On this day, Aug. 26

1919 The Pittsburgh Railways Co. attempted to operate strike-bound cars. The result was a series of riots in Downtown and other sections of the city; many of the strikers were injured.

1944 French Gen. Charles de Gaulle braved the threat of German snipers as he led a victory march in Paris, which had just been liberated by the Allies from Nazi occupation.

1977 The PAT board, by an 11-1 vote, approved an application for $93 million in federal funds to construct a $110 million busway from Downtown to the eastern suburbs.

1985 Thirteen-year-old AIDS patient Ryan White began “attending” classes at Western Middle School in Kokomo, Ind., via a telephone hookup at his home — school officials had barred Ryan from attending classes in person.

2004 Carlow College marked its 75th anniversary by announcing a name change to Carlow University, becoming the first women-centered Catholic school to reach university status in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Pop singer Vic Dana, 81. Munhall native, former Pennsylvania Gov. and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, 76. R&B singer Valerie Simpson, 76. Pop singer Bob Cowsill, 72. Broadcast

journalist Bill Whitaker, 70. Actor Brett Cullen, 65. Former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, 62. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis, 61. Actor Chris Burke, 56. TV writeractor Riley Weston, 55. Rock musician Adrian Young (No Doubt), 52. Actor Melissa McCarthy, 51. Actor Meredith Eaton, 47. Actor Mike Colter, 45. Actor Macaulay Culkin, 41. Actor Chris Pine, 41. Comedian/actor/writer John Mulaney, 39. Actor Johnny Ray Gill, 37. R&B singer Cassie (aka Cassie Ventura), 35. Actor Evan Ross, 33. Actor Danielle Savre, 33. Actor Dylan O’Brien, 30. Actor Keke Palmer, 28. Thought for today: “While we read history we make history.”

— George William Curtis, American author-editor (1824-1892)