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Today in History: May 21, Clara Barton founds the American Red Cross

By The Associated Press Today is Tuesday, May 21, the 142nd day of 2024. There are 224 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. On this date: In 1471, King Henry VI of England died in the Tower of London at age 49. In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River. In 1924, in a case that drew much notoriety, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill killing” carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard ...

Today in History: Charles Lindbergh takes off on solo flight to France

Today is Monday, May 20, the 141st day of 2024. There are 225 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France. On this ...

Today in History: May 18, Mount St. Helens erupts

By The Associated Press Today is Saturday, May 18, the 139th day of 2024. There are 227 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 18, 1980, the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state exploded, leaving 57 people dead or missing. On this date: In 1652, Rhode Island became the first American colony to pass a law abolishing African slavery; however, the law was apparently never enforced. In 1863, the Siege of Vicksburg began during the Civil War, ending July 4 with a Union victory. In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Plessy v. Ferguson, endorsed ...

Today in History: May 16, Nazis crush Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, May 16, the 137th day of 2024. There are 229 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 16, 1943, the nearly month-long Warsaw Ghetto Uprising came to an end as German forces crushed the Jewish resistance and blew up the Great ...

Today in History: May 15, new state of Israel attacked by 5 nations

By The Associated Press Today is Wednesday, May 15, the 136th day of 2024. There are 230 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 15, 1948, hours after declaring its independence, the new state of Israel was attacked by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. On this date: In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act establishing the Department of Agriculture. In 1928, the Walt Disney cartoon character Mickey Mouse appeared for the first time in front of a public audience in a test screening of the short “Plane Crazy.” (Mickey made his formal ...