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UPI Almanac for Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015

The U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy officially ends ... on this date in history.

By United Press International
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appear at a Pentagon briefing Sept. 20, 2011, to discuss the termination that day of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI
1 of 6 | U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appear at a Pentagon briefing Sept. 20, 2011, to discuss the termination that day of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo

Today is Sunday, Sept. 20, the 263rd day of 2015 with 102 to follow.

The moon is waxing. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Mercury, Neptune and Saturn.

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Those born on this date are under the sign of Virgo. They include Italian pacifist/Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ernesto Teodoro Moneta in 1833; novelist Upton Sinclair in 1878; Sister Elizabeth Kenny, Australian nurse who pioneered the care of polio victims, in 1880; musician Jelly Roll Morton in 1885, basketball Hall of Fame Coach Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach in 1917; actor Fernando Rey in 1917; fashion designer James Galanos in 1924 (age 91), actor Anne Meara in 1929; actor Sophia Loren in 1934 (age 81); writer George R.R. Martin in 1948 (age 67); hockey Hall of Fame member Guy Lafleur in 1951 (age 64); actor Gary Cole in 1956 (age 59); actor Kristen Johnston in 1967 (age 48); musicians Gunnar and Matthew Nelson in 1967 (age 48); actor/producer Aaron Paul in 1979 (age 36).

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On this date in history:

In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival opened on the French Riviera. An earlier attempt (in 1939) to begin the international movie showcase was halted by the outbreak of World War II.

In 1966, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II launched the Cunard liner bearing her name, often shortened to QE-2. (It eventually became the only ocean liner on the once thriving trans-Atlantic route.)

In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in a "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match.

In 1984, Muslim militants bombed the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 23 people. It was the third terrorist attack on U.S. installations in the city in 17 months.

In 2000, the six-year Whitewater investigation of U.S. President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton ended without any indictments being issued. Independent Counsel Robert Ray said there was insufficient evidence to establish criminal wrongdoing.

In 2011, the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on openly gay U.S. service members was officially repealed at 1 minute past midnight, ending a policy under which about 14,000 men and women were discharged. The controversial 1993 law had allowed gays to serve only if they kept their sexual orientation private.

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In 2012, the year-old repeal of a ban on gays in the U.S. military had "no overall negative impact" on readiness, a UCLA study found.

In 2013, Chicago police said at least three people were killed and 23 wounded -- 13 in one gang-related outburst of gunfire in a park -- in a two-day spate of shootings. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said it was "a miracle there has been no fatality" in the park attack. One of the victims was a 3-year-old boy, shot in the head. (Days later, the child's mother said he would need surgery many times in the years ahead.)

In 2014, the Vatican announced that Blase J. Cupich, bishop of Spokane, Wash., would become the archbishop of Chicago in November, succeeding the ailing Cardinal Francis George, who headed the 2.3-million-member diocese for 17 years.


A thought for the day: " It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life." -- Sophia Loren

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