On this day, May 29

1790 Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the United States Constitution.

1909 President William H. Taft arrived for a two-day visit, watched the Pirates lose to the Chicago Cubs, 8-3, and participated in the dedication of Memorial Fountain in Arsenal Park.

1953 Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary, of New Zealand, and Tensing Norgay, of Nepal, became the first climbers to reach the summit.

1985 AGV Enterprises was to purchase the 34-story Gulf Building — a national historic landmark — from the Chevron Corp. 2004 Josie Carey, who hosted the television show on WQED that would later become “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” died at 73.

2020 Fired Minneapolis police Officer

Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. (He would be convicted in April 2021 on those charges as well as seconddegree unintentional murder.) Thousands of protesters in Minneapolis angered by Floyd’s death ignored a curfew as unrest again overwhelmed authorities; fires burned unchecked in cars and businesses. In a tweet, President Donald Trump called protesters in Minneapolis “thugs” and added that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” (The tweet was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence.”) Protests over Floyd’s death spread to dozens of cities. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House, some throwing rocks and tugging at barricades

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: Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent, 84. Actor Anthony Geary, 75. Singer Rebbie Jackson, 72. Movie composer Danny Elfman, 69. Singer LaToya Jackson, 66. Actor Ted Levine, 65. Actor Annette Bening, 64. Actor Rupert Everett, 63. Actor Adrian Paul, 63. Singer Melissa Etheridge, 61. Actor Lisa Whelchel, 59. Rock musician Noel Gallagher, 55. Actor Anthony Azizi, 53. Actor Laverne Cox, 50. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls), 47. NBA player Carmelo Anthony, 38.

Thought for today: “There is no avantgarde; only some people a bit behind.” — Edgard Varèse, French composer (1883-1965)