En este día.....

	Monday, December 20th The 354th day of 2010. There are 11 days left in the year. Go to a previous date.

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Today's Highlights in History
See a larger version of this front page.		On Dec. 20, 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of General Manuel Noriega. (Go to article.)On Dec. 20, 1881, Branch Rickey,the American baseball executive famous for creating the farm team system and hiring the first black players, was born. Following hisdeath on Dec. 9, 1965, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. |Other Birthdays)
		On December 20, 1902, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about cartoonist Thomas Nast, who had recently died. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)

On this date in:
1790	The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I.
1803	The Louisiana Purchase was completed as the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.
1860	South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.
1864	Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Ga., as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continued his "March to the Sea."
1879	Thomas Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, N.J.
1946	The Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life" had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its official premiere.
1963	The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays.
1976	Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley died at age 74.
1999	The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded couples.
2002	Trent Lott resigned as Senate Republican leader two weeks after igniting a political firestorm with racially charged remarks.
2005	New York City transit workers began a three-day strike.

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Current Birthdays

Jonah Hill turns 27 years old today.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg Actor Jonah Hill turns 27 years old today.

79 Ike Skelton Outgoing House Armed Services Committee chairman, D-Mo. 78 John Hillerman Actor ("Magnum P.I.") 77 Jean Carnahan Former U.S. senator, D-Mo. 67 Dick Wolf TV producer ("Law and Order" shows) 65 Peter Criss Rock musician (Kiss) 64 Uri Geller Illusionist 64 Sonny Perdue Governor of Georgia 62 Alan Parsons Rock musician 53 Billy Bragg Rock singer 44 Chris Robinson Rock singer (The Black Crowes) 29 Roy Williams Football player 28 David Cook Singer ("American Idol") 28 David Wright Baseball player 20 JoJo Singer

Historic Birthdays
Branch Rickey
12/20/1881 - 12/9/1965 American baseball executive  (Go to obit.)
43	Dan Leno 12/20/1860 - 10/31/1904 English entertainer
69	Harvey Firestone 12/20/1868 - 2/7/1938 American industrialist
87	Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 12/20/1886 - 12/5/1974 American tennis champion
83	Sir Robert Menzies 12/20/1894 - 5/16/1978 Australian prime minister (1939-41, 1949-66)
91	Irene Dunne 12/20/1898 - 9/4/1990 American actress
65	Robert Van de Graaff 12/20/1901 - 1/16/1967 American physicist and inventor
89	Max Lerner 12/20/1902 - 6/5/1992 American educator and columnist
86	Sidney Hook 12/20/1902 - 7/12/1989 American social philosopher
69	Jean Marchand 12/20/1918 - 8/28/1988 Canadian politician

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SOURCE: The Associated Press
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