🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on January 22:

2010 — Conan O'Brien left The Tonight Show, an iconic late-night American talk show, after just 145 episodes. He was replaced by the returning Jay Leno, who O’Brien had replaced just seven months prior. 

2006 — Evo Morales took office as president of Bolivia, becoming the first indigenous president. He served for 13 years before stepping down after allegations of voting irregularities. 

1992 — Neuroscientist Dr. Roberta Bondar studied the effects of space on the human body aboard the space shuttle Discovery, becoming the first Canadian woman to travel into space. 

1973 — The case Roe v. Wade was decided in the US Supreme Court, legalizing abortion nationwide. 

1943 — Japanese forces suffered a major defeat at the hands of Australian and American troops in their attempts to capture Port Moresby, the capital of the island nation Papua New Guinea.

1905 — Russian troops opened fire on striking workers during a peaceful march in St. Petersburg. Up to 200 workers were killed in what became known as Bloody Sunday. 

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On January 22, we’re singing to:

Francis Bacon (1561) — British author, philosopher, and statesman who is credited with developing the scientific method.

John Winthrop (1588) — US colonial politician and author who served four separate terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

Lord Byron (1788) — Prolific British poet and politician who was a key figure in the Romantic movement and wrote the satirical epic poem “Don Juan.”

Grigori Rasputin (1869) — Russian political advisor with reputed mystical powers who was a powerful influence on the ruling Romanov family before being murdered at the onset of the Russian Revolution. 

 🪦Who Died Today?

On January 22, we’re saying goodbye to:

Victoria (1901) — Queen of the United Kingdom for more than 60 years, a period known as the “Victorian Era,” which was a time of great expansion for the British Empire. 

Lyndon B. Johnson (1973) — 36th President of the United States following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, notable for promoting his idea of the Great Society. 

Heath Ledger (2008) — Australian actor who died at the age of 29, not long after shooting a legendary performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, for which he won a posthumous Academy Award. 

Ursula K. Le Guin (2018) — American novelist known for her science fiction novels, of which she wrote more than 20. Recipient of numerous awards, including the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. 

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