Today is Monday, Dec. 29, the 364th day of 2008. There are two days left in the year. On this date

Today is Monday, Dec. 29, the 364th day of 2008. There are two days left in the year. On this date in 1808, the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, is born in Raleigh, N.C.

In 1845, Texas is admitted as the 28th state. In 1851, the first American Young Men’s Christian Association is organized, in Boston. In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre takes place in South Dakota as an estimated 300 Sioux Indians are killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them. In 1940, during World War II, Germany drops incendiary bombs on London, setting off what came to be known as “The Second Great Fire of London.” In 1975, a bomb explodes in the main terminal of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 people.In 1978, during the Gator Bowl, Ohio State University coach Woody Hayes punches Clemson player Charlie Bauman, who’d intercepted an Ohio pass. (Hayes is fired by Ohio State the next day.)

December 29, 1983: Eight Mahoning Valley financial institutions agree to loan $5 million to Advanced Turbo Manufacturing Co., which would rebuild Convair airplanes at the empty Commuter Aircraft Corp. building in Vienna Township.

David Roderick, chairman of the U.S. Steel Corp. says his company will cut operations at 73 plants at a cost of more than 15,000 jobs.

December 29, 1968: Gale force winds batter the area, toppling the Uptown Cab Co.’s 100-foot radio tower in Youngstown, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the New Middletown Plaza and lifting the roof off a grocery store in Midland, Pa.

Kenneth, Richard and Ronald Burdman take an option to purchase the Wick Building, a 13-story landmark at W. Federal and North Phelps Street that was built in 1910. The purchase price is in excess of $300,000.

An artist’s rendering of Youngstown’s proposed new Central Square is unveiled showing Wick Avenue/Market Street traveling beneath Federal Street at the square. The Man on the Monument would be relocated to in front of the new downtown Post Office.

December 29, 1958: Appellate Judge Lynn B. Griffith of Warren administers the oath of office to Mahoning County’s new common pleas court judge, Frank J. Battisti.

Youngstown’s automobile insurance rates, second in the state only to those in Akron, will increase by 20 percent for liability coverage and 10 percent for comprehensive and collision protection.

World population is estimated to be at 2.8 billion at the end of 1958, an increase of 47 million in a year. At the present rate, the world’s population is expected to double by 2000.

December 29, 1933: For the first time in history, all of the available space in Youngstown City Hall is being used, even the fifth floor that was notoriously under utilized. The addition of about 50 CWA workers have filled the space.

Youngstown area druggists are warned to watch their step in selling liquor or they could have their licenses revoked. Only liquors that are aged in wood, are four years old and are of a specific alcoholic content can be labeled and sold as “whisky” or “brandy.”