This day in history

[June 27, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Monday, June 27, the 178th day of 2011. There are 187 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 27, 1944, during World War II, American forces liberated the French port of Cherbourg from the Germans.

On this date:

In 1844, Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill.

In 1846, New York and Boston were linked by telegraph wires.

In 1893, the New York stock market crashed.

In 1942, the FBI announced the capture of eight Nazi saboteurs who had been put ashore in Florida and Long Island, N.Y.

In 1950, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling on member nations to help South Korea repel an invasion from the North.

In 1957, more than 500 people were killed when Hurricane Audrey slammed through coastal Louisiana and Texas.

In 1971, the Fillmore East rock concert hall in New York closed after more than three years in business.

In 1977, the Supreme Court struck down state laws and bar association rules that prohibited lawyers from advertising their fees for routine services.

In 1985, the legendary Route 66, which originally stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., passed into history as officials decertified the road.

In 1991, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first black to sit on the nation's highest court, announced his retirement. (His departure led to the contentious nomination of Clarence Thomas to succeed him.)

Ten years ago: The United Nations concluded a three-day summit on HIV/AIDS after adopting a blueprint which set tough targets for reducing infection rates and called for protecting the rights of infected people. Actor Jack Lemmon died in Los Angeles at age 76.

Five years ago: A constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the American flag died in a Senate cliffhanger, falling one vote short of the 67 needed to send it to states for ratification. Surgeon General Richard Carmona issued a report saying breathing any amount of someone else's tobacco smoke harms nonsmokers. "Railroad Killer" Angel Maturino Resendiz (ahn-HEHL' mah-tyoo-REE'-noh reh-SEN'-deez), linked to 15 murders, was executed in Texas for the slaying of physician Claudia Benton in 1998.

One year ago: Wary of slamming on the stimulus brakes too quickly but shaken by the European debt crisis, world leaders meeting in Canada pledged to reduce government deficits in richer countries in half by 2013, with wiggle room to meet the goal. Pope Benedict XVI lashed out at what he called "deplorable" raids carried out by Belgian police as part of an investigation into priest sex abuse. Cristie Kerr cruised to a 12-stroke victory in the LPGA Championship, closing with a 6-under 66 for a 19-under 269 total.

Today's birthdays: Business executive Ross Perot is 81. The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Army Gen. John Shalikashvili (shah-lee-kahsh-VEE'-lee), is 75. Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is 73. Singer-musician Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys) is 69. Actress Julia Duffy is 60. Actress Isabelle Adjani is 56. Country singer Lorrie Morgan is 52. Actor Brian Drillinger is 51. Writer-producer-director J.J. Abrams is 45. Olympic gold and bronze medal figure skater Viktor Petrenko is 42. TV personality Jo Frost (TV: "Supernanny") is 41. Actor Yancey Arias is 40. Actor Christian Kane is 37. Actor Tobey Maguire is 36. Gospel singer Leigh Nash is 35. Actor Drake Bell is 25. Actor Ed Westwick is 24. Actress Madylin Sweeten is 20.

Thought for today: "The main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything -- or nothing." Viscountess Nancy Astor, American-born British politician (1879-1964)

[Associated Press]

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