Today’s Highlights

On May 13, 1846, the United States Congress formally declared war against Mexico, following battles along the disputed U.S.-Mexico border in the preceding weeks; the Mexican-American War would continue for nearly two years until the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848.

On this date

1973: In tennis’ first so-called “Battle of the Sexes,” Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1 in Ramona, California. (Billie Jean King soundly defeated Riggs at the Houston Astrodome later that year.)

1981: Pope John Paul II was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca. (Agca was sentenced to life in prison in Italy in July 1981, but was pardoned in 2000 at the Pope’s request.)

1985: A confrontation between Philadelphia authorities and the radical group MOVE ended as a police helicopter dropped two bombs onto the group’s row house, igniting a fire that killed 11 people and destroyed 61 homes.

2016: The Obama administration issued a directive requiring public schools to permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Harvey Keitel is 86. Musician Stevie Wonder is 75. Screenwriter-producer David Simon (“The Wire”) is 66. Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is 64. TV host/comedian Stephen Colbert is 61. Musician Darius Rucker is 59. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is 48. Actor Samantha Morton is 48.