TODAY INHISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT 1982

An Air Florida 737crashed into Washington, D. C.’ s 14th Street Bridge and fell into the Potomac River while trying to take off during a snowstorm, killing a total of 78people, including four motorists on the bridge; four passengers and a flight attendant survived.

1733

James Oglethorpe and some 120English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, while en route to settle in present- day Georgia.

1794

President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union.

1898

Emile Zola’s famous defense of Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, “J’accuse,” was published in Paris.

1941

A new law went into effect granting Puerto Ricans U. S. birthright citizenship. Novelist and poet James Joyce died in Zurich, Switzerland, less than a month before his 59th birthday.

1967

The Rolling Stones’ double- A sided single “Let’s Spend the Night Together” and “Ruby Tuesday” was released in the United Kingdom by Decca Records.

1992

Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for its soldiers during Worldwar II, citing newly uncovered documents that showed the Japanese army had had a role in abducting the so- called “comfort women.”

2001

An earthquake estimated by the U. S. Geological Survey at magnitude 7.7struck El Salvador; more than 840 people were killed.

2005

Major League Baseball adopted a tougher steroid-testing program that would suspend first- time offenders for 10days and randomly test players year- round.

2010

Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital a day after a powerful earthquake, while in Washington, President Barack Obama pledged an all- out rescue and relief effort. R& B singer Teddy Pendergrass died in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, at age 59.