April 24th
Today in 1877,the U.S. federal troops were ordered out of New Orleans, ending the North’s post-Civil War rule in the south.
Today in 1897,William Price became the first reporter with White House news as a beat.
Today in 1915,in what’s considered the start of the Armenian genocide, the Ottoman Empire began rounding up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople.
Today in 1962,MIT sent a TV signal by satellite for the first time.
Today in 1968,students at Columbia University in New York City began a week-long occupation of several campus buildings to protest University affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). IDA is a weapons research think-tank, which works with the U.S. Department of Defense. Students rallied more after the Columbia administration placed six anti-war student activists on probation for violating the ban on indoor demonstrations.
Today in 1980,a mission to rescue 52 hostages from the U.S. embassy in Iran was aborted due to equipment failure and because the Iranian foreign minister warned any attempt would be considered an act of war. Eight U.S. Servicemen lost their lives. Hostages were held for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981.
Today in 1984,Apple released the Apple llc portable computer a $1,295.
Today in 1990,space shuttle “Discovery” blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying the $1.5-billion Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope that orbits earth distorting and blocking the light that reaches our planet. Hubble is one of NASA’s longest and most successful science missions helping scientist make new discoveries throughout the universe by sending a series of stunning photographs of deep space.
Today in 2008,Wesley Snipes was sentenced to jail in Florida on tax evasion charges. Snipe’s lawyers called for leniency after he was sentenced 36 months in federal prison, arguing that the offences were misdemeanors. The jury found the star guilty of purposely failing to file tax returns for 1999, 2000, and 2001 and believed sentencing him would set an example due to his fame. He was released in 2013.
Today in 2012,the United States Justice Department filed criminal charges against Kurt Mix, former BP engineer, who was arrested for deliberately destroying evidence. His arrest marked the first criminal charges filed against anyone involved with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill since it occurred in 2010. Mix was accused of deleting text messages that had details on the progress of trying to cap the spill.
Today in 2015,Armenia commemorated the 100th anniversary of th Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire.
Today in 2017, astronaut Peggy Whitson broke the U.S. record for most time in space and talked up Mars during a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump; the International Space Station’s commander surpassed the record of 534 days, two hours and 48 minutes for most accumulated time in space by an American.