TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 27, the 27th day of 2021. There are 338 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 27, 1756, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. On this date:
■ In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.
■ In 1945, during World War II, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.
■ In 1967, astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo spacecraft.
■ In 1972, “Queen of Gospel” Mahalia Jackson, 60, died in Evergreen Park, Ill.
■ In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris.
■ In 1981, President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, greeted the 52 former American hostages released by Iran at the White House.
■ In 2006, Western Union delivered its last telegram.
■ In 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad tablet computer during a presentation in San Francisco.
Ten years ago: Tens of thousands of Yemenis demanded their president step down; taking inspiration from Tunisians’ revolt, they vowed to continue until their U.S.-backed government fell.
Five years ago: The Ferguson, Missouri, Police Department agreed to overhaul its policies, training and practices as part of a sweeping deal with the Justice Department following the 2014 fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
One year ago: China confirmed more than 2,700 cases of the new coronavirus with more than 80 deaths in that country; authorities postponed the end of the Lunar New Year holiday to keep the public at home.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor James Cromwell is 81. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 77. R&B singer Nedra Talley (The Ronettes) is 75. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 73. Latin singer-songwriter Djavan is 72. Chief U.S. Justice John Roberts is 66. Political and sports commentator Keith Olbermann is 62. Actor Bridget Fonda is 57. Actor Alan Cumming is 56. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 53. Rock singer Mike Patton is
53. Rapper Tricky is 53. Actorcomedian Patton Oswalt is
52. Actor Josh Randall is 49. Country singer Kevin Denney is 43. Tennis player Marat Safin is 41. Rock musician Matt Sanchez (American Authors) is
35. Actor Braeden Lemasters is 25.