TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29, the 241st day of 2018. There are 124 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, La., bringing floods that devastated New Orleans. More than 1,800 people in the region died.
In 1862, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing began operations at the United States Treasury.
In 1864, the Democratic National Convention, which nominated Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan for president, opened in Chicago.
In 1877, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 76.
In 1910, Korean Emperor Sunjong abdicated as the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty went into effect.
In 1944, 15,000 American troops of the 28th Infantry Division marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris as the French capital continued to celebrate its liberation from the Nazis.
In 1957, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a Civil Rights Act after South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond (then a Democrat) ended a filibuster that had lasted 24 hours.
In 1958, pop superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Ind.
In 1962, Malvin R. Goode began covering the United Nations for ABC-TV, becoming network television’s first black reporter.
In 1964, Roy Orbison’s single “Oh, Pretty Woman” was released on the Monument label.
In 1965, Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles “Pete” Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after 8 days in space.
In 1972, swimmer Mark Spitz of the United States won the third of his seven gold medals at the Munich Olympics, finishing first in the 200-meter freestyle.
In 1996, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated Al Gore for a second term as vice president. Earlier in the day, President Bill Clinton’s chief political strategist, Dick Morris, resigned amid a scandal over his relationship with a prostitute.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actress Betty Lynn (TV: “The Andy Griffith Show”) is 92. Movie director William Friedkin is 83. Actor Elliott Gould is 80. Movie director Joel Schumacher is 79. TV personality Robin Leach is 77. Actress Deborah Van Valkenburgh is 66. Former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is 63. Dancerchoreographer Mark Morris and country musician Dan Truman (Diamond Rio) are 62. Actress Rebecca DeMornay is 59. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is 51. Singer Me’Shell NdegeOcello is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer Carl Martin (Shai) is 48. Actress Carla Gugino is 47. Rock musician Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) is 43. Actor John Hensley is 41. Actress Kate Simses is 39. Rock musician David Desrosiers (Simple Plan) is 38. Rapper A+ is 36. Actress Jennifer Landon is 35. Actor Jeffrey Licon is 33. Actress-singer Lea Michele is 32. Actress Charlotte Ritchie is 29. Actress Nicole Gale Anderson is 28. Rock singer Liam Payne (One Direction) is 25.