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Today is Friday, April 11, the 101st day of 2003. There are 264 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 11, 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the notorious Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald in Germany. On this date: In 1689, William III and Mary II were crowned as joint sovereigns of Britain. In 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of France and was banished to the island of Elba. In 1898, President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain. In 1899, the treaty ending the Spanish-American War was declared in effect. In 1921, Iowa became the first state to impose a cigarette tax. In 1951, President Truman relieved Gen. Douglas MacArthur of his commands in the Far East. In 1953, 50 years ago, Oveta Culp Hobby became the first Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968, a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1970, Apollo 13 blasted off on its ill-fated mission to the moon. (The astronauts managed to return safely). In 1979, Idi Amin was deposed as president of Uganda as rebels and exiles backed by Tanzanian forces seized control. Ten years ago: A deadly riot erupted at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville; one guard and nine inmates were killed during the eleven-day siege. Five years ago: The executive committee of the Ulster Union Party voted 55-23 to support the Northern Ireland peace accord and its leader, David Trimble, who had outmaneuvered rebels in his ranks. One year ago: U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., D-Ohio, was convicted of taking bribes and kickbacks from businessmen and his own staff. (Traficant was later expelled from Congress and sentenced to eight years in prison.) The House responded to the Enron collapse by voting to add more worker protections to pension laws. Venezuelan police battled protesters demanding President Hugo Chavez's ouster. Today's Birthdays: ``Brenda Starr'' creator Dale Messick is 97. Fashion designer Oleg Cassini is 90. Former New York State Governor Hugh Carey is 84. Ethel Kennedy is 75. Actor Johnny Sheffield is 72. Actor Joel Grey is 71. Actress Louise Lasser is 64. Syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman is 62. Movie writer-director John Milius is 59. Actor Peter Riegert is 56. Actor Bill Irwin is 53. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 46. Songwriter-producer Daryl Simmons is 46. Actor Lucky Vanous is 42. Country singer Steve Azar is 39. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 37. Rock musician Dylan Keefe (Marcy Playground) is 33. Thought for Today: ``If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed, and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon.'' - George Aiken, U.S. senator (1892-1984)
