Today in history

Today is the 46th day of 2017 and the 57th day of winter.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in Cuba, ultimately leading the United States to declare war on Spain.

In 1961, the U.S. figure skating team was killed in a plane crash in Belgium.

In 1972, sound recordings were granted U.S. federal copyright protection.

In 2001, the first draft of the complete human genome was published in the scientific journal Nature.

In 2013, a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia, injuring 1,500 people and damaging 7,200 buildings in six cities.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1998, after 19 losses, Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his first and only Daytona 500.

TODAY’S FACT: “The Simpsons,” created by Matt Groening and currently in its 28th season, is the longestrunning American sitcom.

TODAY’S NUMBER: 12,750 -- total length, in miles, of sidewalks in New York City.