GMT

Today in History: June 28

1635 The French colony of Guadeloupe is established in the Caribbean.

1839 Cinque and other Africans are kidnapped and sold into slavery in Cuba.

1874 The Freedmen's Bank, created to assist former slaves in the United States, closes. Customers of the bank lose $3 million.

1902 Congress passes the Spooner bill, authorizing a canal to be built across the Isthmus of Panama.

1914 Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo, Serbia.

1938 Congress creates the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure construction loans.

1954 French troops begin to pull out of Vietnam's Tonkin province.

1970 Muhammad Ali [Cassius Clay] stands before the Supreme Court regarding his refusal of induction into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

1971 The Supreme Court overturns the draft evasion conviction of Muhammad Ali.

1972 Richard Nixon announces that no new draftees will be sent to Vietnam.

1976 The first women enter the U.S. Air Force Academy.

2018 Power company uncovers Neolithic wooden trackway 2,300 years old in Suffolk, England. One of the largest archaeological digs in Europe at 16,000 square meters

2020 COVID-19 cases surge in southern and western US states with California, Texas and Florida closing bars, Arizona reports 20% of tests returning as positive

2020 Global death toll from COVID-19 passes 500,000, doubling in less than two months (Johns Hopkins)


Born on June 28

1491 Henry VIII, King of England (1509-1547), founder of the Church of England.

1867 Luigi Pirandello, Italian playwright (Six Characters in Search of an Author).

1926 Mel Brooks, comedian, actor, and director (The Producers, Blazing Saddles).

JOTD
A guy comes home from work and he is clearly upset.

His wife looks concerned and asks him what's wrong. He shakes his head and refuses to say anything.
Later, during dinner, he's just pushing his food around on his plate and staring out the window.
"Honey, what is it? I've never seen you like this before," the wife says.
"It's . . . nothing," he says. "I can't burden you with my problems. It wouldn't be fair."
"Your problems?" the wife says. "We are partners. We face everything together. Your problem is my problem. There is no I, just we. Now please, tell me, what is it?"
"Well," he says, looking up at her glumly. "we got our secretary pregnant and now she's suing us for support."