On this day, Feb. 19
1875 An entry about “heavy smoke” in the region in the daily journal of the Weather Bureau stated: “Extremely dark this morning. Had to keep all gaslights burning until 11 o’clock. Street lamps were lighted for a time after 9 o’clock [a.m.].”
1941 Eight members of Pittsburgh City Council visited St. Louis to witness the effects of that city’s smoke-control program. They were advised by St. Louis Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann that Pittsburgh’s air could be cleansed, too, “if you have the courage of your convictions.”
1959 Thirteen men were arrested in a raid on the headquarters of Tony Grosso, an alleged numbers-racket boss in Western Pennsylvania.
1968 The children’s program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” created by and starring Fred Rogers, made its network debut on National Educational Television, a forerunner of PBS, beginning a 31-season run. 1986 The U.S. Senate approved, 83-11, the Genocide Convention, an international treaty outlawing “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,” nearly 37 years after the pact was first submitted for ratification.
2009 President Barack Obama made a quick visit to Canada, his first trip outside the U.S. since taking office. He reassured Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the U.S. was not cultivating a protectionist streak despite its economic difficulties. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).
— Compiled by Rick Nowlin
Today’s birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson, 79. Actress Carlin Glynn, 79. Former Sony Corp. Chairman Howard Stringer, 77. Singer Lou Christie, 76. Actor Michael Nader, 74. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell), 71. Actor Stephen Nichols, 68. Author Amy Tan, 67. Actor Jeff Daniels, 64. Rock singer-musician Dave Wakeling, 63. Talk show host Lorianne Crook, 62. Actor Ray Winstone,
62. Actor Leslie David Baker, 61. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, 60. Britain’s Prince Andrew, 59. Tennis Hall of Famer Hana Mandlikova, 57. Singer Seal,
56. Actress Jessica Tuck, 56. Country musician Ralph McCauley (Wild Horses), 55. Rock musician Jon Fishman (Phish), 54. Actress Justine Bateman, 53. Actor Benicio Del Toro, 52. Actress Bellamy Young,
49. Rock musician Daniel Adair, 44. Pop singer-actress Haylie Duff, 34. Actress Arielle Kebbel, 34. Actor Luke Pasqualino,
29. Actress Victoria Justice, 26. Actor David Mazouz (TV: “Gotham”), 18. Actress Millie Bobby Brown, 15.
Thought for today: “Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”