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UPI Almanac for Monday, Oct. 17, 2016

On Oct. 17, 1931, gangster Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion. It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $215,000.

By United Press International
Prisoner #C28169, better known as Al Capone, taken on June 17, 1931. File Photo by Department of Justice/UPI
Prisoner #C28169, better known as Al Capone, taken on June 17, 1931. File Photo by Department of Justice/UPI

Today is Monday, Oct. 17, the 291st day of 2016 with 75 to follow.

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

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Those born on this day are under the sign of Libra. They include Jupiter Hammon, America's first published black poet, in 1711; actors Spring Byington in 1886, Jean Arthur in 1900 and Irene Ryan in 1902; playwright Arthur Miller in 1915; actors Rita Hayworth in 1918, Montgomery Clift in 1920 and Tom Poston in 1921; football Hall of Fame member Don Coryell in 1924; diet developer Dr. Robert Atkins and newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin (age 86), both in 1930; daredevil Robert "Evel" Knievel in 1938; singers Jim Seals in 1941 (age 75) and Gary Puckett in 1942 (age 74); Olympic gold medal-winning pole vaulter Bob Seagren in 1946 (age 70); actors Michael McKean in 1947 (age 69) and Margot Kidder and George Wendt, both in 1948 (age 68); former astronaut Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, in 1956 (age 60); country singer Alan Jackson in 1958 (age 58); musician Ziggy Marley in 1968 (age 48); golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els in 1969 (age 47); and rapper Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, and singer Wyclef Jean, both in 1972 (age 44).

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On this date in history:

In 1931, gangster Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion. It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $215,000.

In 1933, German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany, settling in the United States and becoming an American citizen in 1940.

In 1945, Juan Peron became dictator of Argentina. He remained in power for 11 years before being overthrown.

In 1949, British steamer Anhui reported taking fire from Communist China's army as it sailed for Hong Kong with 1,400 passengers aboard. Ship's officers said the vessel was under fire for 15 minutes, resulting in three dead and 25 wounded.

In 1964, reconnaissance flights made by the U-2 played a role in obtaining for the United States advance information on Red China's first nuclear blast.

In 1965, following a two-year run that saw more than 51 million people walk through its gates, the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair closed its doors. With a theme of "Peace Through Understanding," the fair was a showcase for science and technology and lives on in the Unisphere, a 12-story high model of the world which dominates Flushing Meadow.

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In 1979, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Roman Catholic nun who cared for the sick and poor, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1986, Congress passed a landmark immigration bill, the first U.S. law authorizing penalties for employers who hire illegal aliens.

In 1989, the most powerful California earthquake since the legendary tremblor of 1906 struck the San Francisco Bay area at the evening rush hour. At least 63 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.The quake hit just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series in San Francisco between the Giants and the Oakland A's.

In 2001 the U.S. Congress closed for security sweeps after 321 staff members and police officers tested positive for exposure to anthrax.

In 2010, at least 60 people died and 50 others were hurt in violence that preceded special parliamentary elections in Karachi, Pakistan.

In 2012, Microsoft announced it would launch a news service called MSN News.

In 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama said the just-ended government shutdown "inflicted completely unnecessary damage on our economy" and that the American people "are completely fed up with Washington." Obama called on Republican hardliners in Congress to work to improve government instead of "treating it like an enemy."

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A thought for the day: Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote, "The soul is healed by being with children."

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