Today is Sunday, Dec. 11, the 345th day of 2005. There are 20 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Sunday, Dec. 11, the 345th day of 2005. There are 20 days left in the year. On this date in 1936, Britain's King Edward VIII abdicates the throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.
In 1816, Indiana becomes the 19th state. In 1872, America's first black governor takes office as Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback becomes acting governor of Louisiana. In 1928, police in Buenos Aires thwart an attempt on the life of President-elect Herbert Hoover. In 1937, Italy withdraws from the League of Nations. In 1941, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States; the U.S. responds in kind. In 1946, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established. In 1980, President Carter signs a bill creating a $1.6 billion environmental "superfund" to pay for cleaning up chemical spills and toxic waste dumps. In 1980, "Magnum P.I.," starring Tom Selleck, premieres on CBS television. In 1981, the U.N. Security Council chooses Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru to be the fifth secretary-general of the world body. In 1991, a jury in West Palm Beach, Fla., acquits William Kennedy Smith of sexual assault and battery, rejecting the allegations of Patricia Bowman. In 1995, U.S. Rep. Enid Greene Waldholtz, R-Utah, holds an emotional news conference, publicly addressing the scandal surrounding her personal and campaign finances and blaming the mess on her estranged husband, Joe. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments from lawyers representing George W. Bush and Al Gore concerning the Florida presidential vote recount. In 2004, doctors in Austria determine that Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yush-chenko had been poisoned with dioxin, which caused the severe disfigurement and partial paralysis of his face.
December 11, 1980: Backers of a domestic violence shelter house in Warren are seeking a new site for the facility after failing to reach an arrangement with residents of a North St. N.W. neighborhood over establishing the shelter at the former St. Joseph Church convent.
New Castle Mayor Angelo Sands is granted a second one-year leave of absence from his teaching position by the New Castle Area School Board. He had asked for three years. As mayor, he makes $15,000 a year; as a teacher with a master's degree and 13 years' experience, he would make $16,470.
A new Youngstown-headquartered corporation is set up under the name of Cold Metal Products Co. to own and operate Jones & amp; Laughlin Steel Corp.'s former strip mill plants in Youngstown and Indianapolis.
Union National Bank will be merged into Columbus-based Banc One Corp., a multi-bank holding company. The total market value of the proposed exchange is $37 million.
December 11, 1965: Mahoning County commissioners are flirting with a contempt of court order from the Ohio Supreme Court for failing to provide adequate space in the courthouse for the law library.
Two prominent Youngstown men are honored for 50 years' service in the Downtown Kiwanis Club. Judge Erskine Maiden Jr. and John L. Marsh are honored at the Youngstown YMCA. Marsh is the only living charter member of the group.
Columbiana County cookie bakers are beginning to receive thank you letters from the Vietnam front. Some 1,500 county 4-Hers and friends sent more than a ton of cookies to the troops.
Three Euclid High School seniors are suspended for six days for wearing black armbands to school to mourn the dead in Vietnam.
December 11, 1955: Youngstown's retail district is jammed nearly to overflowing with free-spending shoppers, assuring Youngstown of two new retail records‚ an all-time high for Christmas shopping and an all-time high for the entire year's trade.
A clash between pickets and supervisors at Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Sharon transformer division over movement of a loaded truck from the shipping department marks events during the 55th day of the strike.
The Drama Club at Youngstown University hangs a 12-foot reproduction of the university's mascot, depicted as Santa Claus, on the front of the main building. The Penguin was made and painted by Sherie Mohn, Sam Sanfilippe, Ronald Meade, Dennis Byron and Dick Dubiel.
December 11, 1930: A jury of seven men and five women deadlock in the bribery trial of former Niles police Lt. Edward Kennedy. The final vote was eight for acquittal, four for conviction.
Eighteen prize Jersey cattle perish in a $20,000 blaze at the Boardman Center farm of Frank Hitchcock. Hitchcock and his men were able to save seven horses, a pony and a prize bull.
The Federation of Improvement Clubs is investigating a charge that Councilman Harry Crawford has a contract with the Ohio Edison Co. whereby he is paid 25 cents a ton more than other dealers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Fisher sets Jan. 12 as the execution date for Irene Shrader and W. Glenn Dague in the Dec. 27, 1929, murder of Cpl. Brady Paul at New Castle.