Today is Wednesday, Jan. 25, the 25th day of 2006. There are 340 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 25, the 25th day of 2006. There are 340 days left in the year. On this date in 1981, the 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days arrive in the United States.
In 1787, Shays's Rebellion suffers a setback when debt-ridden farmers led by Capt. Daniel Shays fails to capture an arsenal at Springfield, Mass. In 1890, reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) of the New York World completes a round-the-world journey in 72 days, six hours and 11 minutes. In 1890, the United Mine Workers of America is founded. In 1915, the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurates U.S. transcontinental telephone service. In 1946, the United Mine Workers rejoins the American Federation of Labor. In 1947, American gangster Al Capone dies in Miami Beach, Fla., at age 48. In 1959, American Airlines opens the jet age in the United States with the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707. In 1961, President Kennedy holds the first presidential news conference carried live on radio and television. In 1971, Charles Manson and three women followers are convicted in Los Angeles of murder and conspiracy in the 1969 slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. In 1990, actress Ava Gardner dies in London at age 67.
January 25, 1981: Many property owners in Mahoning County subdivisions will get a lower tax bill at the expense of human services as a result of the voters' defeat in November of the county's 1-mill levy.
In Youngstown, 1980 goes down as the year that the steel industry left town, ending a century-old tradition. After U.S. Steel shut down its Ohio Works in April, not a single pound of steel was melted within the city limits.
Russell Scoville II, a self-employed financial advisor who spearheaded the effort to bring a $55 million British airship manufacturing plant to Youngstown, says he is being pushed aside by economic development officials.
January 25, 1966: Youngstown University will erect a classroom and small observatory on the old Trumbull County Arboretum on 118 acres off Warner Road in Hartford Township.
Winter's first heavy snowfall catches Austintown Township with its plow down. A new truck to be used by road crews was delivered, but it takes several days to install a bed and plow. The old truck had been traded-in. One of two remaining plows broke down.
The federal government drops its case against Mario Guerrieri, Peter Manos of Youngstown and two Cleveland men who had been accused of impersonating FBI agents.
January 25, 1956: Youngstown detective Peter Polando is trapped for an hour in the self-operating elevator at police headquarters until repairman Ray Steadman Jr. climbs into the elevator shaft and helps Polando through the escape hatch. Polando says he'll take the stairs from now.
A Youngstown housewife tells The Vindicator's Charles McCarry her husband has squandered $3,460 on the bug in 15 years and won only once, in 1950, when his 25 cent bet on 333 paid $40.
The Ohio Supreme Court upholds the authority of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District to levy assessments for the Meander-Berlin pipeline, rejecting a challenge by Atty. William B. Spagnola.
January 25, 1931: About 800 new members, one third of the 2,500 goal, are reported at the YMCA's membership campaign.
A premature spring comes to Youngstown as the mercury climbs to 50 degrees. On the same date a year earlier, the mercury was at 5.
John Sullivan, 46, is severely burned after falling asleep while smoking a cigar in a rocking chair in the basement of his home at 29 E. Wayne Ave.
U.S. Rep. John Cooper says there is little hope for securing a revision of plans to remodel Youngstown's post office building. Local civic leaders say the plan does not meet the expectations of Youngstown residents and is not in keeping with the city's size and importance.