Today is Wednesday, November 28th, the 332nd day of the year. There are 33 days until the end of the year.
On this day:
In 1859, author Washington Irving died at the age of 76. He penned such classic tales as "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle."
In 1925, the "WSM Barn Dance" made its radio debut on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee. The program later became known as "The Grand Ole Opry."
In 1939, Dr. James Naismith died at the age of 78. He is credited with inventing the game of basketball.
In 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as British Prime Minister.
In 1994, convicted serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was murdered in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate.
In 1995, President Clinton signed a six-billion dollar road bill that ended the federal 55-mile-per-hour speed limit.
In 1999, National Zoo officials in Washington, D.C. euthanized Hsing-Hsing, the popular giant panda who was brought to America in 1972 from China. The panda's health had been deteriorating.
In 2004, a corporate jet carrying NBC sports executive Dick Ebersol and family members crashed at Colorado's Montrose Regional Airport. While Ebersol, his son Charlie, and a third crew member survived the crash, Ebersol's 14-year-old son Teddy and two other crew members were killed in the wreck.
In 2006, in an effort to ease tensions caused by controversial comments made earlier in the year, Pope Benedict traveled to the mostly-Muslim country of Turkey. The 79-year-old Pontiff angered much of the Muslim world in September 2006 with a speech that portrayed Islam as an irrational and violent religion. Speaking with Turkey's prime minister, the Pope called Islam "peaceful and affectionate."
In 2008, the Black Friday sales rush turned tragic in New York where a seasonal employee was trampled to death by eager shoppers at a Wal-Mart store. The stampede left four others injured, including a pregnant woman. In an incident in Southern California, a shooting at a toy store in Palm Desert, left two people dead.
In 2010, "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" actor Leslie Nielsen died at the age of 84.
In 2015, Coco and Ice-T announced the birth of a baby girl on Twitter. Chanel Nicole was born three weeks early, weighing 5-pounds-seven-ounces.