Today is Tuesday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2005. There are 242 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Tuesday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2005. There are 242 days left in the year. On this date in 1945, during World War II, Japanese forces on Okinawa launch their only major counter-offensive, but fail to break the American lines.
In 1802, Washington, D.C., is incorporated as a city. In 1916, Irish nationalist Padraic Pearse and two others are executed by the British for their roles in the Easter Rising. In 1921, West Virginia imposes the first state sales tax. In 1933, Nellie T. Ross becomes the first female director of the U.S. Mint. In 1944, U.S. wartime rationing of most grades of meats ends. In 1945, Indian forces capture Rangoon, Burma, from the Japanese. In 1948, the Supreme Court rules that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks or members of other racial groups are legally unenforceable. In 1971, anti-war protesters begin four days of demonstrations in Washington, D.C., aimed at shutting down the nation's capital. In 1979, Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher is chosen to become Britain's first female prime minister as the Tories oust the incumbent Labor government in parliamentary elections. In 1986, in NASA's first post-Challenger launch, an unmanned Delta rocket loses power in its main engine shortly after liftoff, forcing safety officers to destroy it by remote control.
May 3, 1980: The Ohio Department of Health grants St. Joseph Hospital permission to proceed with a $13.4 million construction and renovation project designed to keep the hospital competitive.
Judge Charles J. Bannon continues a hearing on the city's request for a temporary restraining order against striking city workers based on a commitment that negotiations will begin immediately. First due at the bargaining table are police.
An informal poll of people on Federal Plaza finds them about evenly divided on the issue of a strike by 1,000 city employees that has left Youngstown with little police and fire protection.
Sue Jung, a 14-year-old eighth grader from St. Edward School, defeats 153 other young competitors to win the 47th annual Vindicator Spelling Bee.
May 3, 1965: Mahoning County is expected to substitute a food stamp program in place of direct distribution of surplus commodities, says County Commissioner John Palermo.
Youngstown area residents enjoy a record high temperature of 84 degrees, but cooler weather is on its way.
Pope Paul VI speaks to the American people live from Rome, using the Early Bird communications satellite. The broadcast he says on the NBC-TV "Today" show, is a testament to "the tremendous power of man's intellect" and he expresses the hope that technology will be used in the cause of peace.
A photo of Charles M. Beeghly, chairman of Jones & amp; Laughlin Steel Corp., standing in front of a Pittsburgh steel plant, forms the cover page of Business Week magazine. The story chronicles J & amp;L's swift rise, based on spending $700 million on expansion over a period of 10 years.
May 3, 1955: Charles Nichols, president of the G.M. McKelvey Co. in Youngstown, tells a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Washington that central business districts are not dying and will grow with the support of community organizations.
A Republican state senator responds to a proposal by the CIO that state unemployment payments be increased to $50 a week with a proposal to increase the present $30 per week maximum to $33 and the $2.50 per week for each of two dependent children to $3.
K. Calvin Sommer, assistant treasurer and credit manager of Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Co., will direct the Community Chest in Youngstown.
Bids for building a huge new parking garage on W. Boardman Street are being received by the Union National Bank as a trustee for the L.A. Beeghly Foundation. The garage will b built between Boardman, Phelps, Front and Hazel streets.
May 3, 1930: Charity cases at the Youngstown and St. Elizabeth hospitals will cost the city $5.62 a day instead of $4, which will amount to an additional annual cost of $15,000 to Youngstown.
A midnight show at the Keith Palace Theater in Youngstown raises money for the NVA fund, which helps indigent theater people and maintains a sanitarium at Saranac Lake.
Miss Mary Louise Boynton of Rayen School's faculty is named president of College Club at a meeting in the YWCA.
Youngstown building inspector Phillip Kreuzwieser notifies C.B. Cushwa and E.A. Phelan, owners of three one-story buildings on S. Champion Street that the buildings are unsafe and must be vacated following a partial cave-in under one of the buildings. The structures are adjacent to the excavation for a new Penn-Ohio Power & amp; Light building.
School teachers are the driest and lawyers the wettest among the professions in the poll of Prohibition conducted by the Literary Digest.