ), basketball player; Zoe Saldana (1978- ), actress; Macklemore (1983- ), rapper; Paul Dano (1984- ), actor.
TODAY'S FACT: Juneteenth has been celebrated as an official state holiday in Texas since 1980.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1846, the New York Nine defeated the New York Knickerbockers by a score of 23-1 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The game is widely regarded as the first officially recorded baseball game under codified rules in the United States.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "The principles of pleasure are not firm and stable. They are different in all mankind, and variable in every particular with such a diversity that there is no man more different from another than from himself at different times." -- Blaise Pascal, "The Art of Persuasion"
TODAY'S NUMBER: 83 -- days for which senators in opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act filibustered the bill.
TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (June 12) and full moon (June 20).