362 & Counting

Today is Saturday, Jan. 3, the 3rd day of 2009. There are 362 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state as President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation. On this date: In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. [Caused, as you certainly recall, by Luther's firm stand against Catholic anti-Semitism. — Ed.] In 1777, General George Washington's army routed the British in the Battle of Princeton, N.J. In 1868, the Meiji Restoration re-established the authority of Japan's emperor and heralded the fall of the military rulers known as shoguns. [How'd Tojo get in then? Is somebody keeping an eye on these yellow devils now? — Ed.] In 1909, Danish-American comedian Victor Borge was born in Copenhagen. In 1938, the March of Dimes campaign to fight polio was organized. In 1947, congressional proceedings were televised for the first time as viewers in Washington, Philadelphia and New York got to see some of the opening ceremonies of the 80th Congress. In 1949, in a pair of rulings, the US Supreme Court said that states had the right to ban closed shops. In 1961, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba. In 1990, ousted Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega surrendered to US forces, 10 days after taking refuge in the Vatican's diplomatic mission. In 1993, President George H.W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a historic nuclear missile-reduction treaty in Moscow. Ten years ago: Chicagoans dug out from their biggest snowstorm in more than 30 years. Israeli authorities detained, and later expelled, 14 members of Concerned Christians, a Denver-based cult which Israeli officials feared was plotting violence in Jerusalem to bring about the Second Coming of Christ. [Cult? Sounds mainstream Xian to us. — Ed.] Five years ago: A Boeing 737 owned by Egyptian charter tour operator Flash Airlines crashed into the Red Sea, killing all 148 people aboard, most of them French tourists. NASA's Mars rover, Spirit, touched down on Mars. One year ago: Barack Obama won Democratic caucuses in Iowa, while Mike Huckabee won Republican caucuses. [Where are those two now? — Ed.] After nearly 27 years in prison, Texas inmate Charles Chatman was set free by a judge because of new DNA evidence showing he'd been wrongly convicted of rape. Pop star Britney Spears was hospitalized after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in an hours-long standoff with police. The Kansas Jayhawks won the Orange Bowl, defeating Virginia Tech 24-21. Associated Press