Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 16, the 16th day of 2013. There are 349 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 16, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia blasted off under extremely tight security for what turned out to be its last flight; on board was Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon. (The mission ended in tragedy on Feb. 1, when the shuttle broke up during its return descent, killing all seven crew members.)

On this date:

In 1547, Ivan IV of Russia (popularly known as "Ivan the Terrible") was crowned Czar.

In 1883, the U.S. Civil Service Commission was established.

In 1912, a day before reaching the South Pole, British explorer Robert Scott and his expedition found evidence that Roald Amundsen of Norway and his team had gotten there ahead of them.

In 1920, Prohibition began in the United States as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, one year to the day after its ratification. (It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.)

In 1935, fugitive gangster Fred Barker and his mother, Kate "Ma" Barker, were killed in a shootout with the FBI at Lake Weir, Fla.

In 1942, actress Carole Lombard, 33, her mother Elizabeth and 20 other people were killed when their plane crashed near Las Vegas, Nev., while en route to California from a war-bond promotion tour.

In 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower took command of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in London.

In 1969, two manned Soviet Soyuz spaceships became the first vehicles to dock in space and transfer personnel.

In 1978, NASA named 35 candidates to fly on the space shuttle, including Sally K. Ride, who became America's first woman in space, and Guion S. Bluford Jr., who became America's first black astronaut in space.

In 1987, Hu Yaobang resigned as head of China's Communist Party, declaring he'd made mistakes in dealing with student turmoil and intellectual challenges to the system. Broadway columnist Earl Wilson died in Yonkers, N.Y., at age 79.

In 1991, the White House announced the start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

In 2007, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., launched his successful bid for the White House.

Ten years ago: AOL Time Warner chief executive Dick Parsons was tapped to be the media conglomerate's new chairman, succeeding Steve Case.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush closed out his Mideast trip with a brief visit to Egypt, where he was welcomed by President Hosni Mubarak. Archbishop Earl Paulk, the 80-year-old leader of a megachurch, pleaded guilty in Atlanta to lying under oath about his sexual affairs and was sentenced to 10 years' probation. (Paulk died in March 2009.)

One year ago: Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney fended off attacks from rivals during a debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; hours before the debate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman withdrew from the race and announced his support for Romney despite their differences. Jimmy Castor, funk and soul saxophonist, singer and songwriter whose tune, "It's Just Begun," morphed into an anthem for generations of musical acts, died in Las Vegas at age 71.

Today's Birthdays: Author William Kennedy is 85. Author-editor Norman Podhoretz is 83. Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 79. Hall of Fame auto racer A.J. Foyt is 78. Singer Barbara Lynn is 71. Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 70. Country singer Jim Stafford is 69. Talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is 66. Movie director John Carpenter is 65. Actress-dancer-choreographer Debbie Allen is 63. Singer Sade is 54. Rock musician Paul Webb (Talk Talk) is 51. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maxine Jones (En Vogue) is 47. Actor David Chokachi is 45. Actor Richard T. Jones is 41. Actress Josie Davis is 40. Model Kate Moss is 39. Rock musician Nick Valensi (The Strokes) is 32. Actress Yvonne Zima is 24.

Thought for Today: "There are three ingredients to the good life: learning, earning, and yearning." -- Christopher Morley, American journalist (1890-1957).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.