Today is Monday, Jan. 19, the 19th day of 2009. There are 346 days left in the year. This is Martin

Today is Monday, Jan. 19, the 19th day of 2009. There are 346 days left in the year. This is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On this date in 1809, author, poet and critic Edgar Allan Poe is born in Boston.

In 1736, James Watt, inventor of the steam engine, is born in Scotland. In 1807, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee is born in Westmoreland County, Va. In 1937, millionaire Howard Hughes sets a transcontinental air record by flying his monoplane from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds. In 1944, the federal government relinquishes control of the nation’s railroads following settlement of a wage dispute. In 1955, a presidential news conference is filmed for television for the first time, with the permission of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1966, Indira Gandhi is elected prime minister of India. In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon nominates G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court; however, the nomination is defeated because of controversy over Carswell’s past racial views.

January 19, 1984: Youngstown City Council unanimously approves the Community Development Agency applying for a $2.2 million Urban Development Action Grant for the construction of the Ronneburg Brewery-Youngstown.

Heinz Prechter, president of ASC Inc., drives the first converted Chevrolet Cavalier convertible off the line at Automobile Specialty Corp.’s North Jackson plant.

By a vote of 5-2, Youngstown City Council rejects Mayor Patrick J. Ungaro’s appointment of Gary T. Kubic as city finance director.

January 19, 1969: The Dollar Savings & Trust Co. chalks up 1968 as another good year, with gains in operating earnings, in total resources and deposits. Net operating earnings were $1.7 million or $3.57 per share.

Austintown Fitch High School chalks up a 7-1 record to win the debate tournament sponsored by the Department of Speech and Drama of Youngstown State University.

Advance tickets are on sale for “Oliver,” which will open exclusively at the Wedgewood Cinema, and for “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand, which will open at the State Theater.

The Rev. Yanko Rajich, a native of Yugoslavia, assumes the pastorate of Holy Trinity Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church on Laird Avenue.

January 19, 1959: Lowellville Police Chief Thomas Augustine resigns as marshal and chief and apologizes to Mayor Alfred Melilo for slugging him with his pistol during an argument over holding special classes for village patrolmen.

President Eisenhower’s $77 billion budget is presented to Congress and does not include funds for the West Branch and Shenango dams, two flood control projects vital to interests to the Youngstown area.

Gov. Michael V. DiSalle expresses opposition to any increase in federal gasoline taxes, saying the gasoline tax should be should be left to the states as a possible source of highway funds.

January 19, 1934: As the federal government runs out of money for CWA projects, more than 46,000 CWA jobs are ordered cut in Ohio, including 1,313 in Mahoning County.

The site for construction of a stone fire department training tower has been changed from city property near the Falls Avenue entrance of Mill Creek Park to a city plot on Amanda Avenue, near Rush Boulevard, because of protests by park commissioners.

Hard liquor, gin and wines are being sold by the glass in three Youngstown hotels and one restaurant for the first time since 1919 in Ohio, the home of the Anti-Saloon League.