This day in history

[December 15, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Dec. 15, the 349th day of 2010. There are 16 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Dec. 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights went into effect following ratification by Virginia.

On this date:

In 1890, Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members were killed in Grand River, S.D. during a confrontation with Indian police.

In 1893, Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World," was rehearsed before the public at New York's Carnegie Hall (the official world premiere was held the next day).

In 1938, groundbreaking for the Jefferson Memorial took place in Washington, D.C. with President Franklin D. Roosevelt taking part in the ceremony.

In 1939, the motion picture "Gone With the Wind" had its world premiere in Atlanta.

In 1944, a single-engine plane carrying bandleader Glenn Miller, a major in the U.S. Army Air Forces, disappeared over the English Channel while en route to Paris. American forces invaded Mindoro Island in the Philippines.

In 1960, Teflon-coated skillets first went on sale, at Macy's flagship store in New York City.

In 1961, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court.

In 1964, Canada's House of Commons approved dropping the "Red Ensign" flag in favor of a new design.

In 1965, two U.S. manned spacecraft, Gemini 6A and Gemini 7, maneuvered to within 10 feet of each other while in orbit.

In 1979, the deposed Shah of Iran left the United States for Panama, the same day the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a provisional order for Iran to release all its American hostages.

Ten years ago: The long-troubled Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was closed for good. Federal regulators ordered an overhaul of California's electricity market in a push to control skyrocketing prices and curtail supply shortages. First lady and Sen.-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed to an $8 million book deal with Simon and Schuster for her White House memoirs. ("Living History" was released in 2003.)

Five years ago: Millions of Iraqis turned out to choose a parliament in a mostly peaceful election. Former Sen. William Proxmire, the Wisconsin Democrat who'd fought government waste with his "Golden Fleece" awards, died in Sykesville, Md. at age 90.

One year ago: World leaders began arriving in Copenhagen, kicking U.N. climate talks into high gear in a quest to deliver a deal to curb emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The Washington, D.C. City Council voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Boeing's new 787 jetliner went on its long-delayed first test flight, lifting off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Evangelist Oral Roberts died in Newport Beach, Calif. at age 91.

Today's birthdays: Actor-comedian Tim Conway is 77. Singer Cindy Birdsong (The Supremes) is 71. Rock musician Dave Clark (The Dave Clark Five) is 68. Rock musician Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) is 64. Actor Don Johnson is 61. Actress Melanie Chartoff is 60. Movie director Julie Taymor is 58. Movie director Alex Cox is 56. Actor Justin Ross is 56. Rock musician Paul Simonon (The Clash) is 55. Political strategist Donna Brazile is 51. Country singer Doug Phelps (Brother Phelps; Kentucky Headhunters) is 50. Movie producer-director Reginald Hudlin is 49. Actress Helen Slater is 47. Actress Molly Price is 45. Actor Michael Shanks is 40. Actor Stuart Townsend is 38. Figure skater Surya Bonaly is 37. "Crowd-hyper" Kito Trawick (Ghostown DJs) is 33. Actor Adam Brody is 31. Actor George O. Gore II is 28. Actress Stefania Owen (TV: "Running Wilde") is 13.

Thought for today: "Silence is more musical than any song." -- Christina Rossetti, British poet (1830-1874)

[Associated Press]

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