Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1864, At least 99 people, mostly German and Polish immigrants, are killed in Canada's worst railway disaster after a train fails to stop for an open drawbridge and plunges into the Rivière Richelieu near St-Hilaire, Quebec. In 1921, Reinhard Mohn, German businessman (died 2009) was born. In 1930, Sławomir Mrożek, Polish-French author and playwright (died 2013) was born. In 1933, Roscoe Arbuckle, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1887) passed away. In 1950, Michael Whelan, American artist was born. In 1972, The United States Supreme Court rules in the case Furman v. Georgia that arbitrary and inconsistent imposition of the death penalty violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. In 1981, Nicolás Vuyovich, Argentinian race car driver (died 2005) was born. In 1995, The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, killing 502 and injuring 937. In 2007, Joel Siegel, American journalist and critic (born 1943) passed away. In 2020, Carl Reiner, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.