Today in News History

On June 24, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1884, Frank Waller, American runner (died 1941) was born. In 1922, Richard Timberlake, American economist (died 2020) was born. In 1937, Anita Desai, Indian-American author and academic was born. In 1940, Ian Ross, Australian newsreader (died 2014) was born. In 1948, Cold War: Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union makes overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible. In 1973, The UpStairs Lounge arson attack takes place at a gay bar located on the second floor of the three-story building at 141 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Thirty-two people die as a result of fire or smoke inhalation. In 1982, "The Jakarta Incident": British Airways Flight 009 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines. In 1989, Jiang Zemin succeeds Zhao Ziyang to become the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. In 2012, Ann C. Scales, American lawyer, educator, and activist (born 1952) passed away. In 2021, The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida suffers a sudden partial collapse, killing 98 people inside. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.