Today in News History

On June 24, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1927, James B. Edwards, American dentist, soldier, and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Energy (died 2014) was born. In 1940, Ian Ross, Australian newsreader (died 2014) was born. In 1948, Cold War: Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union makes overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible. 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 1982, "The Jakarta Incident": British Airways Flight 009 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines. In 2002, The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history. In 2009, Roméo LeBlanc, Canadian journalist and politician, 25th Governor General of Canada (born 1927) passed away. In 2010, Julia Gillard assumes office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia. In 2021, The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida suffers a sudden partial collapse, killing 98 people inside. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.