Tour The Star-Ledger newspaper printing facility

New Jersey’s largest newspaper press will run for the last time on Feb. 1, 2025. After the Montville, N.J. plant shuts down, The Star-Ledger will continue publishing online only. You can read the online newspaper or sign up for a subscription at reader.sl.nj.com

Monday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Working hard producing tomorrow's newspaper

New recycling rules come into place for businesses - Print Week

Estates Gazette magazine saved by Mark Allen Group bid - Press Gazette

News apps above average in leaking user data, report finds - Journalism UK

Newspapers, stations turning to ‘citizen journalists’ to help fill reporting void - NE

What rights do green card and visa holders have? How can they be deported? - Poynter

Important Events From This day in History March 31st

 

1951 U.S.A. UNIVAC

1951 : The first commercially built U.S. computer The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) is sold to the United States Census Bureau costing about US$159,000. This computer was built by Remington Rand and had been designed principally by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, the inventors of the ENIAC (1947 - the first general-purpose electronic computer) known as the "Giant Brain." These computers did not use transistors or micro chips but vacuum tubes (similar to what you find in old TV's from the fifties) and were the size of a small house (680 sq ft.)

1959 India Dalai Lama

1959 : The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has crossed the border into India after a 15 day journey on foot from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, over the Himalayan mountains seeking asylum. This follows the Chinese repression of the rebellion by Tibetans in Lhasa. The Dalai Lama, is granted political asylum in India.

1990 England Poll Tax Demonstrations

1990 : The worst violence seen so far in the series of Anti Poll Tax demonstrations erupted in London during the largest rally when nearly 100,000 people take to the streets in protest at the new government levy. More than 400 were arrested and property was damaged with repairs estimated at £400,000 after the demonstration.

The Poll Tax (Community Charge) was introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales) and was a single flat rate per person tax on every working adult, at a rate set by the local authority. It was designed to replace the rating system of taxes, which was based on valuation and rent value, to fund local government. The tax was believed by many to move the tax burden from the rich to the poor, under earlier local taxes (Rateable Value "Rates") those who owned the largest and most expensive property paid the most but under "Poll Tax" the tax was moved to the number of people living in the house.

The Poll Tax was formally abolished in 1993 /1994 with the new The Council Tax which resembled the old rating system that the Poll Tax had replaced.

1889 France The Eiffel Tower

1889 : The Eiffel Tower, or the Tour Eiffel, was opened on March 31st, 1889, and was the work of a Gustave Eiffel, who was a bridge engineer. It was made for the centenary of the French Revolution and was chosen instead of over one hundred other plans that were given.

1940 Winston Churchill Warns Against German Invasion

1940 : The first sea lord of the admiralty Winston Churchill has warned that a million German troops are massed on the borders of Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland ready to strike and that England and it's allies must be prepared to protect other countries in the forthcoming conflict.

1943 U.S.A. Oklahoma!

1943 : The musical "Oklahoma!" debuts on Broadway. This play, written by the famed duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, was originally titled "Away We Go" and continues to be produced by theaters across the country.

1964 Brazilian coup d'état

1964 : A military coup d'état in Brazil led by Gen. Humberto Castello Branco ousted Pres. Joao Goulart.

1966 England Harold Wilson

1966 : Harold Wilson wins sweeping victory as the Labour party wins the general election with a majority of about 100 seats in the House of Commons.

1968 US Johnson Announces He Will Not Run

1968 : President Johnson announces on nationwide television he would not run for another term of office saying "I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party as your President."

1972 England CND March

1972 : The CND ( Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament ) organizes a four day demonstration against nuclear arms including a march to Aldermaston.

1973 U.S.A. Mississippi Floods

1973 : The Mississippi River reaches its peak level in St. Louis during a record 77-day flood. During the flooding 33 died and and millions of acres of farm land were unusable for a full year following the flood, also because the area's affected were in a known flood plain many residents had no insurance and lost everything they had worked for, this is also why the 33 died as they refused to evacuate the area.

1995 U.S.A. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

1995 : Grammy award winning Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was shot and murdered in a motel room by the woman who was the president of her fan club.

1995 Major League Baseball Strike

1995 : Baseball players agreed to end a 232-day strike which had begun on August 12, 1994, after a judge granted a preliminary injunction against club owners. The strike led to the cancellation of 938 games overall, including the entire 1994 postseason and 1994 World Series. Like nearly all strikes the Baseball player strike revolved around money with club owners demanding a salary cap in response to the worsening financial situation in baseball. Find Out More on our History of Baseball Page

2004 Iraq Four US Contractors Ambushed and Murdered

2004 : Four Blackwater Security Consulting (BSC) employees are ambushed and murdered in Fallujah, Iraq. The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Photos of the horrendous crimes were released to news agencies worldwide, causing indignation and outrage in the United States and other countries.

2005 U.S.A. Terri Schiavo

2005 : Terri Schiavo, the center of the most heavily litigated right-to-die dispute in U.S. history, died today, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed.

2005 UK Children Conceived Using Donor Eggs or Sperm Can Trace Parents

2005 : New laws in the UK now give the right to those born using donor eggs or sperm will have the option to ask for the identity of their donor will be when they turn 18. The new law is not retrospective, so people who have already donated will not be affected, but those donating from now and the children born through those donations will have the right to trace their biological parent in through the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority the same way as children who are adopted can ask adoption agencies. The new laws are causing some concern by infertility clinics about the future because the number of donors is expected to drop significantly.

Today in Labor History March 31, 2025

 

Cesar Chavez

U.S. President Martin Van Buren issued an Executive Order, “finding that different rules prevail at different places as well in respect to the hours of labor by persons employed on the public works under the immediate authority of himself and the Departments as also in relation to the different classes of workmen…hereby directs that all such persons, whether laborers or mechanics, be required to work only the number of hours prescribed by the ten-hour system.” – 1840

The new closed-range cattle ranching industry that became dominant after the Civil War denied cowboys the right to be paid in cattle, start their own herds, or have access to open land.  Ranchers insisted that cowboys work exclusively for wages (which averaged only $40/month), and the cowboys responded by going on strike. – 1883

Cesar Chavez was born on this day in Yuma, Arizona.- 1927

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps to help alleviate suffering during the Depression. By the time the program ended after the start of World War II, it had provided jobs for more than six million men and boys. The average enrollee gained 11 pounds in his first three months. – 1933

Wisconsin state troopers failed to get scabs across the picket line to break a 76-day Allis-Chalmers strike in Milwaukee led by UAW Local 248. The plant remained closed until the government negotiated a compromise. – 1941

Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, later to become a Supreme Court justice, issued an injunction against baseball team owners to end a 232-day work stoppage. – 1995

Today Cesar Chavez Day was celebrated as an official state holiday in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas and unofficially throughout the United States. The day honors the life and work of farmworkers’ advocate, union activist, and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. – 2013

Saturday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

Bridging the AI trust gap in news media - America's Newspapers

2025 journalism job cuts tracked: Los Angeles Times cuts continue - Press Gazette

Prof. Jeff Jarvis grades the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg on SignalGate - E&P Reports

Bill to improve on-time news deliveries in rural America - Ripon Advance News Service

Understanding and serving the neurodiverse community, with Nick Ransom - Journalism UK

Important Events From This day in History March 29

 

1967 England Torrey Canyon

1967 : The British Royal Navy continues it's attempt to sink the remains of the supertanker Torrey Canyon just off the coast of Lands End, hoping to ignite a fire and burn off the massive oil slick near the ship containing tens of thousands of tons of oil. This is now the second day the navy has tried and has so far dropped 62,000 lbs of bombs, 5,200 gallons of petrol, 11 rockets and large quantities of napalm onto the ship. The ship was eventually sunk the next day.

2006 Palestine Hamas

2006 : Hamas ( Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya ) the Palestinian Islamist militant organization and political party which is listed as a terrorist organization by Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, and the United States, wins the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber,and formally took over the Palestinian government, with Ismail Haniyeh sworn in as the new prime minister.

1857 The Indian Mutiny

1857 : The Indian Mutiny against British rule in India had been begun by Indian troops (sepoys) that were in the service of the British East India Company. On March 29th, 1857 the sepoy Mangal Pandy of the 34th Native Infantry refused orders on the parade ground at Barrackpore, and he was hanged leading to increased violence and Mutiny against British Rule.

1936 Germany Re-Occupies Rhineland

1936 : The German people voted overwhelmingly in favor of reoccupying the demilitarized Rhineland zone and abandon the clauses of the Versailles treaty restricting the military, with 99% of the votes supporting Hitler.

1943 U.S.A. War Rationing

1943 : The rationing of meat, cheese, butter and cooking oils goes into effect when Americans are given ration books allowing the purchase of a certain amount of meat, cheese, butter and cooking oils each month. This followed earlier rationing of Gasoline.

1950 The Mad Bomber New York

1950 : A note is sent to police in New York warning of a bomb planted at Grand Central Station in New York City, the bomb squad do mange to diffuse the bomb. The Mad Bomber had been targeting New York since 1940 taking a break during World War II and left a total of at least 33 bombs, of which 22 exploded until he was caught. When the Mad Bomber ( George Peter Metesky ) a disgruntled ex-employee of Con Edison, New York's electric utility company, was caught in 1957 he was sent to a mental institution where he stayed until his release in 1973.

1951 U.S.A. Rosenbergs

1951 : Rosenbergs found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage for their role in providing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union.

1951 U.S.A. 23rd Amendment

1951 : The 23rd Amendment to the Constitution is ratified Available as a downloadable image on our Public Domain Images Page.

1971 U.S.A. Charles Manson

1971 : Charles Manson and three of his followers receive the death penalty for the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others. The California Supreme Court abolished the death penalty before they could be executed in 1972 and the four were given life sentences. They are still incarcerated despite numerous applications for parole.

1971 My Lai, Vietnam

1971 : Following the massacre of 500 South Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai, Vietnam in 1968 when Lieutenant Calley was in charge of Charlie Company, a unit of the American Division's 11th Infantry Brigade, the unit committed crimes which included murder, rape, sodomy, maiming and assault of civilians. Lieutenant William Calley has been found guilty of murder at a court martial for his part in the My Lai massacre. He was the only officer ever convicted for the massacre and was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor but was released within three days , pending appeal, on the personal instructions of President Richard Nixon, and spent the next three years under house arrest at Fort Benning in Georgia. He was freed on bail in 1974 his sentence was then cut to 10 years but he was paroled later that year after completing one third of his sentence.

1973 US Troops Leave Vietnam

1973 : The last United States troops left South Vietnam, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War. The US had originally become involved by supplying 50 military advisers in 1960 /1961 and over the coming years escalated first the number of advisers and then direct military involvement. The Vietnam war had started in 1959 and finally ended in 1975, and was fought between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) supported by communist allies and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) supported by the US and other western Allies. The war resulted in a North Vietnamese victory in 1975 when the North Vietnamese took over the capital Saigon.

1981 England London Marathon

1981 : The first London Marathon organised by Chris Brasher is run with 7,590 taking part including a number of celebrities including Jimmy Saville raising money for charity. The London Marathon is now a yearly event attracting 30,000 runners from around the world, including some of the world's greatest athletes and tens of thousands of others who complete the marathon raising many millions for charities along the way and many wearing fancy dress costumes.

1982 Mexico Earthquake

1982 : An earthquake and a volcanic eruption at El Chichon in southern Mexico, kills many thousands. The eruptions, which continued for over a week, caught many local people unaware and unprepared as the last time the Volcano had erupted was 130 years earlier.

1999 U.S.A. Dow Jones

1999 : The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 10,000 for the first time, at 10,006.78.

2002 Palestine Yasser Arafat

2002 : Israel sends tanks and armored personnel carriers to isolate Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat considered an enemy of Israel in his headquarters compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah. He is kept confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, and dies at the age of 75 in 2004.

Today in Labor History March 29

 

Ohio made it illegal for children under 18 and women to work more than 10 hours a day. – 1852

Sam Walton, founder of the huge and bitterly anti-union Wal-Mart empire, was born on this date in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He once said that his priority was to “Buy American”, but Wal-Mart is now the largest U.S. importer of foreign-made goods, often produced under sweatshop conditions. – 1918

The U.S. Supreme Court, in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, upheld the constitutionality of minimum wage legislation enacted by the State of Washington, overturning a decision in 1923 that held that federal minimum wage legislation for women was an unconstitutional infringement of liberty of contract. The case was brought by Elsie Parrish, a hotel housekeeper who lost her job and did not receive back wages in line with the state’s minimum wage for women law. – 1937

The “Battle of Wall Street” occurred as police charged strikers lying down in front of stock exchange doors. 43 were arrested. – 1948

The National Maritime Union of America merged with the National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association. – 1988

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

 This was a long time ago

Massachusetts mayor shut down newspaper over fake stories - AP

LA Times owner defends remaking paper to Tucker Carlson - Politico

The ACOS Alliance: Protecting a free and independent press - E&P Magazine

50 state broadcasters associations adopt resolutions supporting local radio - NAB

The challenges and opportunities AI poses to local broadcasting - National Association of Broadcasters

Important Events From This day in History March 28

 

1979 Three Mile Island Nuclear Radiation

1979 : Radiation is released at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station when a cooling plant malfunction releases radioactive steam and radiation near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, The authorities declare a general emergency but did not inform the public until five hours after the gas escaped.

A study in 2002 found that incidences of cancer in the area were not significantly higher than elsewhere.

This is still considered the worst nuclear incident in US history, but it should be remembered no deaths were attributed to the disaster.

1942 Malta George Cross Medal for Bravery

1942 : King George VI has awarded the people from the small Mediterranean island of Malta the George Cross Medal for Bravery saying "To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta, to bear witness to a heroism and a devotion that will long be famous in history." The Island had been under constant attack by Italian and German bombers and Messerschmitts machine guns since June 1940 because of it's strategic location for both the North Africa campaign and the European Campaign, Food supplies and health and hygiene became a serious problem as the ships that would normally supply the Island were sunk by the enemy before they bring in new supplies.

1964 Radio Caroline begins transmission of pop music

1964 : Radio Caroline was a pirate radio station based on a former Danish passenger ferry used to broadcast from international waters ( 1 of 2 ships converted to radio ships ) as a teen aged 14 I can remember it well and my transistor radio was nearly always tuned into Radio Caroline because the dj's were much more edgy than the other radio DJ's of the time ( I was lucky and lived on the south coast of the UK where the signal could be picked up ) . Irish musician manager and businessman Ronan O'Rahilly set up the station after he could not get any airplay on Radio Luxembourg for Georgie Fame's records because the station was committed to sponsored programmes promoting major record labels: EMI, Decca, Pye and Philips.

2006 France Contrat Première Embauche

2006 : More than 1 million mostly students take to the streets in France disrupting air, rail and bus travel in the largest nationwide protest over the "Contrat première embauche" (CPE - First Employment Contract or Beginning Workers Contract) which would make it much easier for workers under twenty-six years old to be fired. The main parts of the bill which caused protests included:

Allowed employers the opportunity to terminate employment of workers under twenty-six without any reason, with little or no notice, within their first two years of employment

Night lab our being permitted for youths as young as 15 years old

Suspension of family welfare in cases of students skipping school

Possibility of manual lab our apprenticeship for 14-year-olds

The bill was seen by many as a direct attack on younger workers but the government believed by easing these laws it would encourage companies to take on more younger employees. The new "Contrat première embauche" CPE was scrapped by Chirac on April 10 under the pressure of ongoing protest and blockade throughout France

2000 Zimbabwe White Farmer Shot And Killed

2000 : Problems with racial tension continue in the country of Zimbabwe as President Robert Mugabe pressed on with his plan to remove Zimbabwe's farms from white ownership, with the latest death when a white farmer in Zimbabwe is shot dead by squatters occupying his land.

1908 Canada Mining Accident

1908 : A record of a terrible mining accident that occurred a few days before this date was made public. Two well-known miners died while involved in drifting operations in the Spruce Creek Mine. While working, the mine had caved in, and these men were entrapped. A third person had escaped and sounded an alarm, hoping it would signal the other two men to evacuate in time. Unfortunately, it was too late.

1920 U.S.A. Tornadoes

1920 : Tornadoes swept through the mid-western and southern portions of the United States, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than a 1,000.

1921 US Advertising

1921 : A short, sweet description of the importance of advertising a business was presented in a local Oklahoma publication. This advice was depicted in the form of a short rhyming poem, to which the first line is as follows: “The city that gets the publicity gets the business.”

1930 Turkey City Name Changes

1930 : Two of Turkey's largest cities change their names ( Constantinople and Angora ).

The City of Constantinople is changed to Istanbul

The City of Angora is changed to Ankara

1933 U.S.A. Wet and Dry Rally

1933 : A wet and dry rally and parade took place. Both supporters of alcohol and supporters of dry laws attended this event, which occurred in Oklahoma. On the same day, further debate took place regarding the legalization of pari-mutuel horse-betting systems. No decision has yet been made regarding this issue, even though proposals towards legalizing this form of gambling were made two weeks beforehand.

1939 Spanish Civil War

1939 : Madrid, Spain is now in the hands of Nationalist General Francisco Franco and the Spanish civil war ends. The Spanish Civil War began in 1936 with Rebels attempting a coup d'état by parts of the army against the government. Like many modern conflicts other countries often become involved and take sides often supporting one side or the other with weapons and volunteers . The Spanish Civil War was no different with the Government in power getting the support of the Soviet Union and Mexico, and the rebels supported by Italy and Germany. The Spanish Civil War also bought out the worst in people with terrible atrocities committed on and by both sides during the war, with up to 100,000 people executed in the name of ???.

1940 Great Britain

1940 : France and Britain were beginning to think about expanding their support. They expected the alliance they create would be semi-permanent, providing strength for battle. For instance, World War II took place during this time, and France and Britain looked to other countries’ resources to draw upon.

1950 Yugoslavia Travel to US Eased

1950 : Yugoslavia and the United States made an effort to pave the way for restrictions of travel to Yugoslavia to be cleared. The issue of dual nationality was discussed as well.

1963 Russia Wedding During The Cold War

1963 : During one of the most crucial times in American and Russian history THE COLD WAR, an American woman wed a Russian man while studying in Moscow. This wedding was opposed by the Soviet government, the American woman’s mother, and the Red Communists Party. However, this did not stop the couple from saying “I Do.”

1964 U.S.A. The Beatles

1964 : The Beatles have 10 hits on Billboard's Hot 100 at the same time surpassing the previous best by Elvis Presley.

1969 U.S.A. Dwight D. Eisenhower

1969 : Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower died of heart failure aged 78 yrs.

1972 U.S.A. Farming Practices

1972 : A tiny bit of information regarding farming was printed. At this time in history, a typical U.S. farm produced enough food and fiber to supply the needs of up to 45 people (39 at home and six abroad). Ten years prior to this date, only about 24 people were supported by the yield of an average American farm. Current Figures - A Typical U.S. farm today supplies enough food and fiber to supply the needs of over 200 people

1990 Lithuania Drops Border Guards

1990 : Lithuania, formerly a part of the USSR, decided against earlier plans to implement a border guard. This was done in order to avoid conflict with Soviet Troops. Lithuania also ordered citizens to give up weapons at request of these Soviet military personnel.

1991 England Hillsborough Disaster

1991 : An inquest held over the deaths of 95 fans killed during during the Hillsborough disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's football stadium has returned a verdict of accidental death. The disaster happened during an FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool held at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15th 1989, and is blamed on too many Liverpool fans being allowed in to the back of an already full stand at the Leppings Lane end of the ground. As more and more fans were allowed in fans were being crushed to death by the sheer volume of additional fans being allowed in. In total 95 Liverpool fans died during the disaster.

Today in Labor History March 28, 2025

 

Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman was arrested for giving a lecture on contraceptives. Goldman believed that knowledge of and access to contraceptives was key to women’s ability to control their own bodies and thus their social and material well being. – 1915

Members of the Gas House Workers’ Union Local 18799 began what was to become a four-month recognition strike against the Laclede Gas Light Company in St. Louis. The union later said the strike was the first ever against a public utility in the U.S. – 1935

Martin Luther King led a march of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Police attacked the workers with mace and sticks. A 16-year old boy was shot and 280 workers were arrested. He was assassinated a few days later after speaking to the striking workers. The sanitation workers were mostly black. They worked for starvation wages under plantation like conditions, generally under racist white bosses. Workers could be fired for being one minute late or for talking back and they got no breaks. Organizing escalated in the early 1960s and reached its peak in February 1968, when two workers were crushed to death in the back of a garbage truck. – 1968

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Sometime in the 1970's

The Effects of Tariffs on the Printing Industry - Printing Impressions

Mastering editing: The key to stronger media writing - E&P Magazine

Tribune lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft to proceed - Chicago Tribune

A new newspaper blooms in La Conner, Washington - Seattle Times Free Press

What to Do About the Looming End of U.S. Public Broadcasting - Second Rough Draft

King pays tribute to UK local media at lavish Buckingham Palace reception - Press Gazette

Important Events From This day in History March 27

 

1964 U.S.A. Alaska Earthquake

1964 : A massive earthquake Named the “Good Friday Earthquake,” that measured 8.6 on the Richter scale struck Alaska , flattening buildings and triggering a massive tidal wave.

1952 U.S.A. "Singin' in the Rain"

1952 : The comedy musical starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds debuts at the movies.

1980 U.S.A. Mount St. Helens Erupts

1980 : After a week of small earthquakes below the area, an eruption of Mount St. Helens blasts a mushroom cloud over most of the state of Washington. Just 2 months later St. Helens catastrophically erupted on May 18, 1980 during which 57 people were killed or never found and huge tracts of forest and homes were destroyed.

1998 U.S.A. Viagra

1998 : The FDA approves the drug Viagra produced by Pfizer for use against impotence in men.

2001 California Electricity Price Increase 46%

2001 : California regulators approved electricity rate hikes of up to 46 percent following the partially deregulated California energy system.

1989 Soviet Union Parliamentary Elections

1989 : A high turnout of eighty Percent of Russian people vote in Soviet parliamentary elections with many non-communist members being elected. This is a continuing trend in the Soviet Union of openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions together with freedom of information "glasnost and perestroika."

An important point to note is the percentage of voters in the Soviet Union who used their right to vote compared with other countries in the same decade.

Soviet Union 80 - 85 % of those who had the right to vote did so

U.S.A. Presidential Elections 1988 Closer to 50 % of those who had the right to vote did so

United Kingdom General Elections 1987 Closer to 75% of those who had the right to vote did so

I think the important thing about the percentage of people who waste the vote they have is why. Is it because of apathy or because they feel disenfranchised by US politics

1908 Hong Kong Canada Immigrants

1908 : Hundreds of men in Hong Kong are waiting to come to Vancouver. These men were from Calcutta, India, and already had purchased transportation to Canada as a destination. However, they were held up. Canada was willing to let them in, but it was not so easy in other parts of the world, such as in Hong Kong.

1909 England First Fingerprint Evidence Used in Murder Case

1909 : For the first time fingerprint evidence is used to solve a murder case. The worlds first official Fingerprint Bureau was founded in Scotland Yard in 1901. It should also be noted that the World's first Fingerprint Bureau opened in Calcutta, India in 1897.

1920 Russia Famine

1920 : Famine was just starting in Russia due a food shortage. No wheat flour was available caused by disturbances in agriculture during the World War I and the Russian Revolution and civil war that followed.

1935 Germany Hitler Demands For Guns

1935 : Hitler demanded that Germany have equal military power with other European nations. He wanted this on a gun-for-gun basis. (However, it was also recorded that he wanted superiority over the Russian army.)

1940 Canada Liberal Party Win Elections

1940 : A summary of current Canadian election results was given. The Liberal Party of Canada won the majority of the votes, and Prime Minister MacKenzie King was put in office for another five-year term.

1945 U.S.A. Ella Fitzgerald

1945 : Jazz great Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys record the smash hit "It's Only a Paper Moon." Since then, it has become a popular standard for both jazz artists and pop music artists.

1955 U.S.A. Niagara Falls

1955 : A demolition crew using helicopters blasted ice in Niagara Falls. This was considered a fruitless attempt to break up the ice that has caused destruction along the shores of this body of the Niagara River.

1958 Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev

1958 : Nikita Khrushchev becomes the Premier of the Soviet Union today.

1962 U.S.A. Segregation

1962 : Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel of Louisiana, called for all Roman Catholic schools in the city of New Orleans to end their segregation policies.

1963 England 1st Beeching Report

1963 : The chairman of the British Transport Commission, Dr Richard Beeching, says nearly 1/4 of British Rail stations and track need to be closed to make the British Rail Network Viable, this equates to over 2,000 stations and 250 train services which could be withdrawn immediately on economic grounds. The outcome of his first report and a second report in 1965 led to the loss of 2,128 stations closed and many branch lines leading to the loss of 67,700 jobs.

1966 U.S.A. Indira Gandhi

1966 : Following her election as Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi arrives in the U.S. for a meeting with President Johnson.

1967 Indonesia Communist Party

1967 : At least one print publication revealed Indonesia’s decision towards Communist rule in this country. One decision made by the Indonesian parliament on the day before was to not allow former members of the Indonesian Communist Party to run for government office.

1968 Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin

1968 : Yuri Gagarin, the famous Russian cosmonaut who flew the world's first manned space mission, died during a training flight.

1972 Northern Ireland Factory Workers Strike

1972 : Thousands of office and factory workers left their jobs. This action was done in retaliation of British government takeover.

1977 Canary Islands Jumbo Jets Collide

1977 : Two 747 jumbo jets a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on the runway at an airport in the Canary Islands, killing 582 passengers and crew members.

1980 U.K. Alexander Kielland Platform

1980 : The Alexander Kielland platform 230 miles off shore from Dundee in Scotland is hit by a giant wave which causes one of the legs supporting it to give way, the platform then capsized throwing those trying to get off into the cold North Sea. RAF and Norwegian helicopters along with any shipping close to the accident have been asked to help with the rescue. The current stormy weather conditions are making rescue difficult and the bitter cold sea combined with the stormy conditions left 123 dead.

1987 U.S.A. Radon Gas

1987 : Radon gas caused a serious health threat in Montgomery County. This case was found in several homes, and it was suspected to be the cause of up to 50 deaths every year.

1990 U.K. Robert Runchie

1990 : The Most Reverend Robert Runchie’s plans to retired were made public in a newspaper. As of the following January, he had plans to step down from his position as Archbishop of Canterbury. He had served in this position for ten years.

1994 U.K. European Fighter Aircraft "Eurofighter"

1994 : The European Fighter Aircraft "Eurofighter" has makes its inaugural test flight. The joint venture plans for the Eurofighter were first conceived in 1983 and is a joint venture between British Aerospace Defence, Dasa in Germany, Alenia in Italy. Casa in Spain. The aircraft which achieves Mach 2 with an expected speed of 1,370mph entered production in 2003 as the Eurofighter Typhoon with 137 so far sold and in use in Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, Aeronautica Militare, Italiana, Ejército del Aire. Additional orders from Austria and Saudi Arabia have followed.

Today in Labor History March 27, 2025

 

Mother Jones

Mother Jones was ordered to leave Colorado, where state authorities accused her of “stirring up” striking coal miners. – 1904

This day marked the start of the 8-month Northern railway strike in Canada by the IWW. Wobblies picketed employment offices in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Tacoma and Minneapolis in order to block the hiring of scabs. – 1912

Fellow workers pay attention to what I’m going to mention,

For it is the fixed intention of the Workers of the World.

And I hope you’ll all be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady,

To gather ’round our standard when the red flag is unfurled.

CHORUS:

Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows,

They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union grows.

And we’re going to find a way, boys, for shorter hours and better pay, boys

And we’re going to win the day, boys, where the river Fraser flows.

For these gunny-sack contractors have all been dirty actors,

And they’re not our benefactors, each fellow worker knows.

So we’ve got to stick together in fine or dirty weather,

And we will show no white feather, where the Fraser river flows.

Now the boss the law is stretching, bulls and pimps he’s fetching,

And they are a fine collection, as Jesus only knows.

But why their mothers reared them, and why the devil spared them,

Are questions we can’t answer, where the Fraser River flows.

(Lyrics by Joe Hill, 1912, to the tune of “Where the River Shannon Flows.”)

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that undocumented workers do not have the same rights as Americans when they are wrongly fired. – 2002

A History of San Francisco Pressmen & Prepress Workers' Union #4. 1898-1998

 

 

This may interest many former printers from the newspaper industry. As soon as my copy arrives I will let you know my take.

Order your copy from eBay for $15.00

eBay - click here

FOREWORD

Delve into the riveting history of San Francisco's newspaper industry with "Web 4's First Century" by Paul Trimble. This captivating nonfiction work, published by Autumn Press in 2024 offers a detailed account of the city's journalistic journey, enriched with illustrative features that bring the narrative to life. The book presented in its first edition paperback format, measures 5.5 inches in length, 7.5 inches in height, and 0.5 inches in width, with 164 pages of content. As a valuable resource for history enthusiasts, it is an essential addition to any collection focusing on historical events and the evolution of media in the United States.

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Tours of the stadium are $85.00 per person

Yountville Sun newspaper to pause publication - Napa Valley Register

Coverage of women: America is failing. The world is stalling - Journalism UK

ASU’s Cronkite School prepares journalists for tomorrow’s news - E&P Magazine

One of the most promising local news nonprofits looks back — and ahead - Nieman Lab

A newspaper sets up shop in an unexpected place: California's largest women's prison - LAist

Russia’s Izvestia Newspaper Says Its War Correspondent Killed in Ukraine - The Moscow Times

Important Events From This day in History March 26

  

1979 Camp David Peace Treaty Signed

1979 : Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin ended 30 years of bitter warfare by signing the first peace treaty between an Arab nation and the Jewish state . The peace treaty was the result of the Camp David Peace Accords, agreed in September 1978 when Israel agreed to withdraw troops from the Sinai Peninsula in return for Egypt's recognition of the state of Israel. Also agreed was some self determination for Palestinians.

1964 U.S.A. Funny Girl Musical

1964 : The musical ''Funny Girl,'' starring Barbra Streisand and featuring Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan, Jean Stapleton, and Lainie Kazan, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. In 1966 the production staring Barbra Streisand opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End.

1953 U.S.A. Polio Vaccine

1953 : Dr. Jonas E. Salk, announced a vaccine had been used safely and successfully used in preliminary trials on 90 children and adults as a polio vaccine, two years later the vaccine was released and given to every child in the United States. Poliomyelitis ( Polio ) was one of the most dreaded illnesses which killed or paralyzed thousands during the early 20th century and following World War II the number of cases of Polio increased significantly making the need for a cure or a vaccine to protect against the disease even more important. Much of the funding for Dr. Jonas E. Salk research came from March Of Dimes Foundation ( National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis ) which had been set up under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to raise money for polio research and to care for those suffering from the disease.

1997 U.S.A. Heaven's Gate Cult Suicides

1997 : The bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult were found dead in a California mansion all having committed suicide by ingesting a lethal mixture of phenobarbital and vodka. The Heaven's Gate Cult led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles and the leader Applewhite convinced his followers to commit suicide so that their souls could take a ride on a spaceship that they believed was hiding behind the Comet Hale-Bopp ( Haleys Comet ).

1992 Mike Tyson Convicted of Rape

1992 : Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is sentenced to six years in prison for raping Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington. He was released in March 1995 after serving three years. He did go back to fighting for the heavyweight championship after his release but in 1997 was again in trouble when he fought Evander Holyfield in Vegas and was disqualified for biting Holyfield on both ears. One bite was severe enough to remove a piece of Holyfield's right ear, which was found on the ring floor after the fight.

1925 U.S.A. Prohibition

1925 : During the Prohibition Era, local and federal officers destroyed equipment used to make liquor. Alcohol that was created was dumped out as well, and participants in illegal booze operations were put in jail.

1933 Germany Herman Goering

1933 : Leader Herman Goering spoke his point of view regarding the mistreatment of Jews. He made a statement that the persecution of a person just because he (or she) is a Jew will not be tolerated.

1948 Israel Fighting

1948 : According to an article printed in an international newspaper, fighting continued on the day before. Arabs attacked a Jewish convoy. As a result, 20 people were killed and 10 were wounded. There was no Good Friday break (although Good Friday was not a major Jewish Holiday, but Passover was).

1958 China Food Shortage

1958 : A shortage of food was occurring at this time, and it was not getting any better. This lack of sufficient food supplies started to take place in Shantung, China and has spread as far as the Southern coast. It is estimated 30 million died during the Great Chinese Famine officially referred to as the Three Years of Natural Disasters of 1958–61 in China, but now accepted by the Chinese Government as a combination of Natural Disasters and poor planning following the Great Leap Forward which moved many peasant farmers off the land into Iron and steel production, the famine was also caused by changes in farming practices and a series of droughts and floods including the great the Yellow River flood which is considered the 7th deadliest natural disaster in the 20th century.

1963 Korea Referendum

1963 : Local protest was made in Korea against military rule of this country, and the Korean people were soon to be given a chance to decide whether or not this should continue. A referendum would soon be taken by the government of this country. Likewise, nations such as the U.S.A. moved to support anti-military Korean government rule. This action was highly welcomed.

1971 Bangladesh Independence

1971 : The country of Bangladesh had declared its independence. This decree was made by Leader Sheikh. Bangladesh was formerly East Pakistan.

1981 New British Party Social Democrats

1981 : A new political party ( Social Democrats ) has been formed in the UK from four breakaway Labour party defectors Roy Jenkins, David Owen, William Rodgers and Shirley Williams. The Social Democrats have launched their new political party pledging to "reconcile the nation" and "heal divisions between classes". They left the Labour party over the current leadership under Michael Foot moving further to the radical left, but did not feel they could support the conservative party under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who was dividing Britain into haves and have nots. They have described the new Social Democrat Party as left-of-center party and believe strongly in Proportional representation "ONE MAN ONE VOTE" but without agreement by the other two parties it was unlikely to ever happen. The party formed an alliance over the next few years with the Liberal Party but after the 1987 general election which the conservatives won under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. The labour party chose a more moderate leader Neil Kinnock and supporters of the SDP went back to the labour party hoping that they could get a more moderate labour party back in power and the Social Democrat Party was folded in 1990.

1981 Germany Fundraiser to Fight World Hunger

1981 : Information about a very unique fundraiser to help fight against hunger around the world was printed on this day. A group of high school students in Germany planned to fast from solid food for up to 30 hours. This effort was made in order to learn about the affects of hunger and how it would feel to go without food. It was also designed to help raise funds for World Vision International, one of the largest hunger-fighting organizations. People were to pledge a certain amount of money for every hour a student would go without food.

1982 U.S.A. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1982 : Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Memorial came about from the work of the The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), established in 1979 to create a memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War, and in 1980 congress authorizes three acres near the Lincoln Memorial for the site. The main part of the memorial was completed in 1982 and receives around 3 million visitors each year.

1990

1990 : An announcement of the 40th anniversary of the first German-American Boy Scout Troop was made on this day. This troop met for the first time on January 13th, 1949.

1999 England Miners Win Compensation

1999 : Ex-miners in England have won their case for compensation in a deal worth £2 billion for lung disease caused through working underground in the coal mining industry. Legal representation for the miners claimed it had been known for decades dust produced in the coal mining process could cause lung disease but not enough was done to protect them. Many of these miners were working underground in the 50's before health and safety laws ensured there were dust masks and showers at collieries.

1999 U.S.A. Dr. Jack Kevorkian

1999 : Dr. Jack Kevorkian, was found guilty of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to a terminally ill man and airing it on the television program "60 Minutes." He allowed the airing of a videotape on "60 Minutes." that he had made which depicted the voluntary euthanasia of Thomas Youk, 52, an adult male with full capacity who was in the final stages of ALS. He was sentenced to to serve a 10-25 year prison sentence by the judge, he was released on parole in 2007 on the condition that he cannot help anyone else die. He no longer assists in voluntary euthanasia but does campaign that the law is changed ( currently the only US State that allows legalized doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people is Oregon. )

2000 Israel Pope John Paul II

2000 : Pope John Paul II who is currently on visiting Israel as part of his Millennium Pilgrimage, prayed for forgiveness of the sins of those involved in the Holocaust. John Paul II has said visiting the area has fulfilled one of his dreams since he was elected Pontiff in 1978. The trip is a milestone in relations between Catholicism and Judaism.

2000 Russia Vladimir Putin

2000 : Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia for the first time he went on to be re-elected in 2004 and is the current President of the Russian Federation.

2002 Afghanistan Earthquake

2002 : A devastating earthquake shook up villages located in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Northern Afghanistan. It was estimated that 1,800 people had died and up to 10,000 people were homeless.