Today is Monday, March 3, the 62nd day of 2025. There are 303 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On March 3, 1991, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers after a high-speed chase; amateur video that captured the scene aired on local news that evening, sparking public outrage.
Also on this date:
In 1849, Congress established the U.S. Department of the Interior.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the act creating the National Academy of Sciences.
In 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a bill making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem of the United States.
In 1943, in London’s East End, 173 people died in a crush of bodies at the Bethnal Green Tube station, which was being used as a wartime air raid shelter.
In 1945, Allied troops fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces during World War II after a monthlong battle that destroyed much of the city.
In 1969, Apollo 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to test NASA’s lunar module.
In 2022, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reached a nationwide settlement over its role in the opioid crisis, with the Sackler family members who own the company boosting their cash contribution to as much as $6 billion in a deal intended to staunch a flood of lawsuits.
Today’s birthdays:
- Filmmaker George Miller is 80.
- Singer Jennifer Warnes is 78.
- Author Ron Chernow is 76.
- Football Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar is 73.
- Musician Robyn Hitchcock is 72.
- Actor Miranda Richardson is 67.
- Radio personality Ira Glass is 66.
- Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 63.
- Rapper-actor Tone Loc is 59.
- Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch is 57.
- Actor Julie Bowen is 55.
- Actor David Faustino is 51.
- Actor Jessica Biel is 43.
- Singer Camila Cabello is 28.
- NBA forward Jayson Tatum is 27.
