Today is Sunday, March 15, the 74th day of 2009. There are 291 days left in the year. On this date

March 15, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Today is Sunday, March 15, the 74th day of 2009. There are 291 days left in the year. On this date in 1919, members of the American Expeditionary Force from World War I convene in Paris for a three-day meeting to found the American Legion.

In 44 B.C., Roman dictator Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of nobles that includes Brutus and Cassius. In 1493, Christopher Columbus returns to Spain, concluding his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere. In 1767, the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, is born in Waxhaw, S.C. In 1820, Maine becomes the 23rd state. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson meets with reporters for what’s been described as the first presidential news conference. In 1944, during World War II, Allied bombers again raid German-held Monte Cassino. In 1956, the musical “My Fair Lady,” based on Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” opens on Broadway. In 1964, actress Elizabeth Taylor marries actor Richard Burton in Montreal; it is her fifth marriage, his second. In 1970, Expo ’70, promoting “Progress and Harmony for Mankind,” opens in Osaka, Japan. In 1975, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis dies near Paris at age 69.

March 15, 1984: Acting on a suit filed by The Vindicator and two television stations, the 7th District Court of Appeals rules that hearings regarding whether certain evidence should be suppressed should be open to the public and press. Lawyers for James Lee hall, 30, of Cleveland, charged in the murder of Douglas Skica of Boardman, sought to have a suppression hearing closed.

A Youngstown Police Department stakeout for motorists who drive overweight vehicles across city bridges catch two school bus drivers crossing the West Avenue Bridge.

A top-ranking GSA officials says that all that is needed to clear the way for construction of a $10 million federal courthouse in Youngstown is congressional approval.

March 15, 1969: Youngstown district steel operations will advance 2 points to around 78 percent as U.S. Steel Corp. is lighting its 13th open hearth at its Ohio Works.

Emergency first aid by a student nurse, Nina Petrillo, and a fire ambulance crew are credited with saving the life of George B. Klemm, who was severely cut when he was pushed through a glass door at the Gray Drug Store, 2640 Market St., while trying to break up a fight between two other boys.

Youngstown State University will be on the air with its own education stereo FM radio station by June, following approval by the Federal Communications Commission of a construction permit.

Youths using gasoline to clean engine parts in an Austintown home spark a fire that does $10,000 damage to the home of Mr. And Mrs. Charles Stanaitis, 4415 Warwick Ave. Two of the five youths working on the car suffered minor burns.

March 15, 1959: U.S. Rep. Michael J. Kirwan is nominated for one of the four Congressional Distinguished Service Awards sponsored by the American Political Science Association, which will be made for the first time in September.

Mahoning County Engineer Samuel Gould has a slight lead over Youngstown Mayor Frank X. Kryzan for the Democratic nomination in the first round of The Vindicator straw poll.

Lawrence DelBane, an Ursuline High School senior, wins the $300 Youngstown University science scholarship at the third annual Austintown Fitch Tri-County School Science Fair. The fair attracted 125 students form 21 school districts in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. DelBane, of Hubbard, built a wind tunnel.

March 15, 1934: Auto and steel industry leaders say the Wagner bill that would outlaw company unions and make permanent a labor board as a court of industrial labor disputes would constitute class warfare.

Carl Dennison is named temporary president of the Youngstown Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Junior Chamber, started several week ago, has 26 members.

Despite the issuance of $452,000 in scrip, Youngstown finished 1933 with a $418,898 overdraft in the general fund, says state examiner Walter C. Jones.

Youngstown teachers and other school employees are paid two weeks salary from a $100,000 advance collection of taxes. Employee pay is brought up to Feb. 2, leaving them with six weeks salary still owed.