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UPI Almanac for Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024

On Sept. 15, 1999, a 47-year-old man opened fire during a youth service at the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, killing seven people and wounding seven before killing himself.

By United Press International
Anne Smith of Fort Worth kneels beside a memorial in front of Wedgwood Baptist Church early September 18, 1999, three days after a man opened fire at the Texas church, killing seven people. File Photo by Alyssa Banta/UPI
1 of 3 | Anne Smith of Fort Worth kneels beside a memorial in front of Wedgwood Baptist Church early September 18, 1999, three days after a man opened fire at the Texas church, killing seven people. File Photo by Alyssa Banta/UPI | License Photo

Today is Sunday, Sept. 15, the 259th day of 2024 with 107 to follow.

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

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Those born on this date in history are under the sign of Virgo. They includ explorer Marco Polo in 1254; writer James Fenimore Cooper in 1789; William Howard Taft, 27th president of the United States, in 1857; writer Agatha Christie in 1890; filmmaker Jean Renoir in 1894; comedian Nipsey Russell in 1918; comedian Norm Crosby in 1927; musician Julian "Cannonball" Adderley in 1928; Baseball Hall of Fame member Gaylord Perry in 1938; Football Hall of Fame member/actor Merlin Olsen in 1940; Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, in 1942 (age 82); Yoweri Museveni, president of Uganda, in 1944 (age 80); musician Jessye Norman in 1945; filmmaker Oliver Stone in 1946 (age 78); actor Tommy Lee Jones in 1946 (age 78); musician Mitch Dorge (Crash Test Dummies) in 1960 (age 64); Football Hall of Fame member Dan Marino in 1961 (age 63); DJ Kay Gee, born Keir Gist, (Naughty by Nature) in 1969 (age 55); actor Josh Charles in 1971 (age 53); Queen Letizia of Spain in 1972 (age 52); comedian/actor Jimmy Carr in 1972 (age 52); actor Tom Hardy in 1977 (age 47); writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 1977 (age 47); musician Zach Filkins (OneRepublic) in 1978 (age 46); actor Dave Annable in 1979 (age 45); actor Amy Davidson in 1979 (age 45); comedian/actor Ben Schwartz in 1981 (age 43); Britain's Prince Harry in 1984 (age 40); actor Chelsea Kane in 1988 (age 36); actor Matt Shively in 1990 (age 34).

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On this date in history:

In 1812, Russians set fire to Moscow in an effort to keep out Napoleon and his invading French troops.

In 1954, the famous scene in which Marilyn Monroe is shown laughing as her skirt is blown up by a blast of air from a subway vent was shot during the filming of The Seven Year Itch. The scene infuriated her husband, Joe DiMaggio, who felt it was exhibitionist. The couple divorced a short time later.

In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev became the first Soviet leader to visit the United States after saying he hoped to improve relations with Washington.

In 1963, four Black girls were killed in the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Ala. Two black teenage boys were shot to death later that day as citywide rioting broke out.

In 1971, the environmental organization Greenpeace was founded by 12 members of the Don't Make A Wave committee of Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 1983, an ailing and secluded Menachem Begin resigned as prime minister of Israel.

In 1988, the Museum of the Moving Image dedicated to the history of film, opened in London. At the opening, Britain's Prince Charles condemned those responsible for gratuitous violence on television and video.

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In 1993, Katherine Ann Power, a Vietnam War opponent and a fugitive for more than 20 years in the death of a police officer during a bank robbery in Boston, surrendered. She pleaded guilty and spent six years in prison.

In 1999, a 47-year-old man opened fire during a youth service at the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, killing seven people and wounding seven before killing himself.

In 2000, the 27th Summer Olympic Games opened in Sydney, with a record number of female athletes participating -- and with North and South Korea marching together in the opening procession.

In 2009, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession, which began in December 2007, was "very likely over" but the economy would appear weak "for some time."

In 2011, a widespread U.S. outbreak of listeria food poisoning was traced to contaminated cantaloupes sold by a Colorado company that recalled millions of melons. Officials said about two dozen people had died of listeriosis in 20 states. Two farmers were sentenced to five years probation and each ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution.

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In 2019, Norman Lear became the oldest person to win an Emmy award as part of the 71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmys. He won the Outstanding Variety Special award for Live in Front of a Studio Audience.

In 2020, for the first time in Scientific American's 175-year history, the popular science magazine made a presidential endorsement -- Joe Biden.

In 2021, SpaceX launched Inspiration4, the first all-private orbital spaceflight, from Florida, carrying four civilians.

In 2023, thousands of auto workers at three U.S. assembly plants went on strike when their United Auto Workers union and the Big Three automakers failed to come to an agreement on a new contract. The strike ended the last week of October 2023 after the companies largely agreed to the UAW's demands.


A thought for the day: "I don't understand art for art's sake. Art is the guts of the people." -- American artist/educator Elma Lewis

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