This day in history

[June 09, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, June 9, the 160th day of 2009. There are 205 days left in the year.

On this date:

In 1870, author Charles Dickens died in Gad's Hill Place, England.

In 1940, during World War II, Norway decided to surrender to the Nazis, effective at midnight.

In 1953, 94 people died when a tornado struck Worcester, Mass.

In 1954, during the Senate-Army Hearings, Army special counsel Joseph N. Welch berated Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, asking: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

In 1969, the Senate confirmed Warren Burger to be the new chief justice of the United States, succeeding Earl Warren.

In 1973, Secretariat became horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years by winning the Belmont Stakes.

In 1978, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints struck down a 148-year-old policy of excluding black men from the Mormon priesthood.

In 1980, comedian Richard Pryor suffered almost fatal burns at his San Fernando Valley, Calif., home when a mixture of "free-base" cocaine exploded.

In 1985, American educator Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped in Lebanon; he was released in November 1991 along with fellow hostage Terry Waite.

In 1986, the Rogers Commission released its report on the Challenger disaster, criticizing NASA and rocket-builder Morton Thiokol for management problems leading to the explosion that claimed the lives of seven astronauts.

Ten years ago: After 78 days of intense NATO airstrikes, Yugoslav and Western generals signed a pact clearing the way for a Kosovo peace plan. President Bill Clinton instructed federal law agencies to collect race and gender data on people they stop or arrest, in a move to end racial profiling by police.

Five years ago: The body of Ronald Reagan arrived in Washington to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda before the 40th president's funeral. The FCC agreed to a record $1.75 million settlement with Clear Channel to resolve indecency complaints against Howard Stern and other radio personalities. Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. A new scoring system for figure skating was approved after the Olympic pairs scandal forced the sport's governing body to make radical changes.

One year ago: Tiffany Hall pleaded guilty in Belleville, Ill., to killing her pregnant friend, Jimella Tunstall, the victim's unborn child and three children in a plea deal that allowed her to avoid the death penalty. A growing number of supermarkets and restaurants yanked three varieties of tomatoes from their shelves and dishes amid concern about a 16-state salmonella outbreak. Retail gas prices rose above $4 per gallon. Ken Griffey Jr. became the sixth player in baseball history to reach 600 homers in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 9-4 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Today's birthdays: Guitarist-inventor Les Paul is 94. Former World Bank president and former defense secretary Robert S. McNamara is 93. Actress Mona Freeman is 83. Media analyst Marvin Kalb is 79. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 70. Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin is 70. Rock musician Jon Lord is 68. Mystery author Patricia Cornwell is 53. Actor Michael J. Fox is 48. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 48. Actor Johnny Depp is 46. Actress Gloria Reuben is 45. Rock musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 42. Rock musician Dean Dinning is 42. Musician Ed Simons is 39. Country musician Shade Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 35. Bluegrass singer-musician Jamie Dailey (Dailey & Vincent) is 34. Actress Michaela Conlin ("Bones") is 31. Actress Natalie Portman is 28. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs is 26. Actress Mae Whitman is 21.

Thought for today: "Next to the slanderer, we detest the bearer of the slander to our ears." -- Mary Catherwood, American novelist (1847-1901)

[Associated Press]

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