Today In History

Today is Saturday, Jan. 23, the 23rd day of 2021. There are 342 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 2020: Chinese state media said the city of Wuhan would be shutting down outbound flights and trains, trying to halt the spread of a new virus that had sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 17. The World Health Organization said the viral illness in China was not yet a global health emergency, though the head of the U.N. health agency added that “it may yet become one.”

ON THIS DATE

› 1845: Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

› 1950: The Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

› 1962: Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in New York for Columbia Records.

› 1964: The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.

› 1973: President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War, and would be formally signed four days later in Paris.

› 1977: The TV mini-series “Roots,” based on the Alex Haley novel, began airing on ABC.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Actor Chita Rivera is

88. Actor-director Lou Antonio is 87. Jazz musician Gary Burton is 78. Actor Gil Gerard is 78. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., is 74. Singer Anita Pointer is 73. Actor Richard Dean Andesrson is 71. Rock musician Bill Cunningham is 71. Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 68. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is 68. Princess Caroline of Monaco is 64. Reggae musician Earl Falconer (UB40) is

62. Actor Peter Mackenzie is 60. Actor Boris McGiver is 59. Actor Gail O’Grady is 58. Actor Mariska Hargitay is 57. R&B singer Marc Nelson is 50. CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell is 47. Actor Tiffani Thiessen is 47. Rock musician Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) is 46. Singer-actor Rachel Crow is 23.