Today in History: January 2nd Through the Years
Today marks the second day of the year 2026, with 363 days remaining. On this day in history, British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, known as the "Yorkshire Ripper," was apprehended in 1981 after a string of murders that terrorized northwest England. President Benjamin Harrison appointed Alice Sanger as the first female White House staffer in 1890, a significant milestone for women's rights. The capture of Manila by Japanese forces during World War II occurred on this day in 1942. In 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 made history by becoming the first spacecraft to break free from Earth's gravity. Tragedy struck in 1971 when 66 people lost their lives in a stampede at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. President Richard Nixon signed legislation in 1974 mandating a 55 mph speed limit on highways to conserve gasoline during an OPEC oil embargo, a measure that was later phased out. In 2016, a group led by the Bundy brothers occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon for 41 days to protest federal land policies. A harrowing incident took place in 2023 when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during an NFL game, prompting life-saving intervention on the field. The year 2024 saw Harvard University President Claudine Gay resign amidst plagiarism allegations and controversy surrounding her testimony on antisemitism.