February 28th

Today's Highlight in History:
On February 28th, 1854, some 50 slavery opponents met in Ripon, Wisconsin, to call for creation of a new political group, which became the Republican Party.

On this date:
In 1827, the first US railroad chartered to carry passengers and freight, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, was incorporated.

In 1844, a 12-inch gun aboard the USS "Princeton" exploded, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

In 1849, the ship "California" arrived at San Francisco, carrying the first of the gold-seekers.

In 1861, the Territory of Colorado was organized.

In 1940, the first televised college basketball games were broadcast, by New York City station W2XBS, as Pittsburgh defeated Fordham, 57-to-37, and New York University beat Georgetown, 50-to-27, at Madison Square Garden.

In 1974, the United States and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.

In 1975, more than 40 people were killed in London's Underground when a subway train smashed into the end of a tunnel.

In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm.

In 1993, a gun battle erupted at a compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants on the Branch Davidians; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

Ten years ago: The space shuttle "Atlantis" blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a secret mission to place a spy satellite in orbit.

Five years ago: US Marines swept ashore in Somalia to protect retreating UN peacekeepers. Denver International Airport opened after 16 months of delays and $3.2 billion in budget overruns.

One year ago: Guerrillas detonated two bombs beside a military convoy in southern Lebanon, killing a brigadier general and three other Israelis; Israel retaliated with air raids on suspected guerrilla hideouts.

"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers."

-- Voltaire, French author-philosopher (1694-1778).