Today in News History

On June 24, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 843, The Vikings sack the French city of Nantes. In 1908, Alfons Rebane, Estonian colonel (died 1976) was born. In 1938, Ken Gray, New Zealand rugby player (died 1992) was born. In 1943, US military police attempt to arrest a black soldier in Bamber Bridge, England, sparking the Battle of Bamber Bridge mutiny that leaves one dead and seven wounded. In 1972, Robbie McEwen, Australian cyclist was born. 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 1975, Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 encounters severe wind shear and crashes on final approach to New York's JFK Airport killing 113 of the 124 passengers on board, making it the deadliest U.S. plane crash at the time. This accident led to decades of research into downburst and microburst phenomena and their effects on aircraft. In 2012, Lonesome George, last known Pinta Island tortoise (h. c. 1910) passed away. In 2012, Death of Lonesome George, the last known individual of Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise. In 2022, In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the U.S. Constitution does not assign the authority to regulate abortions to the federal government, thereby returning such authority to the individual states. This overturns the prior decisions in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.