Today is Wednesday, March 30, the 89th day of 2005. There are 276 days left in the year. On this

Today is Wednesday, March 30, the 89th day of 2005. 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 1955, "On the Waterfront" wins the Academy Award for best picture of 1954, while its star, Marlon Brando wins best actor; in an upset, Grace Kelly wins best actress for "The Country Girl," beating out Judy Garland for "A Star Is Born." 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. I
March 30, 1980: Copperweld Steel Co. of Warren has taken large strides in its $24 million expansion program to compete more vigorously in the markets for higher-priced and more in-demand steel products.
Crown Airways unveils the $2.5 million aircraft that will fly the Youngstown-Pittsburgh commuter air route. Sixteen personnel will be assigned to Youngstown Municipal Airport to operate seven round trip flights per day.
After deliberating for 16 hours, the jury in the murder trial of Steven Masters takes Sunday off. The jurors will remain at their motel.
March 30, 1965: The Youngstown Automobile Club has arranged to be able to issue license plates in red and white and with YU initials for members of the staff and faculty at Youngstown University who asked for them.
The National Guard Bureau has published toughly worded new regulations that make it clear that any state that discriminates against Negroes in Guard membership will lose federal funding.
A boy playing with his dog is killed and three persons in a private plane are injured when the plane crashes into a house at Mentor. Killed was Bobby Bowman, 4.
March 30, 1955: Mayor Frank X. Kryzan warns the Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. that the city will exercise its forfeiture clause if Muny carries through on its intention to increase bus fares from 15 cents to 16 cents.
Youngstown City Council authorizes issuance of $1.5 million worth of capital improvement bonds for streets and bridges and $330,000 for park and playground improvements.
Sheriff Paul J. Langley raids a bookie joint on Route 224 east of Poland, confiscates gambling material and orders the joint closed. The operator appeared before Justice of the Peace William C. Parks, who fined him $50 and suspended $25 of that.
March 30, 1930: After reaching the finals in the state championship three years in a row, Sharon High School realizes a long cherished ambition, winning the Pennsylvania cage crown. Sharon beat the Lower Merion team, 18-14, in Philadelphia.
A pond at the Orrville Country Club is being dragged for the body of Melvin Horst, the four-year-old boy who disappeared Dec. 27, 1928, from his Orrville home.
Eleanor Winter, 14, of Akron wins the Ohio spelling bee on the word "parallel," which sounds easy, but is a tongue-twister when tried. Dr. J.J. Richeson, superintendent of Youngstown schools, moderated the bee before a crowd of 3,000 in Chardon.