Today in history

Today is Sunday, May 17, the 137th day of 2009. There are 228 days left in the year. On this date in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously strikes down racially segregated public schools in its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.

In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange has its origins as a group of brokers meets under a tree on Wall Street. In 1849, fire erupts in St. Louis, resulting in the loss of three lives, more than 400 buildings and some two dozen steamships. In 1875, the first Kentucky Derby is run; the winner is Aristides. In 1938, the radio quiz show “Information, Please!” makes its debut on the NBC Blue Network. In 1939, Britain’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrive in Quebec on the first visit to Canada by reigning British sovereigns. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman seizes control of the nation’s railroads, delaying — but not preventing — a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen. In 1973, the Senate begins its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal. In 1980, rioting that claims 18 lives erupts in Miami’s Liberty City after an all-white jury in Tampa acquits four former Miami police officers of fatally beating black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie. In 1987, 37 American sailors are killed when an Iraqi warplane attacks the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq and the U.S. call the attack a mistake.)

May 17, 1984: Harry Meshel, president of the Ohio Senate, pushed to get $100,000 in the state budget for a feasibility study on building a state office tower in Youngstown, but Meshel, a Youngstown Democrat, has his doubts about the project .

Trumbull County commissioners Arthur Magee and Margaret Dennison vote to fire Richard Marino as a county maintenance employee who defied warnings from county officials that his status as a Niles 1st Ward councilman violates civil service law. Commissioner Anthony Latell was absent from the meeting.

The Youngstown Planning Commission is recommending that the federal government build its proposed courthouse and office building atop the municipal parking garage.

May 17, 1969: Nineteen people are found guilty of trespassing after they participated in a welfare-rights sleep-in at the Mahoning County commissioners office.

Sharon teachers return to their classrooms ending a four-day strike in a quest of higher pay.

The Youngstown Park and Recreation Commission votes to employ 279 part-time workers, mainly college and high school students, for the city’s summer programs.

Gov. James A. Rhodes breaks ground for a $2.8 million Trumbull Branch of Kent State University on a 140-acre site in Champion Township.

May 17, 1959: Responding to strong objections from Ursuline High School and Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Ohio Department of Liquor Control rejects an application for beer and wine permits by the Wick Drive-In Hotel.

The Ohio State Patrol says simple driver error in ignoring a stop sign caused a traffic accident at Starr’s corners that killed two adults and two children, not the nature of the intersection itself.

Sebring welcomes its newest industry, Pressweld, with a parade featuring the company’s product. “Little Rabbit” racing cars. About 135 of the midget racers, powered by lawn mower engines, participate. The cars sell for $189.

May 17, 1934: With reductions being made in the Public Works Administration budget, the proposed Beaver-Mahoning waterway project is in doubt.

During an address at East High School, Mayor Mark E. Moore urges students to take an interest in politics and to investigate matters for themselves. He reminds them that “Galileo was tortured and Columbus was laughed to scorn.”

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, chief of staff of the army, files a $1.7 million libel suit against Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen, authors of the syndicated column, “The Daily Washington Merry-Go-Round.”