Today’s Highlights

On March 19, 2003, in a televised address, President George W. Bush announced that coalition forces had begun an invasion of Iraq.

On this date

1931: Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure that made the state the first to legalize gambling.

1945: During World War II, more than 800 service members were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin near Japan.

1953: The 25th Academy Awards ceremony was the first to be televised; “The Greatest Show on Earth” would win the Oscar for Best Picture.

1965: Archeologist E. Lee Spence discovered the wreckage of the SS Georgiana, a Confederate ship that had sunk near Charleston, South Carolina.

1966: Texas Western became the first team to start five Black players in the NCAA basketball tournament’s championship game; they defeated top-ranked Kentucky in the final, 72-65.

1987: Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary.

1995: 17 months after announcing his retirement from basketball, Michael Jordan returned to play in the NBA with his former team, the Chicago Bulls.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Ursula Andress is 89. Singer Ruth Pointer is 79. Actor Glenn Close is 78. Actor Bruce Willis is 70. NFL coach Andy Reid is 67. Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach is 48. Comedian-podcaster Theo Von is 45.