Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1596, Emperor Go-Mizunoo of Japan (died 1680) was born. In 1803, John Newton Brown, American minister and author (died 1868) was born. In 1861, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet and translator (born 1806) passed away. In 1889, Hyde Park and several other Illinois townships vote to be annexed by Chicago, forming the largest United States city in area and second largest in population at the time. In 1913, Earle Meadows, American pole vaulter (died 1992) was born. In 1922, France grants "one square kilometer" at Vimy Ridge "freely, and for all time, to the Government of Canada, the free use of the land exempt from all taxes". In 1956, The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 is signed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System. 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 1976, The Seychelles become independent from the United Kingdom. In 2012, A derecho sweeps across the eastern United States, leaving at least 22 people dead and millions without power. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.