By The Associated Press
- Today is Monday, Feb. 15, the 46th day of 1999. There are 319 days
left in the year.
- On Feb. 15, 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously blew up in
Havana Harbor, killing more than 260 crew members and bringing the
U.S. closer to war with Spain.
- In 1564, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa.
- In 1764, the city of St. Louis was established.
- In 1820, American suffragist Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams,
Mass.
- In 1879, President Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to
argue cases before the Supreme Court.
- In 1933, President-elect Franklin Roosevelt escaped an assassination
attempt in Miami that claimed the life of Chicago Mayor Anton J.
Cermak.
- In 1942, the British colony Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
during World War II.
- In 1961, 73 people, including an 18-member figure skating team from
the U.S., were killed in the crash of a Sabena Airlines Boeing 707
in Belgium.
- In 1965, Canada's new maple-leaf flag was unfurled in ceremonies in
Ottawa.
- In 1982, 84 men were killed when a huge oil-drilling rig, the Ocean
Ranger, sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a fierce storm.
- In 1992, Benjamin L. Hooks announced plans to retire as executive
director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People.
- Ten years ago: The Soviet Union announced that the last of its
troops had left Afghanistan, after more than nine years of military
intervention.
- Five years ago: Navy chief Adm. Frank Kelso II agreed to early
retirement because of criticism over the Tailhook sex abuse scandal.
Viacom won a hard-fought victory to acquire Paramount
Communications.
- One year ago: Monica Lewinsky's attorney, William Ginsburg,
continued his harsh criticism of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr
for alleged leaks of information to the news media. Two Japanese ski
jumpers, Kazuyoshi Funaki and Masahiko Harada, leapt to gold and
bronze medals in the 120-meter event at the Nagano Olympics.
Happy Birthday
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- Actor Kevin McCarthy is 85.
- Country singer Hank Locklin is 81.
- Former Illinois Rep. John Anderson is 77.
- Comedian Harvey Korman is 72.
- Actress Claire Bloom is 68.
- Author Susan Brownmiller is 64.
- Songwriter Brian Holland is 58.
- Rock musician Mick Avory (The Kinks) is 55.
- Actress Jane Seymour is 48.
- Singer Melissa Manchester is 48.
- "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening is 45.
- Reggae singer Ali Campbell (UB40) is 40.
- Actor Michael Easton is 32.
- Actress Emily May Young is 29.
- Actress Renee O'Connor ("Xena: Warrior Princess") is 28.