In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in England. In 1813 The British burn Buffalo, New York, during the War of 1812. In 1837 Canadian militiamen destroy the Caroline, a U.S. steamboat docked at Buffalo, New York. In 1845 Texas becomes the 28th U.S. state. In 1848 Gas lights are installed at the White House for the first time. In 1851 The first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) chapter opens in Boston, MA. In 1890 The Wounded Knee massacre takes place in South Dakota. 300 Sioux Indians are killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them. In 1913 The first movie serial, "The Adventures of Kathlyn," premieres in Chicago, Illinois. In 1934 Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930. In 1940 During World War II, Germany begins dropping incendiary bombs on London, England. In 1949 The first UHF TV station begins regular operations in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1952 Th

In 1946 Singer, Marianne Faithfull (As Tears Go By) (70) In 1776 Inventor, Charles Macintosh (patented waterproof fabric) In 1800 Inventor, Charles Goodyear (vulcanization process for rubber) In 1808 Andrew Johnson, 17th U.S. president (1865-69) In 1809 English statesman, William Ewart Gladstone In 1859 Venustiano Carranza, president of Mexico (1915-20) In 1876 Spanish cellist/composer, Pablo Casals In 1879 World War I aviation hero, Billy Mitchell In 1881 Heaveyweight boxing champ, Jess Willard (1915-19) In 1891 Businesswoman, Joyce Clyde Hall (founded Hallmark Cards) In 1894 Actor, Emory Parnell (The Life of Riley) In 1900 Jazz musician/singer, Willie Humphrey [d: 6-7-94] In 1903 Jazz trumpeter, Clyde McCoy (wah wah sound) [d: 6-11-90] In 1907 Dr. Robert Clifton Weaver, first black to serve in U.S. Cabinet In 1909 Actor, Thomas Beck (Charlie Chan movies, Priest-Heidi) [d: 9-23-95] In 1917 Los Angeles mayor, Tom Bradley (1973-93) [d: 9-29-9

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In 1775, the colonists organized a Continental Navy fleet. It was a cool thing to do, as long as you didn't end up being one of the rowers. On this date in 1807, Congress passed the Embargo Act, which cut off all trade with Europe. Not to be confused with the Escargo Act, which resulted in a line of salt being drawn around the entire U.S. In 1864 during the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman sent a message to President Lincoln from Georgia, saying, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah." Of course, the toughest part was finding that much wrapping paper.  Lincoln responded with, "Do you have anything smaller? You know, like theater tickets?  Talk about taking a chance! How awkward would that one have been to exchange.  On this date in 1882, Ed Johnson switched on the first Christmas Tree with electric lights in his home in New York City. So blame him. Ed also had the privilege of discovering that when one goes out, the rest don&

In 1958 "The Chipmunk Song" by the The Chipmunks with David Seville hits #1 on the U.S. top 40 chart and stayed there for 4 weeks. In 1962 "Telstar" by the Tornadoes hits #1 on the U.S. top 40 chart and stayed there for 3 weeks. (It was the first British group to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100.) In 1972 Joni Mitchell's album "For The Roses," containing the single "You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio," is certified gold. In 1973 "Band On The Run" by Paul McCartney & Wings enters the U.S. albums chart. In 1975 A suitcase with $85,000 in receipts is stolen from Ike & Tina Turner. In 1976 Isaac Hayes ("Theme From Shaft") files for bankruptcy. In 1976 The Doobie Brothers' LP "Best of the Doobies" goes platinum. In 1977 Styx's album "The Grand Illusion" is certified platinum. In 1978 Faces drummer Kenny Jones becomes the Who's new drummer after the death of Kei

In 1772 Moravian missionaries construct the first schoolhouse west of Allegheny. In 1775 A Continental naval fleet is organized in the rebellious American colonies under the command of Ezek Hopkins. In 1807 Congress passes the Embargo Act, seeking to force peace between Britain and France by cutting off all trade with Europe. In 1864 During the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman sends a message to President Lincoln from Georgia, saying, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah." In 1882 Ed Johnson switches on the first Christmas Tree with electric lights in his home in New York City. In 1894 French army officer Alfred Dreyfus is convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggers worldwide charges of anti-Semitism. In 1919 The U.S. deports 250 alien radicals. In 1941 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Washington for a wartime conference with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1944 During the World War

In 1696 English general, James Oglethorpe (colonized Georgia) In 1727 Attorney, William Ellery (signed the Declaration of Independence) In 1856 U.S. Secretary of State, Frank Kellogg (1925-29, Nobel-1929) In 1858 Italian operatic composer, Giacomo Puccini In 1862 Baseball Hall-Of-Fame Manager, Connie Mack (Philadelphia A's) In 1869 Poet, Edwin Arlington Robinson In 1903 Biophysicist, H. Keffer Hartline (Nobel-1967) [d: 3-17-83] In 1905 Poet/essayist, Kenneth Rexroth (Beat movement) [d: 6-6-82] In 1907 Actress, Peggy Ashcroft (A Passage To India) [d: 6-14-91] In 1911 Astronomer, Grote Reber (built first radio telescope) [d: 12-20-02] In 1912 Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson [d: 7-11-07] In 1914 Actor, Emil Sitka (The Three Stooges) [d: 1-16-98] In 1917 Game show host, Gene Rayburn (Match Game) [d: 11-29-99] In 1921 Country singer, Hawkshaw Hawkins (Ozark Jubilee) [d: 3-5-63] In 1922 U.S. Speaker of the

In 1804 British prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli (1874-80) In 1823 Scientist, Jean Henri Fabre (insect anatomy and behavior studies) In 1829 Teacher, Laura Bridgman (was blind, deaf and mute) In 1859 French poet, Gustave Kahn (free verse) In 1872 Children's author, Albert Payson Terhune In 1874 Juan Bautista Sacasa, president of Nicaragua (1932-36) In 1879 Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin (1922-53) In 1889 Scientist/geneticist, Sewall Wright (population genetics) In 1890 Geneticist, Hermann Joseph Mueller (artificially induced mutations) In 1891 U.S. Speaker of the House, John W. McCormack (1962-70) In 1892 Golf Hall-of-Famer, Walter C. Hagen In 1904 Engineer, Francis Bacon (hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells) [d: 5-24-92] In 1905 Author, Anthony Powell (March Of Time) [d: 3-28-00] In 1908 Sylvester "Pat" Weaver (created Today & Tonight Shows) [d: 3-15-02] In 1911 Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Josh Gibson (over 800 homeruns) [d: 1-20-47]

Mindy Kaling Gives Birth to First Child, Welcomes Daughter Katherine Kaling. Congrats to Mindy Kaling! E! News has exclusively learned that the 38-year-old actress welcomed her first child, a baby girl named Katherine Kaling on Dec. 15. Back in July, E! News learned that Kaling was pregnant with her first child and that it was "an unexpected surprise." She broke her silence about her pregnancy the following month, saying on NBC's Today show that she is "really excited" to become a mom. "I'd like to be the fun mom, I know I'm gonna be the dorky mom," she added. "So if I can be kind of fun too, I think that would be nice." Kaling, who is notoriously private, has not revealed the identity of her baby's father. She is not currently publicly linked to anyone romantically. "My professional life is the only thing that I feel I have a lot of control over -- romantic stuff is a little bit more mysterious," she told American Way m

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for restrictions at I-19 and SR 86 (Ajo Way) beginning Thursday evening and continuing to the early morning on Friday, Dec. 22. The right lane on northbound I-19 will be closed at milepost 62 from 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, to 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, for barrier wall concrete placement. The southbound I-19 off-ramp to Ajo Way will be closed from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 22. Westbound Ajo Way will be narrowed to one lane from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 22. During these restrictions, motorists can use the 22nd Street exit off Interstate 10 or the Irvington Road exit off I-19. For more information about this project, visit the project website . For questions and comments, call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov . Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT's Traveler In

Cop Gets Pulled Over-Then Kills Himself! Tragedy in California where an off-duty San Francisco police officer killed himself moments after he was pulled over by Richmond police. Authorities say a Richmond police officer made the traffic stop around 1:30pm but heard a gunshot as he approached the black coupe in a shopping mall parking lot. Unable to see inside the vehicle due to "heavily tinted" windows, the officer called for backup and responding officers used a "shotgun-propelled beanbag to break the suspect's windshield." Lt. Felix Tan told reporters the man inside was "alone and deceased." Sources have named the deceased officer as Antonio Cacatian, a nine-year veteran of the force who was under investigation for sex with a minor in Las Vegas. Nevada authorities had reached out to their Richmond counterparts for help. (San Francisco Chronicle) Sandals Did Me In! In Arlington, Arizona, 18-year-old Hipolito Rodriguez has been arrested for shooti

About 80% of those on Facebook say they never un-friend an ex.  65% of couples say on their last vacation, they had an argument because one of them would not stop checking their work email.  Gloves are the top item people are most likely to buy in the wrong size.  32% of people haven't worn a swimsuit in public in 5 over years.  12% of us don't take our prescriptions even after we've paid for them.  15% of people have taken a selfie seven times before they are satisfied with the photo.

Following that deadly train crash on Monday that left three dead in Washington state, Alaska airlines has cut airfares from Seattle to Portland to help out travelers.  Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez hopped a private jet last Saturday and flew from L.A. to Seattle, then slipped into a place called the Sugar Factory in the Seattle burb of Bellevue. There, they spent some romantic one-on-one time in the Chocolate Lounge, where they indulged in a frosty 60 oz. drink called the Ocean Blue.  TMZ says that Selena's mom is so upset about her getting back together with the Biebs that she's been hospitalized.  Samsung has announced some mid-range Galaxy phones are on the way, the A8 and the A8-plus.  Did you know that all of Bill Murray's brothers, Bill, Joel and Brian, all appeared with him in the movie, "Scrooged?"  Putting the ex in Xmas, J-Lo and ex-husband Marc Anthony were spotted together in New York City.  Get this -- Britain's biggest ever warship, the n