TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1861, Kansas was admitted into the union as the 34th state. In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani became the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. In 1984, Ronald Reagan announced that he would run for a second term as U.S. president. In 2002, Pres. George W. Bush described Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as part of an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union address.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Thomas Paine (1737-1809), patriot/philosopher; William McKinley (1843-1901), U.S. president; Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), playwright, writer; W.C. Fields (1880-1946), comedian; Tom Selleck (1945- ), actor, is 63; Oprah Winfrey (1954-), TV personality, is 54; Jonny Lang, (1981- ), musician, is 27.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1995, the San Francisco 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers 49-26, becoming the first NFL team to win five Super Bowls.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "I never vote for anyone. I always vote against." - W.C. Fields
TODAY'S FACT: Edgar Allan Poe published his famous poem "The Raven" anonymously in the New York Evening Mirror on this day in 1845. He was paid $15.
TODAY'S NUMBER: 2 - approximate percentage of Ellis Island arrivals not admitted into the U.S.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (January 22) and last quarter (January 30).
