Today is Tuesday, March 30, the 90th day of 2004. There are 276 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Tuesday, March 30, the 90th day of 2004. There are 276 days left in the year. On this date in 1981, President Reagan is shot and seriously injured outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr. Also wounded are White House press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a District of Columbia police officer.
In 1822, Florida becomes a United States territory. In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Jefferson, Ga., first uses ether as an anesthetic during a minor operation. In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reaches agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as "Seward's Folly." In 1870, the 15th amendment to the Constitution, giving black men the right to vote, is declared in effect. In 1870, Texas is readmitted to the Union. In 1945, the Soviet Union invades Austria during World War II. In 1964, John Glenn withdraws from the Ohio race for U.S. Senate because of injuries suffered in a fall. In 1979, Airey Neave, a leading member of the British parliament, is killed by a bomb planted by the Irish National Liberation Army. In 1986, actor James Cagney dies at his farm in Stanfordville, N.Y., at age 86. In 1994, Serbs and Croats sign a cease-fire to end their war in Croatia while Bosnian Muslims and Serbs continue to battle each other. In 2002, the Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies in her sleep at Royal Lodge, Windsor, outside London; she was 101 years old.
March 30, 1979: Richard F. Celeste, former lieutenant governor of Ohio, is named director of the Peace Corps by President Jimmy Carter.
The Rev. William T. Hogan, "the steel priest," throws out a pair of novel ideas for Youngstown -- construction of a multi-million ton centralized coke plant and a major coal-fired direct reduction facility. The plants would be aimed at reducing reliance on foreign-made coke and heading off a severe scrap crunch in the steel industry.
The 24 A-37 tactical fighters at the Youngstown Air Reserve Base will begin leaving in about a year and will be replaced with a tactical airlift wing with eight C-130 propjet transports.
March 30, 1964: An Easter night storm dumps 6 inches of snow on the Youngstown area, catching the city by surprise and leaving streets snow-covered and slippery.
Former astronaut John Glenn withdraws from the Ohio race for U.S. Senate on doctors orders after being injured in a fall in the bathroom of his Columbus apartment. Edward J. DeBartolo, who had headed Glenn's campaign in Mahoning County, says after talking to Glenn that all local campaign efforts will cease immediately.
General Fireproofing Co. will spend $1.2 million in 1964 to improve its Youngstown plant, says company President John A. Saunders.
Two Austintown youth who think prayers and Bible reading should be allowed in public schools return from a weekend in New Jersey prepared to play a part in a nationwide campaign.
March 30, 1954: Youngstown Mayor Frank X. Kryzan says after his first official inspection of Milton dam since taking office that he is surprised at the rundown condition of the structure and promises to investigate the reason.
Youngstown Building Inspector Robert L. Findlay is considering arresting occupants of condemned homes who refuse to move out of the shacks they are living in.
The price of butter is reduced 10 cents a pound to 59 cents by one large chain market in the Youngstown area. Prices for milk are expected to drop one or two cents, bringing the price of homogenized milk to 57 cents a gallon.
March 30, 1929: The steel industry in Youngstown enters the second quarter with well-filled order books and on track to set new production records. New records were set in most categories during the first quarter of the year.
J.C. Merrell, district commercial manager of the Ohio Bell Telephone Co., announces the purchase of five parcels at W. Rayen Avenue and Phelps Street at a cost of $168,000 on which the company is planning to erect a new building.
Mahoning Prosecutor Ray L. Thomas rejects a request that the Rev. Emerald Rhodes, who is held in county jail on a first-degree murder charge, be permitted to preach Easter Sunday in Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He is charged in the killing of another church member, Otto Campbell.