On this day in 2001, Oklahoma City bomber Tim McVeigh was executed

Today, in 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win the Triple Crown when he won the Belmont Stakes in New York.

Today, in 1955, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, over 80 people were killed and almost 200 injured when two cars collided and hit the spectators. It was the worst disaster in motor racing.

Today, in 1962, three prisoners from Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay staged an escape, leaving the island on a makeshift raft; they were never found or heard from again.

Today, in 1981, the first major league baseball strike in history began and resulted in the cancellation of regular season games. The strike ended on July 31 of that year, but not before 713 games were canceled and $146 million was lost in player salaries, ticket sales, broadcast revenues and concessions. Between players and owners, players lost $4 million a week in salary, while owners suffered a total loss of $72 million.

Today, in 1986, a divided Supreme Court struck down Pennsylvania’s abortion law while affirming its 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion.

Today, in 1993, the Supreme Court ruled that people committing “hate crimes” could be sentenced to additional punishment. The Court also ruled in favor of religious groups, finding that they indeed had a constitutional right to sacrifice animals during religious services.

Today, in 2001, the United States federal government executed Timothy McVeigh for his role in the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. 168 people were killed and over 680 were injured in the attack.

Today in 2002, the television series “American Idol” debuted on FOX-TV. The show featured judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Today, in 2009, the World Health Organization declared H1N1 swine flu a global pandemic, marking the first time in over forty years.

Today in 2017, LGBT rights advocates marched and rallied in the nation’s capital and dozens of other U.S. cities, celebrating the achievements but angry about the threats posed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Today in 2018, the Federal Communications Commission in the US officially repealed net neutrality.