THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Today is Saturday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2017. There are 71 days left in the year.

IN THE NATION

1892: Schoolchildren across the U.S. observed Columbus Day (according to the Gregorian date) by reciting, for the first time, the original version of "The Pledge of Allegiance," written by Francis Bellamy for The Youth's Companion.

1941: Superheroine Wonder Woman made her debut in All-Star Comics issue No. 8, published by All-American Comics, Inc. of New York.

IN THE WORLD

1966: 144 people, 116 of them children, were killed when a coal waste landslide engulfed a school and some 20 houses in Aberfan, Wales. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

TV's Judge Judy Sheindlin is 75. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 68. Movie director Catherine Hardwicke is 62. Singer Julian Cope is 60.