Today’s highlight

On May 10, 1940, during World War II, German forces began invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill formed a new government.

On this date

1775: Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, along with Col. Benedict Arnold, captured the British-held fortress at Ticonderoga, New York.

1818: American patriot Paul Revere, 83, died in Boston.

1869: A golden spike was driven in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

1924: J. Edgar Hoover was named acting director of the Bureau of Investigation.

1933: The Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany.

1941: Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, parachuted into Scotland on what he claimed was a peace mission.

2002: A tense 39-day-old standoff between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem ended with 13 suspected militants flown into European exile and 26 released into the Gaza Strip.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Donovan is 78. Singer-songwriter Graham Gouldman (10cc) is 78. Sports anchor Chris Berman is 69. Rock singer Bono (BAH’-noh) (U2) is 64. Model Linda Evangelista is 59. Rapper Young MC is 57. Actor Kenan Thompson is 46.Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin is 29.