Today in History

Today is Friday, June 22, the 173rd day of 2018. There are 192 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 22, 1918, a train carrying members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus and their families was rear-ended during an emergency stop by another train near Hammond, Indiana, killing at least 86 people aboard the circus train.

On this date:

In 1611, English explorer Henry Hudson, his son and several other people were set adrift in present-day Hudson Bay by mutineers aboard the Discovery.

In 1868, Arkansas, which had seceded in 1861, was re-admitted to the Union.

In 1911, Britain's King George V was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

In 1937, Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago. (A year later on this date, Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.)

In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."

In 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory.

In 1969, singer-actress Judy Garland died in London at age 47.

In 1977, John N. Mitchell became the first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up. (He was released 19 months later.)

In 1988, gay rights activist Leonard Matlovich, discharged from the U.S. Air Force because of his homosexuality, died at age 44. Singer Dennis Day, Jack Benny's sidekick, died at age 72.

In 1993, former first lady Pat Nixon died in Park Ridge, New Jersey, at age 81.

In 2012, ex-Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted by a jury in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on 45 counts of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years. (Sandusky is appealing a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence.)

Ten years ago: Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew from a presidential runoff against Robert Mugabe. Acerbic standup comedian and satirist George Carlin died in Santa, Monica, California, at age 71. Comedian Dody Goodman died in Englewood, New Jersey, at age 93.

Five years ago: Islamic militants disguised as policemen killed 10 foreign climbers and a Pakistani guide in a brazen overnight raid at the base camp of Nanga Parbat, saying it was to avenge the death of their deputy leader in a U.S. drone strike. A plane carrying a wing walker crashed at an air show near Dayton, Ohio, killing both the pilot, Charlie Schwenker, and the stunt performer, Jane Wicker.

One year ago: An online conspiracy theory dubbed "pizzagate" ended with real-world consequences as a North Carolina man was sentenced to four years in prison for firing an assault rifle inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant. California officials denied parole for convicted killer Patricia Krenwinkel, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson, for the 1969 slayings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people. The Philadelphia 76ers selected guard Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Prunella Scales (TV: "Fawlty Towers") is 86. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 85. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson is 82. Movie director John Korty is 82. Actor Michael Lerner is 77. Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer is 75. Fox News analyst Brit Hume is 75. Singer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon) is 74. Actor David L. Lander is 71. Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan is 71. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren is 70. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is 69. Actress Meryl Streep is 69. Actress Lindsay Wagner is 69. Singer Alan Osmond is 69. Actor Murphy Cross is 68. Actor Graham Greene is 66. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper is 65. Actor Chris Lemmon is 64. Rock musician Derek Forbes is 62. Actor Tim Russ is 62. Rock musician Garry Beers (INXS) is 61. Actor-producer-writer Bruce Campbell is 60. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 59. Actress Tracy Pollan is 58. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is 58. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville is 57. Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler is 56. Actress Amy Brenneman is 54. Author Dan Brown is 54. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) is 54. Rock singer Steven Page is 48. Actor Michael Trucco is 48. Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub is 47. TV personality Carson Daly is 45. Rock musician Chris Traynor is 45. Country musician Jimmy Wallace is 45. Actor Donald Faison is 44. Actress Alicia Goranson is 44. Actor-comedian Mike O'Brien (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 42. TV personality/actor Jai Rodriguez is 39. Americana singer-songwriter John Moreland is 33. Actress Lindsay Ridgeway is 33. Pop singer Dina Hansen (Fifth Harmony) (TV: "The X Factor") is 21.

Thought for Today: "Study men, not historians." -- President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972).