December 13th
Today in 1759,America's first music store opened in Philadelphia.
Today in 1809,the first abdominal surgical procedure –removal of an ovarian cyst– was performed in Danville, Kentucky. The patient was Jane Todd Crawford and the operation was performed without the aid of an anesthetic.
Today in 1903,Italo Marchiony patented the ice cream cone– in New Jersey.
Today in 1961,American folk artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses – better known as "Grandma Moses" –passed away at the age of 101.
Today in 1972,the film, "The Poseidon Adventure," starring Gene Hackman, Shelly Winters, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Stella Stevens, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall and Leslie Nielsen,premiered.
Today in 1978,the Philadelphia mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which went into circulation the following July. The dollars went out of circulation rather quickly, as too many people confused them with quarters.
Today in 1985,the movie, “Clue,"opened nationally. The film featured three different endings. Newspaper ads indicated which ending was playing at which theatre.
Today in 1995,by only three votes, the Senate killed a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against Old Glory.
Today in 1996,the movie, "The Preacher's Wife," starring Whitney Houston,was released in theaters nationwide. On the same day,the Tim Burton film, "Mars Attacks" and the Tom Cruise/ Renée Zellweger flick, “Jerry Maguire,”were also released.
Today in 1998,Puerto Rican voters rejected U.S. statehood for the second time.
Today in 2000,Vice President Al Gore officially conceded the 2000 Presidential election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The Florida electoral votes were won by only 537 votes, which decided the election. The election had been contested up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which said that the Florida recount (supported by the Florida Supreme Court) was unconstitutional.
Today in 2000,seven convicts – later known as the “Texas 7” –escaped from Connally Unit in Kenedy, Texas, by overpowering civilian workers and prison employees. They fled with stolen clothing, pickup truck and 16 guns and ammunition. The group were all apprehended a little more than a month later, on January 2001, as a direct result of the television show “America's Most Wanted.” Since then, one committed suicide to avoid capture, four have been executed and the other two await execution.
Today in 2001,the U.S. government released a videotape that showed Osama bin Laden and others discussing their knowledge of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001.
Today in 2001,Gerardo Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison for being the leader of a Cuban spy ring. His conviction was based on his role in the infiltration of U.S. military bases and in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans whose planes were shot down five years before.
Today in 2001,President George W. Bush served formal notice to Russia that the United States was withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Today in 2001,Israel severed all contact with Yasser Arafat in response to a bus ambush that killed 10 Israelis. Israel also launched air strikes and sent troops into Palestine.
Today in 2001,gunmen stormed the Indian Parliament and killed 12 people, injuring nearly two-dozen more. Security forces killed the attackers during a 90-minute gun battle.
Today in 2001,NBC-TV announced that it would begin running hard liquor commercials– a practice previously considered to be taboo. NBC issued a 19-point policy that outlined the conditions for accepting liquor ads.
Today in 2001,Michael Frank Goodwin was arrested and booked on two counts of murder, one count of conspiracy and three special circumstances (lying in wait, murder for financial gain and multiple murders) in connection to the death of Mickey Thompson. Thompson and his wife Trudy were shot to death in their driveway on March 16, 1988. Thompson, known as the "Speed King," set nearly 500 auto speed endurance records including being the first person to travel more than 400-mph on land. Later sentenced to two life terms, Goodwin has had his convictions upheld on appeal.
Today in 2003,former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured near his hometown of Tikrit.
Today in 2006,the Baiji, or Chinese River Dolphin,was announced as extinct. There may be hope, however –the mammal was spotted in 2016.
Today in 2007,the Mitchell Report publicly released a list of the names of 89 Major League Baseball players that had presumably used anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. Among the players listed: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada.
Today in 2014,hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Washington D.C. in a civil rights protest march against the police killing of unarmed black men.
Today in 2014,The British Government announced they plans to send hundreds of troops to Iraq, to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the conflict with Islamic State.
Today in 2014,Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy– he’s now the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans.
Today in 2015,Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13-seconds in Las Vegas – winning his first featherweight title.
Today in 2017,Salma Hayek accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and threatening to kill her in an Op-ed for the “New York Times.”
Today in 2017,Merriam-Webster's most searched word of the year was ‘Feminism.’
Today in 2018,it was revealed that actress Eliza Dushku received a $9.5-million settlement from CBS after sexual harassment on the set of "Bull" by actor Michael Weatherley. Dushku claimed her character was written out of the script after she confronted lead actor Weatherly over his behavior. He’s still employed by the network.
Today in 2018,the Senate passed a non-binding "war powers resolution"against long-term ally Saudi Arabia. It was seen as a bipartisan retort to the Trump administration’s lack of response to the October murder of “Washington Post” journalist Jamal Khashoggi.