On this day, June 22
1860 An announcement was made of the opening of “books to receive subscription of stock” for construction of a “free bridge” over the Allegheny.
1937 Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago. (A year later on this date, Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.)
1953 The Allegheny Conference on Community Development released its second mass transit study; it recommended creation of a transit authority to acquire and unify bus and trolley lines in the county.
1977 John N. Mitchell became the first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up. (He was released 19 months later.)
1993 The new $2.5 million entrance walkway and plaza to the Pittsburgh Zoo’s lower parking lot was opened.
2017 An online conspiracy theory dubbed “pizzagate” ended with real-world consequences as a North Carolina man was sentenced to four years in prison for firing an assault rifle inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant.
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: Actor Prunella Scales (TV: “Fawlty Towers”), 90. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., 89. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson, 86. Actor Michael Lerner, 81. Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, 79. Fox News analyst Brit Hume, 79. Singer/producer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon), 78. Singer Howard “Eddie” Kaylan, 75. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren, 74. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., 73. Actor Meryl Streep, 73. Actor Lindsay Wagner, 73. Singer Alan Osmond, 73. Actor Graham Greene, 70. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper, 69. Actor Chris Lemmon, 68. Rock musician Derek Forbes, 66. Actor Tim Russ, 66. Rock musician
Garry Beers (INXS), 65. Actor-producerwriter Bruce Campbell, 64. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies), 63. Actor Tracy Pollan, 62. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich, 62. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville, 61. Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, 60. Actor Amy Brenneman, 58. Author Dan Brown, 58. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones), 58. Rock singer Steven Page, 52. Actor Michael Trucco, 52. Actor Mary Lynn Rajskub, 51. TV personality Carson Daly, 49. Rock musician Chris Traynor, 49. Actor Donald Faison, 48. Actor Alicia Goranson, 48. Actor-comedian Mike O’Brien (TV: “Saturday Night Live”), 46. TV personality/ actor Jai Rodriguez, 43. Americana singersongwriter John Moreland, 37. Pop singer Dinah Jane (Fifth Harmony) (TV: “The X Factor”), 25.
Thought for today: “If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm.”