Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1776, Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. In 1822, Chippewas turn over a huge tract of land in Ontario to the United Kingdom. In 1889, The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published. In 1898, The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip. In 1932, The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level of the Great Depression, closing at 41.22. In 1947, Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident. In 1948, Ruby Sales, American civil-rights activist was born. In 1968, The Chrysler wildcat strike begins in Detroit, Michigan. In 2011, Betty Ford, First Lady of the United States (born 1918) passed away. In 2014, Israel launches an offensive on Gaza amid rising tensions following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.