TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS MONDAY, FEB. 2, the 33rd day of 2015. There are 332 days left in the year. This is Groundhog Day.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1925, the legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought a life-saving treatment to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, six days after the drug left Nenana.
In 1653, New Amsterdam — now New York City — was incorporated.
In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, was signed.
In 1932, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra recorded “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” for Brunswick Records.
In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II.
In 1964, Ranger 6, a lunar probe launched by NASA, crashed onto the surface of the moon as planned, but failed to send back any TV images.
In 1971, Idi Amin, having seized power in Uganda, proclaimed himself president.
In 1980, NBC News reported the FBI had conducted a sting operation targeting members of Congress using phony Arab businessmen in what became known as “Abscam,” a codename protested by Arab-Americans.
In 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africa’s black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.
Ten years ago: In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush called for changes in Social Security that would combine reduced government benefits for younger workers with “a chance to build a nest egg” through personal accounts.
One year ago: Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, 46, was found dead in his New York apartment from a combination of heroin, cocaine and other drugs.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Gossip columnist Liz Smith is 92. Former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing is 89. Actor Robert Mandan is 83. Comedian Tom Smothers is 78. Rock singer-guitarist Graham Nash and television executive Barry Diller are 73. Actor Bo Hopkins is 71. Country singer Howard Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 69. TV chef Ina Garten is 67. Actor Jack McGee, actor Brent Spiner and rock musician Ross Valory (Journey) are 66. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and the president of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, are 63. Model Christie Brinkley is 61. Actor Michael Talbott and actress Kim Zimmer are 60. Actor Michael T. Weiss is 53. Actor-comedian Adam Ferrara and rock musician Robert DeLeo ( Army of Anyone; Stone Temple Pilots) are 49. Actress Jennifer Westfeldt is 45. Rock musician Ben Mize is 44. Rapper T-Mo is 43. Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur is 42. Actress Lori Beth Denberg is 39. Singer Shakira is 38. Actor Rich Sommer (TV: “Mad Men”) is 37. Country singer Blaine Larsen is 29. Actress Zosia Mamet (TV: “Girls”) is 27.