Today is Thursday, Dec. 18, the 352nd day of 2003. There are 13 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Thursday, Dec. 18, the 352nd day of 2003. There are 13 days left in the year. On this date in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, is declared in effect.
In 1892, Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" publicly premieres in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1915, President Wilson, widowed the year before, marries Edith Bolling Galt at her Washington home. In 1944, in a pair of rulings, the Supreme Court upholds the wartime relocation of Japanese-Americans, but also says undeniably loyal Americans of Japanese ancestry could not be detained. In 1956, Japan is admitted to the United Nations. In 1969, Britain's Parliament abolishes the death penalty for murder. In 1971, the Rev. Jesse Jackson announces in Chicago the founding of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). In 1972, the United States begins its heaviest bombing of North Vietnam at that time during the Vietnam War.
December 18, 1978: Gov. James A. Rhodes signs into a law a bill requiring state registration of lands purchased in Ohio by nonresident aliens. The bill would allow the state to be aware of ownership patterns and trends, especially those that could affect Ohio's valuable farm lands.
The Justice Department agrees to turn over some government documents on the Lykes-LTV merger that were being sought by The Vindicator rather than challenge the paper's Freedom of Information request.
December 18, 1963: Youngstown Mayor-elect Anthony B. Flask makes his principal appointments, with the exception of police chief and finance director. Atty. Patrick J. Melillo will be law director; J. Phillip Richley, engineer; Harry Meshel, administrative assistant; Atty. Joseph Donofrio, police prosecutor; Capt. Joseph Flask, fire chief; William Repasky, water commissioner and David Hill, urban renewal director.
December 18, 1953: WFMJ-TV in Youngstown is one of the first stations in the United States to buy a color television broadcasting equipment and has begun installing it.
The Army announces the first Nike antiaircraft guided missile battery is being installed at Ft. Meade, Md. Similar bases are to built near five Ohio cities, including Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown.
December 18, 1928: A decades long fight for lower freight rates for the Youngstown steel district is won when the Interstate Commerce Commission declares that it is "practicable and desirable that the Youngstown district have access to the Ohio River rail lines " that are proposed in an application of the Pittsburgh, Lisbon and Western Railroad, which would build a line from Smith's Ferry, Pa., to Youngstown.