TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS SATURDAY, SEPT. 4, the 247th day of 2021. There are 118 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus used Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine Black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.
In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.
In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces led by Gen. Robert E. Lee began invading Maryland.
In 1893, English author Beatrix Potter first told the story of Peter Rabbit in the form of a “picture letter” to Noel Moore, son of Potter’s former governess.
In 1944, during World War II, British troops liberated Antwerp, Belgium.
In 1969, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report calling birth control pills “safe,” despite a slight risk of fatal blood-clotting disorders linked to the pills.
In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won a seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics in the 400-meter medley relay.
In 1974, the United States established diplomatic relations with East Germany.
In 1998, internet services company Google filed for incorporation in California.
In 1999, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed a breakthrough land-for-security agreement during a ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
In 2006, “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, 44, died after a stingray’s barb pierced his chest.
In 2014, comedian Joan Rivers died at a New York hospital at age 81, a week after going into cardiac arrest in a doctor’s office during a routine medical procedure.
In 2018, Amazon became the second publicly traded company to reach $1 trillion in market value, following closely behind Apple.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 90. Soul singer Sonny Charles is 81. Actor Kenneth Kimmins is 80. Singer Merald “Bubba” Knight (Gladys Knight & The Pips), TV personality and veterinarian Dr. Jan Pol (TV: “The Incredible Dr. Pol”) and World Golf Hallof-Famer Raymond Floyd are 79. Actor Jennifer Salt is 77. World Golf Hall-ofFamer Tom Watson is 72. R&B musician Ronald LaPread is 71. Actor Judith Ivey and rock musician Martin Chambers (The Pretenders) are 70. Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is 68. Actor Khandi Alexander is 64. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. and rock musician Kim Thayil are 61. Actors Richard Speight Jr. and Noah Taylor are 52. Actor Ione Skye is 51. Actor-singer James Monroe Iglehart is 47. Pop-rock singer-DJ-musician-producer Mark Ronson and R&B singer Richard Wingo (Jagged Edge) are 46. Rock musician Ian Grushka (New Found Glory) is 44. Actor Wes Bentley is 43. Actor Max Greenfield and country singer Granger Smith are 42. Singer Dan Miller (O Town) is 41. Singer Beyonce Knowles is 40. Actor-comedian Whitney Cummings is 39. Actor-comedian Kyle Mooney (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 37. Folk-rock musician Neyla Pekarek (formerly with The Lumineers) is 35. Pop-rock singer-songwriter James Bay is 31. Actor Carter Jenkins is 30.