FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Today is the 267th day of 2021 and the third day of autumn.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1789, Congress passed the First Judiciary Act, which provided for the Supreme Court and the office of attorney general.

In 1960, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, was launched.

In 1968, “60 Minutes,” American prime-time television’s longest-running program, premiered on CBS.

In 2005, Hurricane Rita hit Texas and southwestern Louisiana.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: John Marshall (1755-1835), chief justice of the United States; F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), author; Jim McKay (1921-2008), sportscaster; Jim Henson (1936-1990), puppeteer; Linda McCartney (1941-1998), singer; Lou Dobbs (1945- ), journalist; Phil Hartman (1948-1998), actor; Nia Vardalos (1962- ), actress/screenwriter; Rafael Palmeiro (1964- ), baseball player; Eddie George (1973- ), football player/ sportscaster.

TODAY’S FACT: Motorcycle builder Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company in Hamamatsu, Japan, on this day in 1948. Before finding success with motorcycles, Honda tried manufacturing weaving machines, frosted glass windows and bamboo roof panels.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Johnson tested positive for steroids three days later and was stripped of the medal.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

TODAY’S NUMBER: 867 -- height (in feet, from base to summit) of Devils Tower in Wyoming. President Theodore Roosevelt declared the monolithic rock formation the first U.S. National Monument on this day in 1906.

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 20) and last quarter moon (Sept. 28).

SATURDAY,

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

Today is the 268th day of 2021 and the fourth day of autumn.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.

In 1789, Congress approved the 10 constitutional amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights and sent them to the states for ratification.

In 1957, U.S. Army troops stood guard as Black students were admitted to Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the first time.

In 2005, the Irish Republican Army officially disarmed.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: William Faulkner (1897- 1962), author; Walter “Red” Smith (1905-1982), sportswriter; Phil Rizzuto (1917-2007), baseball player/broadcaster; Barbara Walters (1929- ), TV journalist; Shel Silverstein (1930-1999), author; Michael Douglas (1944- ), actor; Mark Hamill (1951- ), actor; Christopher Reeve (1952- 2004), actor; Heather Locklear (1961- ), actress; Scottie Pippen (1965- ), basketball player; Will Smith (1968- ), actor/rapper; Catherine Zeta-Jones (1969- ), actress; T.I. (1980- ), rapper; Donald Glover (1983- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: Of the 163 nominations to the Supreme Court since 1789, 12 were rejected by the Senate.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1882, Providence and Worcester competed in Major League Baseball’s first doubleheader.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Some of y’all are not where you want to be in life, yet you party every weekend. What is it that you’re celebrating?” -- T.I.

TODAY’S NUMBER: $813 million -- estimated total cost of the Mars Observer mission, launched on this day in 1992. The probe failed 11 months later, three days prior to its orbital insertion around Mars.

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 20) and last quarter moon (Sept. 28).