TODAY IN HISTORY: Dixie Chick slams George Bush

In 1804, the United States acquired control of the Louisiana Territory in a deal with France.

In 1910, Prince Rupert was incorporated as a city.

In 1948, Czech foreign minister Jan Masaryk committed suicide by jumping out a window at the Foreign Office in Prague.

In 1980, “Scarsdale Diet” author Dr. Herman Tarnower was shot to death at his home in Purchase, N.Y. Tarnower's former lover, Jean Harris, was convicted of his murder.

In 1986, Senator Jacques Hebert began a hunger strike. Hebert, the founding chairman of the Katimavik youth work program, was protesting the federal government's cancellation of the program. He ended his hunger strike 21 days later, after receiving news that a non-profit corporation would be formed to try and continue the program.

In 1988, Andy Gibb died of a heart condition in a hospital in England. He was 30. The younger brother of the Bee Gees, he’s best remembered for the hit “Shadow Dancing.”

In 1989, 24 people were killed when an Air Ontario jet crashed just after taking off from Dryden, Ont. An inquiry blamed ice on the wings for the crash.

In 1995, for the first time in Canadian history, two prison guards were charged with manslaughter in the death of an inmate. Sean Wylie, 31, and Barry Aitchison, 39, were charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death after Robert Gentles was asphyxiated on Oct. 24, 1993.

In 2003, Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London, “Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.” They endured a firestorm of criticism that included radio stations banning their music and protests outside their concerts.

In 2010, Canadian actor Corey Haim died of pneumonia complications in Burbank, Calif., at age 38. Drugs found in his system were not a factor in his death. He became a teen heartthrob with films including “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys.”

In 2012, 29-year-old Toronto skier Nik Zoricic died from head injuries he sustained in a World Cup skicross event in Grindelwald, Switzerland.

In 2020, Air Canada suspended flights to and from Italy over concerns about the novel coronavirus, saying affected customers would be notified and offered a full refund. (Italy was an early hotspot in the COVID19 pandemic.)

In 2021, a Manitoba man who rammed a gate at Rideau Hall before arming himself and heading on foot toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's home was sentenced to six years in prison. But with time served, that's down to five. Corey Hurren, a 46-yearold sausage-maker and military reservist, had faced 21 weapons charges and one count of threatening the prime minister. He pleaded guilty last month to seven weapons charges related to possession of prohibited or restricted firearms and one charge of mischief. He caused 100-thousand dollars worth of damage to the Rideau Hall.

In 2021, two million Canadians had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Canada passed the milestone earlier in the day, as most provinces delayed a second dose by up to four months in an effort to inoculate more people more quickly. About 580-thousand people had received both doses.

In 2022, the Walt Disney Company was the latest big name to join the list of organizations no longer doing business in Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine. The company had previously announced it was pausing all film releases in Russia, but it now said it was pausing all other businesses in the country, including cruise ships, National Geographic magazine issues and tours, local productions, product licensing and its TV networks.