Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1785, The Boston King's Chapel adopts James Freeman's revised prayer book, without the Nicene Creed, establishing it as the first Unitarian congregation in the United States. In 1811, The Carlton House Fête is held in London to celebrate the establishment of the Regency era. In 1910, The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington. In 1922, Marilyn P. Johnson, American educator and diplomat, 8th United States Ambassador to Togo (died 2022) was born. In 1947, Pan Am Flight 121 crashes in the Syrian Desert near Mayadin, Syria, killing 15 and injuring 21. In 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway holds its first NASCAR race, the inaugural World 600. In 1963, Laura Ingraham, American radio host and author was born. In 2007, The al-Khilani Mosque bombing in Baghdad leaves 78 people dead and another 218 injured. In 2009, Mass riots involving over 10,000 people and 10,000 police officers break out in Shishou, China, over the dubious circumstances surrounding the death of a local chef. In 2012, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange requests asylum in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for fear of extradition to the US after publication of previously classified documents including footage of civilian killings by the US army. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.