This day in history

[June 24, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, June 24, the 175th day of 2010. There are 190 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 24, 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king of England; his wife, Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen consort.

On this date:

In 1314, the forces of Scotland's King Robert I defeated the English in the Battle of Bannockburn.

In 1807, a grand jury in Richmond, Va., indicted former Vice President Aaron Burr on charges of treason and high misdemeanor (he was later acquitted).

In 1908, the 22nd and 24th presidents of the United States, Grover Cleveland, died in Princeton, N.J., at age 71.

In 1910, Italian automaker Alfa Romeo was founded in Milan.

In 1940, France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.

In 1948, Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the western allies to organize the Berlin Airlift. The Republican National Convention, meeting in Philadelphia, nominated New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey for president.

In 1968, "Resurrection City," a shantytown constructed as part of the Poor People's March on Washington, D.C., was closed down by authorities.

In 1975, 113 people were killed when an Eastern Airlines Boeing 727 crashed while attempting to land during a thunderstorm at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In 1983, the space shuttle Challenger -- carrying America's first woman in space, Sally K. Ride -- coasted to a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1990, Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan was virtually drowned out by jeering demonstrators as he addressed the Sixth International AIDS conference in San Francisco.

Ten years ago: After months of political violence, Zimbabweans crowded polling booths to begin two days of balloting in the country's most competitive election since independence. (The result was a narrow win for President Robert Mugabe's ruling party.)

Five years ago: Despite growing anxiety about the war in Iraq, President George W. Bush refused to set a timetable for bringing home U.S. troops and declared, "I'm not giving up on the mission. We're doing the right thing." Officials said tests confirmed the second case of mad cow disease in the United States. Ventriloquist Paul Winchell died in Moorpark, Calif. at age 82.

One year ago: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted flying to Argentina to visit a mistress during a mysterious seven-day absence. Ed Thomas, the football coach of Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Iowa for 34 years, was gunned down by former player Mark Becker. (Becker was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced plans to double the number of best picture nominees to 10 for the 2010 Oscar ceremony. (The winner under this revised system was "The Hurt Locker.")

Today's birthdays: Actor Al Molinaro is 91. Comedian Jack Carter is 87. Movie director Claude Chabrol is 80. Actress Michele Lee is 68. Actor-director Georg Stanford Brown is 67. Rock musician Jeff Beck is 66. Singer Arthur Brown is 66. Rock singer Colin Blunstone (The Zombies) is 65. Musician Mick Fleetwood is 63. Actor Peter Weller is 63. Rock musician John Illsley (Dire Straits) is 61. Actress Nancy Allen is 60. Reggae singer Derrick Simpson (Black Uhuru) is 60. Actor Joe Penny is 54. Reggae singer Astro (UB40) is 53. Singer-musician Andy McCluskey (Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark) is 51. Rock singer Curt Smith is 49. Actress Danielle Spencer is 45. Actress Sherry Stringfield is 43. Singer Glenn Medeiros is 40. Actress-producer Mindy Kaling is 31. Actress Minka Kelly (TV: "Friday Night Lights") is 30. Singer Solange Knowles is 24.

Thought for today: "Move, and the way will open." -- Zen saying

[Associated Press]

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