TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Feb. 16, 1959

Fidel Castro became premier of Cuba a month and a-half after the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista.

ON THIS DATE 1868

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was organized in New York City.

1948

N-B-C T-V began airing its first nightly newscast, “The Camel Newsreel Theatre,” which consisted of Fox Movietone newsreels.

1960

The nuclear-powered radar picket submarine USS Triton departed New London on the first submerged circumnavigation by a vessel.

1968

The nation’s first 911 emergency telephone system was inaugurated in Haleyville, Ala., as the speaker of the Alabama House, Rankin Fite, placed a call from the mayor’s office in City Hall to a red telephone at the police station that was answered by U.S. Rep. Tom Bevill.

2001

The United States and Britain staged air strikes against radar stations and air defense command centers in Iraq.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Jazz/pop singer-actor Peggy King is 91. Actor William Katt is 70. Actor LeVar Burton is 64. Actor-rapper Ice-T is 63. Actor Lisa Loring is

63. International Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe is 62. Rock musician Andy Taylor is

60. Rock musician Dave Lombardo is 56. Actor Sarah Clarke is 50. Olympic gold medal runner Cathy Freeman is 48. Actor Mahershala Ali is 47. Singer Sam Salter is

46. Electronic dance music artist Bassnectar is 43. Rapper Lupe Fiasco is 39. Actor Chloe Wepper is 35. Pop-rock singer Ryan Follese is 34. Rock musician Danielle Haim is 32. Actor Elizabeth Olsen is 32. Actor Mike Weinberg is 28.