TODAY IN HISTORY

On June 30, 1958, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 64-20.

In 1963, Pope Paul VI was crowned the 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that the government could not prevent The New York Times or The Washington

Post from publishing the Pentagon Papers.

In 1982, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expired, having failed to receive the required number of ratifications.

In 1986, the Supreme Court, in Bowers v. Hardwick, ruled 5-4 that states could outlaw gay acts between consenting adults.

In 1997, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in Hong Kong as Britain prepared to return the colony to China after ruling it for 156 years.