THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Today is Tuesday, April 17, the 107th day of 2018. There are 258 days left in the year.

IN THE NATION

1961: About 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in an attempt to topple Fidel Castro, whose forces crushed the incursion by the third day.

1937: Cartoon character Daffy Duck made his debut in the Warner Bros. animated short “Porky’s Duck Hunt,” directed by Tex Avery.

1993: A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King; two other officers were acquitted.

IN THE WORLD

1492: A contract was signed by Christopher Columbus and a representative of Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, giving Columbus a commission to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia.

1521: Martin Luther went before the Diet of Worms to face charges stemming from his religious writings. (Luther was later declared an outlaw by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Actress Olivia Hussey is 67. Actor Sean Bean is 59. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is 57. Actress Leslie Bega is 51. Actor Henry Ian Cusick is 51. Rapper-actor Redman is 48. Actress Jennifer Garner is 46. Country musician Craig Anderson is 45. Singer Victoria Adams Beckham is 44. Actress Rooney Mara is 33. Actress Dee Dee Davis is 22.