This Day in History
In Alaska, in the Nation and the World
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In Alaska
• In 1947, the Fairbanks City Council approved plans to buy 100 parking meters.
• In 1948, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis arrived in Juneau to take up permanent station.
• 1964, one million acres of North Slope land were leased for oil and gas development for $5.6 million. Gov. William Egan expressed his disappointment over the amount paid for the leases.
• 1964, Anchorage police began rounding up loose dogs. This unprecedented action followed a flurry of dog bite incidents and reports of dogs roaming the city in packs.
In the nation
• In 1997, Attorney General Janet Reno traded testy remarks with Republicans on a House investigating committee as she defended her decision not to seek an independent counsel for fundraising calls made by President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.
In the world
• In 1854, Alfred, Lord Tennyson's famous poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," was published in England.
• In 1892, "Widowers' Houses," Bernard Shaw's first play, opened at the Royalty Theater in London.
• In 1940, British troops opened their first major offensive in North Africa during World War II.
• In 1941, China declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy.
• In 1942, the Aram Khachaturian ballet "Gayane," featuring the surging "Saber Dance," was first performed by the Kirov Ballet.
• In 1958, the anti-communist John Birch Society was formed in Indianapolis.
• In 1965, Nikolai V. Podgorny replaced Anastas I. Mikoyan as president of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.
• In 1982, special Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski died at his Wimberly, Texas, ranch at age 77.
• In 1987, the first Palestinian intefadeh, or uprising, began as riots broke out in Gaza and spread to the West Bank, triggering a strong Israeli counter-response.
• In 1990, Solidarity founder Lech Walesa won Poland's presidential runoff by a landslide.
• In 1992, Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced their separation. The couple's divorce became final Aug. 28, 1996.