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Almanac for June 1, 2026

Today is Monday, June 1, the 152nd day of 2026. There are 213 days left in the year. Today in history: In 2008, a fire at Universal Studios Hollywood destroyed 3 acres of the studio's property, including a vault holding as many as 175,000 irreplaceable master audio recordings from hundreds of musicians including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Nirvana. Also on this date: In 1813, the mortally wounded commander of the USS Chesapeake, Capt. James Lawrence, gave the order, "Don't give up the ship," during a losing battle with the British frigate HMS ...

Sonny Rollins knew not to die young

How is it that the "Saxophone Colossus" Sonny Rollins lived to 95? Aren't jazz musicians supposed to die at tragically early ages? Actually, that's a myth that Rollins and others proved flawed. It's true that Bix Beiderbecke, king of the cornet, was gone at 28, Charlie Parker at 34, Dinah ...

Judge: Putting Trump’s name on Kennedy Center broke law

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations — the latest legal setback for Trump's efforts to leave his personal ...

Almanac for May 30, 2026

Today is Saturday, May 30, the 150th day of 2026. There are 215 days left in the year. Today in history: In 2024, Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (Trump received a no-penalty sentence, or unconditional discharge, just 10 days before his January 2025 inauguration to a second term.) Also on this date: In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was ...

How US has endured for 250 years

This summer, the United States celebrates its 250th birthday. In 1776, few people believed this new version of self-government would last. After the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government the Founding Fathers had created. "A republic," he replied, "if ...

Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting

A federal judge has declined to halt President Donald Trump's executive order creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year's midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Carl ...