YEARS AGO

Today is Friday, Jan. 13, the 13th day of 2017. There are 352 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1794: President George Washington approves adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, after the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to the original 13.)

1898: Emile Zola’s famous defense of Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, “J’accuse,” (“I accuse”) is published in Paris.

1967: The Rolling Stones’ double-A sided single “Let’s Spend the Night Together” and “Ruby Tuesday” is released in the United Kingdom by Decca Records.

1982: An Air Florida 737 crashes into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and falls into the Potomac River while trying to take off during a snowstorm, killing 78 people.

1990: L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia becomes the nation’s first elected black governor as he takes the oath of office in Richmond.

2007: Nine people are killed in an apartment building fire in Huntington, W. Va.

2012: The Italian luxury liner Costa Concordia runs aground off the Tuscan island of Giglio and flips onto its side; 32 people are killed.

2016: Three winning tickets split a world-record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot.

VINDICATOR FILES

1992: Willie J. “Flip” Williams and two accomplices trick their way into the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center in an apparent attempt to spring three juveniles charged who were set to testify against Williams in a quadruple murder. Deputy Mark Tomaino calls in reinforcements who surround the center, leading to Williams’ surrender after a two-hour standoff.

Trumbull County Commissioner Anthony A. Latell Jr. recommends a property tax be placed on the May primary to generate $2 million a year for operation of the county jail and sheriff’s department.

Robert Stempel, chairman of General Motors Corp., tells the Automotive News World Congress that the quality of U.S.-made cars is equal to or surpasses that of Japanese imports.

1977: Youngstown City Council passes a $26.9 million operating budget, which will require the layoff of 100 employees.

Clarence Barnes, executive director of the Youngstown Area Urban League, testifies during the segregation trial in U.S. District Court that he observed distinct variances between the educational programs in white schools and predominantly black schools.

Ralph W. Clarke is elected president of the Youngstown Board of Education, and Jennie Dalessandro is elected vice president. The vote was 5-1 on each, with Joseph Rafidi, who announced that he was a candidate for president but did not receive a second, casting the dissenting voters.

1967: Ohio Bell Telephone Co. will spend a record $6.1 million in 1967 for improvements in the Youngstown exchanges.

The four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hartman of Poland – Edward, 9; Ronald, 7; Steven, 6; and Raymond, 3, have their tonsils removed on the same day at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Mahoning County Board of Education votes unanimously to establish a 13-district joint vocational school in the county.

1942: Assembly of new 1,100-ton blast furnaces at Republic Steel Corp.’s plant will begin within six weeks.

Judy Morgan, 3, is severely burned when the flame from a water heater catches her dress on fire while she was playing in the basement of the family’s Garfield Avenue home.

Fifty-six of 92 motorists stopped by Youngs-town police over three nights were violating minor traffic regulations.

Mrs. John Cashon, the former Phyllis Grindle, and Gladys Calvin are awarded medals for outstanding service in the Junior American Legion Band, Canfield Post 177.