1974: An outbreak of tornadoes began hitting wide parts of the South and Midwest before jumping across the border into Canada; 148 tornadoes caused more than 300 fatalities in what became known as the 1974 Super Outbreak.

In the world

1996: A U.S. Air Force jet crashed as it approached Dubrovnik, Croatia; all 35 people on board were killed, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Marsha Mason is 84. Musician Wayne Newton is 84. Musician Tony Orlando is 82. Musician Richard Thompson is 77. Actor Alec Baldwin is 68. Actor David Hyde Pierce is 67. Actor-comedian Eddie Murphy is 65. Celebrity chef Cat Cora is 59. Olympic skiing gold medalist Picabo Street is 55. Actor Adam Scott is 53. Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen is 44. Actor Cobie Smulders is 44. Musician Leona Lewis is 41. Actor-comedian Rachel Bloom is 39. Model and actor Paris Jackson is 28. Actor Elsie Fisher is 23. — The Associated Press