TODAY IN HISTORY

Today (Wednesday, Aug. 31) is the 244th day of 2016 and the 73rd day of summer.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1888, the body of the first victim of London serial killer Jack the Ripper was found.

In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act.

In 1954, Hurricane Carol made landfall over Long Island and Connecticut and soon became one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit New England.

In 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car accident in Paris.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Maria Montessori (1870-1952), physician/ educator; William Saroyan (1908-1981), playwright; Buddy Hackett (1924-2003), comedian/ actor; James Coburn (1928-2002), actor; Frank Robinson (1935- ), baseball player/manager; Van Morrison (1945- ), singer-songwriter; Itzhak Perlman (1945- ), violinist; Tom Coughlin (1946- ), football coach; Richard Gere (1949- ), actor; Debbie Gibson (1970- ), singer-songwriter; Chris Tucker (1972- ), actor; Larry Fitzgerald (1983- ), football player.

TODAY’S FACT: The last original episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” aired on this day in 2001.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1990, Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr., playing for the Seattle Mariners, became the first father-son duo to be in the same Major League Baseball lineup.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “The child is truly a miraculous being, and this should be felt deeply by the educator.” -- Maria Montessori, “The Absorbent Mind”

TODAY’S NUMBER: 1 -- appearance on television in which Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” did not portray himself. Rogers played the role of a preacher in a 1996 episode of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Aug. 24) and new moon (Sept. 1).