Today is Friday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2009. There are 363 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Friday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2009. There are 363 days left in the year. On this date in 1959, the Soviet Union launches its space probe Luna 1, the first manmade object to fly past the moon, its apparent intended target.

In 1492, Muhammad XII, the sultan of Granada, the last Arab stronghold in Spain, surrenders to Spanish forces. In 1900, Secretary of State John Hay announces the “Open Door Policy” to facilitate trade with China. In 1929, the United States and Canada reach agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls. In 1935, Bruno Hauptmann goes on trial in Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann is found guilty, and executed.)

January 2, 1984: Thirty-four people died in accidents on Mahoning County highways during 1983, the same as in 1982. Eleven of the deaths were on Youngstown city roads.

Youngstown’s first baby of the new year is born in North Side Hospital to Belinda Williams and her husband, Melvin. There’s a light-hearted controversy over what the baby should be named; his father favors Melvin Jr. while Mrs. Williams prefers a Nigerian name, Akeeme, which means “strong man.”

January 2, 1969: Public schools in Youngstown open their doors for nearly 27,000 pupils for the first time since Nov. 27, but the flu bug keeps many teachers and pupils confined to their homes.

Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Buckeyes quiet their skeptics with a convincing 27-16 win in the Rose Bowl over the University of Southern California Trojans giving OSU the national championship.

January 2, 1959: Gov. C. William O’Neill recommends to Mahoning County Prosecuting Atty. Thomas A. Beil that he take the matter of Sheriff Paul J. Langley’s conduct in relation to Sandy Naples, convicted gambler, before a grand jury. Naples, who was serving a six month sentence on gambling charges, was caught Sept. 29 by a Vindicator reporter and photographer returning to jail on an early Monday morning.

A 400-pound safe containing several thousand dollars is stolen from Gray’s Drug Store at 2640 Market St.

January 2, 1934: Federal Deposit Insurance goes into effect, covering deposits of up to $2,500 in seven Mahoning County and eight Trumbull County banks.

Edward A. Bush, 65, of 234 W. Rayen Ave., a CWA workers, is killed when struck by a car while carrying a bucket of water on the Boardman-Canfield Road.