Today is Sunday, Dec. 18, the 352nd day of 2005. There are 13 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Sunday, Dec. 18, the 352nd day of 2005. There are 13 days left in the year. On this date in 1944, in a pair of rulings, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the wartime relocation of Japanese-Americans, but also says undeniably loyal Americans of Japanese ancestry cannot be detained.
In 1787, New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, is declared in effect. In 1892, Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" publicly premieres in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1915, President Wilson, widowed the year before, marries Edith Bolling Galt at her Washington home. 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. (The bombardment ends 12 days later.) In 1980, former Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin dies at age 76.
December 18, 1980: A 33-year-old woman helps two of her children escape from their burning one-story home on Volney Road, but collapses while attempting to save a third child. Dead are Mrs. Shirley Bank-head and her daughter, Erin, 3.
Citing demands of his full-time job, James Carey resigns as mayor of Leetonia after serving a year and is replaced by council President Patrick Ross.
An early-morning fire destroys the Sweet Shoppe at 15 N. Mill St. in New Castle and spreads acrid smoke through nine other downtown businesses. Damage is expected to exceed $200,000.
Two 16-year-old Youngstown youths are bound over to the jurisdiction of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to face charges as adults in the Nov. 1 murder of 14-year-old Veronica Vaughn.
December 18, 1965: Nearly 6,000 employees at the Packard Electric Division of General Motors in Warren will split $350,000 in a special bonus, a result of the good auto business in 1965. Each employee will get about $58.
The Mahoning County Community College Board of Trustees will ask the Youngstown Area Board of Realtors to report on any 200-acre sites that might be available for a community college.
Burglars break into the Borden Co. office at 514 Glenwood Ave. and load a half-ton safe containing several thousand dollars onto a waiting truck. Thieves had made an unsuccessful attempt to open the safe in another burglary earlier in the week.
Novice G. Fawcett, president of Ohio State University, asks the OSU board of trustees to reverse its controversial approval of a $300,000 home for the university president.
December 18, 1955: Downtown shopping has the advantage over suburban shopping centers on 16 of 23 satisfaction factors studied in three key American cities, Columbus, Houston and Seattle, according to a study by C.T. Jonassen of the department of sociology and anthropology at Ohio State University.
Because the pottery industry is prone to economic ups and downs, Sebring, a Mahoning County community of 5,600 that is only 56 years old, is taking steps to bolster its year-round prosperity. The Businessmen's Association is attempting to bring more diversified industry to town.
Nearly 250 senior citizens take part in the "60 Plus Jamboree" in the Elms Ballroom sponsored by Ted Conner of WFMJ and the Youngstown Community Chest. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morgan were honored as the longest married, at 60 years.
December 18, 1930: The wisest and kindest man in Ohio, according an article in American Magazine, is John Hessin Clarke, retired justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a Mahoning Valley native who makes his home in Cleveland.
A 14-year-old St. Clairsville youth will be tried as an adult on first-degree murder charges in the death of William Meeker, 68, of Martins Ferry, who died of injuries suffered during an attempted robbery.
Yeggs who worked behind a clever false vault front to knock off the combination of the Schule-United store vault are frightened away by Officer T. Carney before they could get the safe open. The camouflage panel was painted to resemble the vault, even to the name of the store on gilt letters, but Carney entered the store when he rattled the front door knob and found it unlocked.