Associated Press
On Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at a Baptist church in Birmingham, Ala., in the deadliest act of the civil rights era.
1776- British forces occupied New York City during the American Revolution.
1821- Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador became independent from Spain.
1857- William Howard Taft, the 27th president who later served as chief justice, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1917- Russia was proclaimed a republic by Alexander Kerensky, the head of a provisional government.
1935- The Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship and made the swastika the official symbol of Nazi Germany.
1940- The Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses on the Luftwaffe as the tide turned in the Battle of Britain during World War II.
1950- During the Korean War, United Nations forces landed at Inchon in the south and began their drive toward Seoul.
1982- The first edition of the USA Today newspaper was published.
2000- The Summer Olympics opened in Sydney, Australia.
2001- President George W. Bush identified Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and told Americans to prepare for a long, difficult war against terrorism.
2004- National Hockey League owners agreed to lock out the players. (The 2004-05 season was eventually canceled.)
2005- President George W. Bush, addressing the nation from storm-ravaged New Orleans, acknowledged the government failed to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina and urged Congress to approve a massive reconstruction program.
2008- Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection – the largest in U.S. history.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Tommy Lee Jones turns 69 years old today.
Norm Crosby, Comedian, 88
Gaylord Perry, Baseball Hall of Famer, 77
Mark Kirk, U.S. senator, R-Ill., 56
Dan Marino, Football Hall of Famer, 54
Danny Nucci, Actor ,47
Josh Charles, Actor (“The Good Wife”), 44
Tom Hardy, Actor, 38
Amy Davidson, Actress, 36
Heidi Montag, TV personality (“The Hills”), 29
Prince Harry Youngest son of Britain’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana 31
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll turns 64 years old today.