This day in history

[June 29, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Monday, June 29, the 180th day of 2009. There are 185 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 29, 1776, the Virginia state constitution was adopted, and Patrick Henry was made governor.

On this date:

In 1767, the British Parliament approved the Townshend Acts, which imposed import duties on certain goods shipped to America. (Colonists bitterly protested, prompting Parliament in 1770 to repeal the duties on all goods, except tea.)

In 1946, authorities in British-ruled Palestine arrested more than 2,700 Jews in an attempt to stamp out extremists.

In 1954, the Atomic Energy Commission voted against reinstating Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer's access to classified information.

In 1959, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down a New York State obscenity ban on exhibiting a French movie version of the D.H. Lawrence novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover."

In 1966, the United States bombed fuel storage facilities near the North Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Haiphong.

In 1967, Jerusalem was reunified as Israel removed barricades separating the Old City from the Israeli sector.

In 1970, the United States ended a two-month military offensive into Cambodia.

In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty as it was being meted out could constitute "cruel and unusual punishment." (The ruling prompted states to revise their capital punishment laws.)

In 1988, the Supreme Court upheld the independent counsel law.

In 2003, actress Katharine Hepburn died in Old Saybrook, Conn., at age 96.

Ten years ago: Urging the biggest expansion in Medicare's history, President Bill Clinton proposed that the government help older Americans pay for prescription drugs. Some 10,000 demonstrators rallied in central Serbia, demanding the resignation of President Slobodan Milosevic. Abdullah Ocalan, leader of Turkey's rebel Kurds, was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. (The sentence was later commuted to life in prison.)

Five years ago: A United Nations helicopter crashed in Sierra Leone, killing all 24 peacekeepers, aid workers and others on board. The Supreme Court blocked a law meant to shield Web-surfing children from online pornography. Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the fourth pitcher to record 4,000 career strikeouts. (However, his team lost to the San Diego Padres, 3-2).

One year ago: Zimbabwe's longtime ruler Robert Mugabe was sworn in as president for a sixth term after a widely discredited runoff in which he was the only candidate. Two weeks away from her 20th birthday, Inbee Park became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Open by closing with a 2-under 71 at Interlachen in Edina, Minn. Spain won the European Championship 1-0 over Germany for its first major title in 44 years.

Today's birthdays: Movie producer Robert Evans is 79. Songwriter L. Russell Brown is 69. Actor Gary Busey is 65. Comedian Richard Lewis is 62. Actor-turned-politican-turned-radio personality Fred Grandy is 61. Rock musician Ian Paice (Deep Purple) is 61. Singer Don Dokken is 56. Rock singer Colin Hay (Men At Work) is 56. Actress Maria Conchita Alonso is 52. Actress Sharon Lawrence is 48. Actress Amanda Donohoe is 47. Rhythm-and-blues singer Stedman Pearson (Five Star) is 45. Actress Kathleen Wilhoite is 45. Musician Dale Baker is 43. Actress Melora Hardin is 42. Rap DJ Shadow is 37. Country musician Todd Sansom (Marshall Dyllon) is 31. Singer Nicole Scherzinger is 31.

Thought for today: "These are times in which a Genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.... Great necessities call out great virtues." -- Abigail Adams, American first lady (1744-1818)

[Associated Press]

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