Today in history

Today is the 228th day of 2017 and the 58th day of summer.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln prohibited Union states from trading with states that had seceded.

In 1896, gold was discovered near the Klondike River in Canada’s Yukon Territory, sparking a gold rush.

In 1977, Elvis Presley died at age 42.

In 2007, U.S. citizen Jose Padilla was convicted of conspiracy in a “dirty bomb” terrorism case and sentenced to more than 17 years in prison, increased on appeal to 21.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) (1888-1935), soldier/archaeologist/writer; Hal Foster (1892-1982), author/illustrator; George Meany (1894-1980), union leader; Charles Bukowski (19201994), poet/writer; Ann Blyth (1928- ), actress; Eydie Gorme (1928-2013), singer/actress; Frank Gifford (19302015), sportscaster/football player; Kathie Lee Gifford (1953- ), actress/ TV personality; James Cameron (1954- ), filmmaker; Angela Bassett (1958- ), actress; Madonna (1958- ), singer/actress; Steve Carell (1962- ), actor/comedian; Yu Darvish (1986- ), baseball player.

TODAY’S FACT: An 18-yearold Elvis Presley paid a private recording studio $4 in 1953 to record “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartache Begins” on a twosided record as a belated birthday gift to his mother.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1954, the first issue of Sports Illustrated was published.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals.” -- T.E. Lawrence, “The Evolution of a Revolt”

TODAY’S NUMBER: 102,800 -height (in feet) from which Joseph Kittinger jumped during a recordsetting U.S. Air Force experiment on this day in 1960. Though his height and speed records were broken during the Red Bull Stratos project in 2012, Kittinger’s 4 minutes, 36 seconds of free fall remains unsurpassed.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Aug. 14) and new moon (Aug. 21).