Today in History

Today is Saturday, Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2011. There are 21 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 10, 1931, Jane Addams became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the co-recipient was Nicholas Murray Butler.

On this date:

In 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant, or face excommunication.

In 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the Union.

In 1861, the Confederacy admitted Kentucky as it recognized a pro-Southern shadow state government that was acting without the authority of the pro-Union government in Frankfort.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for helping mediate an end to the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1911, TV newscaster Chet Huntley was born in Cardwell, Mont.

In 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted its Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

In 1950, Ralph J. Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first black American to receive the award.

In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. received his Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1967, singer Otis Redding, 26, and six others were killed when their plane crashed into Wisconsin's Lake Monona.

In 1984, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1986, human rights advocate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush told reporters a videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader talked happily about the September 11 attacks "just reminded me of what a murderer he is." Secretary-General Kofi Annan accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of himself and the United Nations.

Five years ago: Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet died at age 91. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani criticized a bipartisan U.S. report on American war policies, saying it contained some "very dangerous" recommendations that would undermine the sovereignty of Iraq. Tenor Roberto Alagna walked out of a performance of Verdi's "Aida" at Italy's famed La Scala opera house when the audience booed his rendition of the aria "Celeste Aida."

One year ago: The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored Chinese literary critic Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned for urging political reform, by presenting his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize diploma and medal to an empty chair. A federal jury in Salt Lake City convicted street preacher Brian David Mitchell of kidnapping and raping Elizabeth Smart. (Mitchell was later sentenced to life in prison.)

Today's Birthdays: Former Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter is 81. Actor Tommy Kirk is 70. Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 70. Pop singer Chad Stuart (Chad and Jeremy) is 70. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 65. Pop-funk musician Walter "Clyde" Orange (The Commodores) is 65. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ralph Tavares is 63. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jessica Cleaves (Friends of Distinction) is 63. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 60. Actress Susan Dey is 59. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is 55. Actor Michael Clarke Duncan is 54. Jazz musician Paul Hardcastle is 54. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 51. Actress Nia Peeples is 50. TV chef Bobby Flay is 47. Rock singer-musician J Mascis is 46. Country singer Kevin Sharp is 41. Rock musician Scot Alexander (Dishwalla) is 40. Actress-comedian Arden Myrin is 38. Rock musician Meg White (The White Stripes) is 37. Rapper Kuniva (D12) is 36. Violinist Sarah Chang is 31. Rock musician Noah Harmon (Airborne Toxic Event) is 30. Actress Raven-Symone is 26.

Thought for Today: "Journalists were never intended to be the cheerleaders of a society, the conductors of applause, the sycophants. Tragically, that is their assigned role in authoritarian societies, but not here -- not yet." -- Chet Huntley (1911-1974).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.