Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1405, Ming admiral Zheng He sets sail to explore the world for the first time. In 1919, The eight-hour day and free Sunday become law for workers in the Netherlands. In 1922, The Hollywood Bowl opens. In 1931, Thurston Harris, American doo-wop singer (died 1990) was born. In 1936, The Triborough Bridge in New York City is opened to traffic. In 1962, Project Apollo: At a press conference, NASA announces lunar orbit rendezvous as the means to land astronauts on the Moon, and return them to Earth. In 1965, Tony Cottee, English footballer, manager, and sportscaster was born. In 1977, Brandon Short, American football player and sportscaster was born. In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in 1968, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1978, Los Alfaques disaster: A truck carrying liquid gas crashes and explodes at a coastal campsite in Tarragona, Spain killing 216 tourists. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.