Today in History - January 28th

1807 - On this day in history, London's Pall Mall became the first street lit by gaslight in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
1902 - The Carnegie Institution was established in Washington, DC with a grant of $10 million from Andrew Carnegie.
1909 - Today in history, The United States stopped direct control of Cuba.
1915 - The Coast Guard was established by an act of the Congress to prevent contraband and aid distressed vessels.
1916 - On this day in history, Louis D. Brandeis was appointed by President Wilson to the Supreme Court, thus becoming its first Jewish appointee.
1918 - Trotsky became the leader of the Reds.
1935 - Today in history, Iceland became the first country to permit legal abortions.
1938 - The first ski tow started operation in Vermont.
1965 - On this day in history, General Motors reported the biggest profit of any U.S. company in history.
1973 - "Barnaby Jones" premiered on CBS.
1986 - Today in history, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff, killing all seven of its crew members.
1991- Dictator Siad Barre left Somalia, ending a 22-year rule.
1998- On this day in history, Michelangelo's "Christ and the Woman of Samaria" sold for $7.4 million.
1999 - Ford Motor Company announced the purchase of Sweden's Volvo for $6.45 billion.
2003 - Today in history, President George W. Bush stated that Saddam Hussein had tried to acquire significant quantities of uranium (a claim substantiated by forged documents).

SCIENCE, DISCOVERIES, PATENTS - Today in History, January 28th

1904 - On this day in history, Enrico Caruso signed his first contract with Victor Records and debuted at the Met Opera in NY.
1956 - Elvis Presley made his first appearance on national television on "The Dorsey Brothers Show" on CBS.
1985 - Today in history, the song "We Are the World" was recorded, with more than 40 artists involved, while the proceeds went toward global hunger prevention.
1996 - Diana Ross performed at half-time during Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, AZ.

1969 - On this day in history, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win in this sport in North America.