Today is Monday, Nov. 24, the 329th day of 2008. There are 37 days left in the year. On this date in

November 24, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Today is Monday, Nov. 24, the 329th day of 2008. There are 37 days left in the year. On this date in 1963, Jack Ruby shoots and mortally wounds Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President Kennedy, in a scene captured on live television.

In 1859, British naturalist Charles Darwin publishes “On the Origin of Species,” which explains his theory of evolution. In 1863, the Civil War battle for Lookout Mountain begins in Tennessee; Union forces succeed in taking the mountain from the Confederates. In 1944, during World War II, U.S. bombers based on Saipan attack Tokyo in the first raid against the Japanese capital by land-based planes. In 1947, a group of writers, producers and directors that becomes known as the “Hollywood Ten” is cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist influence in the movie industry. In 1947, John Steinbeck’s novel “The Pearl” is first published. In 1950, the musical “Guys and Dolls,” based on the writings of Damon Runyon and featuring songs by Frank Loesser, opens on Broadway. In 1971, hijacker “D.B. Cooper” parachutes from a Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000 in ransom. His fate remains unknown. In 1987, the United States and the Soviet Union agree on terms to scrap shorter- and medium-range missiles.

November 24, 1983: A late first-round pick in the NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Dan Marino of the University of Pittsburgh, is emerging as a favorite for NFL Rookie of the Year.

Bishop James Malone of the Youngstown Diocese offers the blessing at a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and all the trimmings served for the poor by the St. Vincent dePaul Society at St. Columba Cathedral.

Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church is filled for an ecumenical Thanksgiving service sponsored by the church and local Kiwanis clubs.

November 24, 1968: More than 1,100 East Liverpool High School students get an unexpected day of vacation after 31 of 65 teachers fail to report to work after taking sides in a dispute between football coach Bob McNea and basketball coach Clinton McConnell. The dispute was over a basketball player being allowed to use a whirlpool bath in the football training facility.

Youngstown public school officials are scrambling to find money to provide required busing services for 2,500 parochial school students during the month of December, when public schools will be closed for lack of money.

Ohio State and Michigan are in a dogfight for three quarters, with the Buckeyes holding a 21-14 lead going into the final period. OSU explodes in the last quarter and its 50-14 win will send the Scarlet and Gray to the Rose Bowl.

November 24, 1958: The stock market takes its worst fall in a year as traders react to a trend of high prices. The Dow Jones industrials are off 9.48 to 550.09.

Quick action by the pastor, Msgr. Alfred J. Heinrich, and two assistant priests at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., when an alarm sounds results in the arrest of a 27-year-old Bettman Ave. man looting the church poor box.

Damage is estimated at nearly $20,000 when a blaze levels a barn on the John L. Brasowick farm near Cortland. Brasowick also lost $4,.000 in cash he had hidden in a jug in the barn. On the bright side, he managed to lead his livestock to safety and he saved two jugs containing $7,000.

November 24, 1933: E.L. Morgan, who has been advocating for a canal linking Youngstown to the Ohio River for 30 years is busy in the latest canal effort, a drive to collect signatures on a petition that will be presented to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Mayor Mark Moore accuses the Youngstown Telegram of trying to destroy the civilian works project in the city by making irresponsible charges that there is politics involved in hiring men off the relief roles for $15 per week laborer’s jobs.