Today's Highlight in History:
On February 28th, 1854, some 50 slavery opponents met in Ripon, Wisconsin, to call for creation of a new political group, which became the Republican Party.
On this date:
In 1827, the first US railroad chartered to carry passengers and freight, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, was incorporated.

In 1844, a 12-inch gun aboard the USS "Princeton" exploded, killing¹ Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

In 1849, the ship "California" arrived at San Francisco, carrying the first of the gold-seekers.

In 1861, the Territory of Colorado was organized.

In 1940, the first televised college basketball games were broadcast, by New York City station W2XBS, as Pittsburgh defeated Fordham, 57-to-37, and New York University beat Georgetown, 50-to-27, at Madison Square Garden.

In 1974, the United States and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.

In 1975, more than 40 people were killed in London's Underground when a subway train smashed into the end of a tunnel.

In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm.

In 1993, a gun battle erupted at a compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants on the Branch Davidians; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

Ten years ago: The space shuttle "Atlantis" blasted off from Cape² Canaveral, Florida, on a secret mission to place a spy satellite in orbit.

Five years ago: US Marines swept ashore³ in Somalia to protect retreating UN peacekeepers. Denver International Airport opened after 16 months of delays and $3.2 billion in budget overruns.

One year ago: Guerrillas detonated two bombs beside a military convoy⁴ in southern Lebanon, killing a brigadier general and three other Israelis; Israel retaliated⁵ with air raids on suspected guerrilla hideouts.