Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1737, Matthieu Marais, French author, critic, and jurist (born 1664) passed away. In 1813, Peninsular War: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria. In 1864, American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. In 1893, Leland Stanford, American businessman and politician, 8th Governor of California (born 1824) passed away. In 1900, Boxer Rebellion: China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issued from the Empress Dowager Cixi. In 1973, In its decision in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for determining whether something is obscene and not protected speech under the U.S. constitution. In 1989, The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, that American flag-burning is a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment. In 2000, Section 28 (of the Local Government Act 1988), outlawing the 'promotion' of homosexuality in the United Kingdom, is repealed in Scotland with a 99 to 17 vote. In 2001, A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen. In 2018, Charles Krauthammer, American columnist and conservative political commentator (born 1950) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.