TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT 2020

Chinese state media said the city of Wuhan would be shutting down outbound flights and trains, trying to halt the spread of a new virus that had sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 17. The World Health Organization said the viral illness in China was not yet a global health emergency, though the head of the U.N. health agency added that “it may yet become one.”

ALSO ON THIS DATE 1845

Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

1962

Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in New York.

1964

The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.

1968

North Korea seized the U.S. Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo, charging its crew with being on a spying mission; one sailor was killed and 82 were taken prisoner.

1973

President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War, and would be formally signed four days later in Paris.

1998

A judge in Fairfax, Virginia, sentenced Aimal Khan Kasi to death for an assault rifle attack outside CIA headquarters in 1993 that killed two men and wounded three other people.

2009

President Barack Obama quietly ended the Bush administration’s ban on giving federal money to international groups that performed abortions or provided information on the option.