Today in History

Today is Saturday, March 24, the 84th day of 2012. There are 282 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 24, 1765, Britain enacted the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers.

On this date:

In 1832, a mob in Hiram, Ohio, attacked, tarred and feathered Mormon leaders Joseph Smith Jr. and Sidney Rigdon.

In 1882, German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.

In 1932, in a first, radio station WJZ (later WABC) broadcast a variety program from a moving train in Maryland.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill granting future independence to the Philippines.

In 1944, in occupied Rome, the Nazis executed more than 300 civilians in reprisal for an attack by Italian partisans the day before that had killed 32 German soldiers.

In 1955, the Tennessee Williams play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opened on Broadway.

In 1958, rock-and-roll singer Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tenn.

In 1976, the president of Argentina, Isabel Peron, was deposed by her country's military.

In 1980, one of El Salvador's most respected Roman Catholic Church leaders, Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, was shot to death by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in San Salvador.

In 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and began leaking 11 million gallons of crude oil.

In 1995, after 20 years, British soldiers stopped routine patrols in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In 1999, NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslavia, marking the first time in its 50-year existence that it had ever attacked a sovereign country. Thirty-nine people were killed when fire erupted in the Mont Blanc tunnel in France and burned for two days.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush, during a six-hour visit to El Salvador, held out the promise of expanded trade to Central American nations. At the Academy Awards, Halle Berry became the first black actress to win an Oscar for a leading role for her work in "Monster's Ball," while Denzel Washington became the second black actor, after Sidney Poitier, to win in the best actor category for "Training Day." "A Beautiful Mind" won four Oscars, including best picture and best director for Ron Howard.

Five years ago: The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to impose new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Japan's Miki Ando won the women's title at the World Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo, leading a 1-2 finish for the host country with Mao Asada second.

One year ago: The Census Bureau released its first set of national-level findings from the 2010 count on race and migration, showing that Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the previous decade, exceeding estimates in most states as they crossed a new census milestone: 50 million, or 1 in 6 Americans. A private funeral was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery for Elizabeth Taylor (the service began 15 minutes behind schedule in accordance with the actress' wish to be late for her own funeral.)

Today's Birthdays: Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti is 93. Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is 73. Actor R. Lee Ermey is 68. Movie director Curtis Hanson is 67. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is 65. Rock musician Lee Oskar is 64. Singer Nick Lowe is 63. Rock musician Dougie Thomson (Supertramp) is 61. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is 61. Comedian Louie Anderson is 59. Actress Donna Pescow is 58. Actor Robert Carradine is 58. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is 56. Actress Kelly LeBrock is 52. Rhythm-and-blues DJ Rodney "Kool Kollie" Terry (Ghostown DJs) is 51. TV personality Star Jones is 50. Country-rock musician Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) is 48. Actor Peter Jacobson is 47. Rock singer-musician Sharon Corr (The Corrs) is 42. Actress Lara Flynn Boyle is 42. Rapper Maceo (AKA P.A. Pasemaster Mase) is 42. Actress Megyn Price is 41. Actor Jim Parsons is 39. Actress Alyson Hannigan is 38. NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is 36. Actress Jessica Chastain is 35. Actress Lake Bell is 33. Rock musician Benj Gershman (O.A.R.) is 32. Actress Keisha Castle-Hughes is 22.

Thought for Today: "Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author (1896-1940).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.