YEARS AGO

Today is Sunday, Dec. 18, the 353rd day of 2016. There are 13 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1787: New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

1865: The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, is declared in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

1892: Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premieres in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1912: Fossil collector Charles Dawson reports to the Geological Society of London his discovery of early human remains at a gravel pit in Piltdown. (Forty years later, Piltdown Man was exposed as a hoax.)

1916: During World War I, the 10-month Battle of Verdun ends with French troops succeeding in repulsing a major German offensive.

1917: The 18th Amendment, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, is approved by the U.S. Congress and is sent to the states for ratification

1944: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the government’s wartime evacuation of people of Japanese descent while at the same time ruling that “concededly loyal” Americans of Japanese ancestry could not continue to be detained.

1956: Japan is admitted to the United Nations.

The panel game show “To Tell the Truth” debuts on CBS-TV.

1962: “Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” an animated musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens story, first airs on NBC-TV.

1966: The animated TV special “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” starring Boris Karloff as the narrator as well as the voice of the Grinch, first airs on CBS.

1972: The United States begins heavy bombing of North Vietnamese targets during the Vietnam War. (The bombardment ended 11 days later.)

1980: Former Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin dies at age 76.

1992: Kim Young-sam is elected South Korea’s first civilian president in three decades.

2006: Robert Gates is sworn in as defense secretary.

President George W. Bush signs legislation to let America share its nuclear know-how and fuel with India.

The NBA suspends seven players for their roles in a brawl between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks; each team is fined $500,000.

Animator Joe Barbera dies in Los Angeles at age 95.

2011: The last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops leave Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nine-year war.

2015: Congress ends a chaotic year on a surprising note of bipartisan unity and productivity as it overwhelmingly approves a massive 2016 tax and spending package and sent it to President Barack Obama, who promptly signs it.

United Nations Security Council members unanimously approve a resolution endorsing a peace process for Syria.

VINDICATOR FILES

1991: General Motors targets two plants for closing, one employing 3,200 at Moraine, Ohio, and one with 3,200 workers at Arlington, Texas.

Chemotherapy patients describe the stress of crossing picket lines at Southside Hospital to receive treatment that can’t be delayed. Some 1,200 employees of the Western Reserve Care System are on strike.

The 100-member Liberty Education Association says it will strike Liberty Local School District if there is no new teacher contract on Jan. 1.

1976: The original log house of Columbiana County pioneer Daniel McAlister is relocated to the grounds of St. Philip Neri Parish at Dungannon, and a Ohio Historical Marker has been installed designating it as the birthplace of Catholicism in Northern Ohio.

Atty. Stanley V. Wilder, 67, prominent Niles businessman and civic leader, dies of an apparent heart attack in Wheatland, Pa., while visiting his son.

1966: Dr. Albert Pugsley, president, reports that Youngstown University is providing financial aid totaling $771,460 to 1,712 students this academic year.

Mooney High School students win medals in individual events speech competition at Shaker Heights High School. Pat Walsh wins first place in original oration.

Haber Furniture has three-piece Simmons twin-size bed sets for $77, Roper gas ranges for $169 and La-Z-Boy recliners for $99.

1941: The federal government takes the first step in over-the-counter rationing aimed at conserving crude rubber by barring sales of automobile tires for non- essential use.

Youngstown and Mahoning County have an air raid warden for each of their 323 precincts. Plans are to use veterans of the World War who have experience under fire.