This day in history

[January 28, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Jan. 28, the 28th day of 2011. There are 337 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven of its crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

On this date:

In 1547, England's King Henry VIII died; he was succeeded by his 9-year-old son, Edward VI.

In 1853, Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti was born in Havana.

In 1909, the United States withdrew its forces from Cuba as Jose Miguel Gomez became president.

In 1911, the notorious Hope Diamond was sold by jeweler Pierre Cartier to socialites Edward and Evalyn (cq) McLean of Washington, D.C., for $180,000.

In 1915, the United States Coast Guard was created as President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill merging the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service.

In 1916, Louis D. Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court; Brandeis became the court's first Jewish member.

In 1945, during World War II, Allied supplies began reaching China over the newly reopened Burma Road.

In 1960, the National Football League awarded franchises to Dallas and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

In 1973, a cease-fire officially went into effect in the Vietnam War.

In 1980, six U.S. diplomats who had avoided being taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the help of Canadian diplomats.

Ten years ago: Only a week after naming a record-setting 37 new cardinals, Pope John Paul II announced five more cardinals -- two Germans, one each from South Africa, Bolivia and Ukraine. The Baltimore Ravens' brazen defense backed up its bragging, beating the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV (35).

Five years ago: A memorial service was held at the Kennedy Space Center to honor the crew of the Challenger on the 20th anniversary of the shuttle disaster. Sixty-five people were killed when the roof of an exhibition hall in Katowice (kah-toh-VEET'-suh), Poland, collapsed during a racing pigeon fair. Amelie Mauresmo (AM'-uh-lee maw-REHS'-moh) won her first Grand Slam singles title when Justine Henin-Hardenne (EH'-nihn ahr-DEHN') retired in the second set of their Australian Open final because of stomach pain. Mauresmo led 6-1, 2-0.

One year ago: Major world powers opened talks in London seeking an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden announced $8 billion in federal grants for high-speed rail projects nationwide during a visit to Tampa, Fla. Embattled Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke won Senate confirmation for a second term.

Today's birthdays: Musician-composer Acker Bilk is 82. Actor Nicholas Pryor is 76. Actor Alan Alda is 75. Actress Susan Howard is 69. Actress Marthe (cq) Keller is 66. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is 64. Actress-singer Barbi Benton is 61. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren is 57. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sahr-koh-ZEE') is 56. Actress Harley Jane Kozak is 54. Movie director Frank Darabont is 52. Rock musician Dave Sharp is 52. Rock singer Sam Phillips is 49. Rock musician Dan Spitz is 48. Country musician Greg Cook (Ricochet) is 46. Gospel singer Marvin Sapp is 44. Singer Sarah McLachlan is 43. Rapper Rakim is 43. DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) is 43. Actress Kathryn Morris ("Cold Case") is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Anthony Hamilton is 40. Rock musician Brandon Bush is 38. MLB player Jermaine Dye is 37. Singer Joey Fatone Jr. ('N Sync) is 34. Rapper Rick Ross is 34. Actress Rosamund Pike is 32. Singer Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) is 31. Actor Elijah Wood is 30. Actress Ariel Winter (TV: "Modern Family") is 13.

Thought for today: "A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student." -- Henny Youngman, British-born American comedian (1906-1998)

[Associated Press]

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