By The Associated Press

Today in History

Today is Saturday, Sept. 4, the 247th day of 2021. There are 118 days left in the year.

Todayís Highlight in History:

On Sept. 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus used Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine Black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

On this date:

In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces led by Gen. Robert E. Lee began invading Maryland.

In 1893, English author Beatrix Potter first told the story of Peter Rabbit in the form of a ìpicture letterî to Noel Moore, the son of Potterís former governess.

In 1944, during World War II, British troops liberated Antwerp, Belgium.

In 1969, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report calling birth control pills ìsafe,î despite a slight risk of fatal blood-clotting disorders linked to the pills.

In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won a seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics in the 400-meter medley relay.

In 1974, the United States established diplomatic relations with East Germany.

In 1998, Internet services company Google filed for incorporation in California.

In 1999, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed a breakthrough land-for-security agreement during a ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

In 2006, ìCrocodile Hunterî Steve Irwin, 44, died after a stingrayís barb pierced his chest.

In 2014, comedian Joan Rivers died at a New York hospital at age 81, a week after going into cardiac arrest in a doctorís office during a routine medical procedure.

In 2018, Amazon became the second publicly-traded company to reach $1 trillion in market value, following closely behind Apple.

Ten years ago: Jerry Lewis was conspicuously absent from the Muscular Dystrophy Associationís 46th annual Labor Day weekend telethon, having hosted the previous 45 broadcasts; the MDA had announced earlier that Lewis had ìcompleted his runî as national chairman and that he would not be appearing on the telethon.

Five years ago: Elevating the ìsaint of the guttersî to one of the Catholic Churchís highest honors, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa, praising her radical dedication to societyís outcasts and her courage in shaming world leaders for the ìcrimes of poverty they themselves created.î

One year ago: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop detaining immigrant children in hotels before expelling them from the United States, saying the much-criticized practice skirted ìfundamental humanitarian protections.î Americans headed into the Labor Day weekend amid warnings from public health experts that backyard parties, crowded bars and other gatherings could cause the coronavirus to come surging back. At the direction of President Donald Trump, the Office of Management and Budget cracked down on federal agenciesí anti-racism training sessions; agencies were told to identify spending related to any training on ìcritical race theory,î ìwhite privilegeî or any other material that suggests that the United States or any race or ethnicity is ìinherently racist or evil.î

Todayís Birthdays: Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 90. Soul singer Sonny Charles is 81. Actor Kenneth Kimmins is 80. Singer Merald ìBubbaî Knight (Gladys Knight & The Pips) is 79. TV personality and veterinarian Dr. Jan (yahn) Pol (TV: ìThe Incredible Dr. Polî) is 79. World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 79. Actor Jennifer Salt is 77.