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By The Associated Press
Today in History
Today is Tuesday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2022. There are 242 days left in the year.
Todayís Highlight in History:
On May 3, 1979, Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher was chosen to become Britainís first female prime minister as the Tories ousted the incumbent Labour government in parliamentary elections.
On this date:
In 1802, Washington, D.C., was incorporated as a city.
In 1937, Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, ìGone with the Wind.î
In 1947, Japanís postwar constitution took effect.
In 1948, the Supreme Court, in Shelley v. Kraemer, ruled that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to Blacks or members of other racial groups were legally unenforceable.
In 1960, the Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical ìThe Fantasticksî began a nearly 42-year run at New Yorkís Sullivan Street Playhouse.
In 1987, The Miami Herald said its reporters had observed a young woman spending ìFriday night and most of Saturdayî at a Washington townhouse belonging to Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart. (The woman was later identified as Donna Rice; the resulting controversy torpedoed Hartís presidential bid.)
In 2006, a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, rejected the death penalty for al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui (zak-uh-REEí-uhs moo-SOWí-ee), deciding he should spend life in prison for his role in 9/11; as he was led from the courtroom, Moussaoui taunted, ìAmerica, you lost.î
In 2009, Mexican President Felipe Calderon told state television that a nationwide shutdown and an aggressive informational campaign appeared to have helped curtail an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico.
In 2011, Chicagoís Derrick Rose became at age 22 the NBAís youngest MVP.
In 2015, two gunmen were shot and killed by a police officer in Garland, Texas, after they opened fire outside a purposely provocative contest for cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.
In 2016, in a stunning triumph for a political outsider, Donald Trump all but clinched the Republican presidential nomination with a resounding victory in Indiana that knocked rival Ted Cruz out of the race.
In 2018, a federal grand jury in Detroit indicted former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn on charges stemming from the companyís diesel emissions cheating scandal. (Under Germanyís constitution, he could not be extradited to the U.S. to face charges.)
Ten years ago: U.S. officials published online a selection of letters from Osama bin Ladenís last hideaway; the documents portrayed a network that was weak, inept and under siege -- and its leader seemingly near witís end about the passing of his global jihadís supposed glory days.
Five years ago: President Donald Trump met at the White House with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOODí ah-BAHSí), promising ìto do whatever is necessaryî to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
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One year ago: An elevated section of the Mexico City metro collapsed as subway cars were passing over it, killing 26 people; investigations found that the failure was caused by construction defects. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York City subways would begin 24-hour service again in mid-May; theyíd been shut down for cleaning during overnight hours since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Bill and Melinda Gates said they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage; the Microsoft co-founder and his wife said they would continue to work together at the worldís largest private charitable foundation. Singer-songwriter Lloyd Price, an early rock ën roll star and rock Hall of Fame member whose hits included ìLawdy Miss Clawdy,î died in suburban New York at the age of 88.
Todayís Birthdays: Singer Frankie Valli is 88. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, is 79. Sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 76. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is 73. Pop singer Mary Hopkin is 72. Singer Christopher Cross is 71. Rock musician David Ball (Soft Cell) is 63. Country singer Shane Minor is 54. Actor Amy Ryan is 54. Actor Bobby Cannavale (ka-nuh-VALí-ee) is 52. Music and film producer-actor Damon Dash is 51. Country musician John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band) is 51. Country-rock musician John Neff is 51. Actor Marsha Stephanie-Blake is 47. TV personality Willie Geist (TV: ìTodayî) is 47. Actor Christina Hendricks is 47. Actor Dule (doo-LAYí) Hill is 47. Country singer Eric Church is 45. Actor Tanya Wright is 44. Dancer Cheryl Burke is 38. Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka is 35. Actor Zoe De Grand Maison is 27. Rapper Desiigner is 25.