1887: Punxsutawney, Pa., held its first Groundhog Day festival.

1925: The legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought a life-saving treatment to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, six days after the drug left Nenana.

In the world

1990: In a dramatic concession to South Africa’s Black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.

Today’s birthdays

Musician Graham Nash is 82. Television executive Barry Diller is 82. Musician Howard Bellamy is 78. TV chef Ina Garten is 76. Actor Brent Spiner is 75. Musician Ross Valory (Journey) is 75. Model Christie Brinkley is 70. Actor-comedian Adam Ferrara is 58. Musician Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) is 58. Actor Marissa Jaret Winokur is 51. Musician Shakira is 47. Musician Blaine Larsen is 38. Actor Zosia Mamet is 36. — The Associated Press