TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, Dec. 30, the 365th day of 2012. There is one day left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 30, 1962, the Green Bay Packers defeated the New York Giants 16-7 in the NFL Championship Game; the event was filmed by Blair Motion Pictures, which later became NFL Films. On this date:

In 1813, the British burned Buffalo, N.Y., during the War of 1812.

In 1853, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty under which the U.S. agreed to buy some 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico for $10 million in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase.

In 1860, 10 days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Arsenal in Charleston.

In 1903, about 600 people died when fire broke out at the recently opened Iroquois Theater in Chicago.

In 1922, Vladimir I. Lenin proclaimed the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In 1936, the United Auto Workers union staged its first “sit-down” strike at the General Motors Fisher Body Plant No. 1 in Flint, Mich. (The strike lasted until Feb. 11, 1937.)

In 1940, California’s first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, was officially opened by Gov. Culbert L. Olson.

In 1948, the Cole Porter musical “Kiss Me, Kate” opened on Broadway.

In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was inaugurated for his first term as president of the Philippines.

In 1972, the United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

In 1994, a gunman walked into a pair of suburban Boston abortion clinics and opened fire, killing two employees. (John C. Salvi III was later convicted of murder; he died in prison, an apparent suicide.)

In 2006, Iraqis awoke to news that Saddam Hussein had been hanged; victims of his three decades of autocratic rule took to the streets to celebrate.

Ten years ago: A suspected extremist killed three U.S. missionaries at a Baptist hospital in Yemen. (The gunman, Abed Abdul Razak Kamel, was executed in Feb. 2006.) China catapulted a fourth unmanned craft into orbit.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Joseph Bologna is 78. Actor Russ Tamblyn is 78. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Sandy Koufax is 77. Actor Jack Riley is 77. Folk singer Noel Paul Stookey is 75. TV director James Burrows is 72. Actor Fred Ward is 70. Singer-musician Michael Nesmith is 70. Actress Concetta Tomei (toh-MAY’) is 67. Singer Patti Smith is 66. Rock singer-musician Jeff Lynne is 65. TV host Meredith Vieira is 59. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is 57. Actress Patricia Kalember is 56. Country singer Suzy Bogguss is 56. “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer is 55. Actress-comedian Tracey Ullman is 53. Thought for Today: “I always say beauty is only sin deep.”—H.H. Munro (“Saki”), British author (1870-1916).

—THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TEXARKANA: Today will be sunny, with a high near 47 degrees, a low near 33 and a 30 percent chance of rain late.

Monday will be rainy, with a high near 45 and a low near 36. There is an 80 percent chance of rain during the day, dropping to a 50 percent chance at night.

New Year’s Day should be cloudy, with a high near 48, a low near 30 and a 20 percent chance of rain before noon.

Wednesday and Thursday, expect sunny conditions, with highs near 50 and lows near 28.

—FROM STAFF REPORTS