Today in History: January 5th
Today marks the fifth day of the year 2026, with 360 days remaining. On this day in history, significant events took place. In 1980, The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" made history as the first hip-hop song to enter the Billboard Top 40 charts. Back in 1896, German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered a new form of radiation, later known as X-ray, as reported by an Austrian newspaper. Fast forward to 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming became the first female governor in the United States, taking office as a Democrat. Construction of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge began on this day in 1933 and was completed in May 1937. Samuel Beckett's renowned play "Waiting for Godot" premiered in Paris in 1953, marking a significant moment in the Theater of the Absurd movement. President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced the Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957, offering assistance to countries to combat communist threats. President Richard Nixon announced the Space Shuttle program in 1972, aiming to enhance manned space exploration and reduce costs. In more recent history, in 2022, Novak Djokovic was denied entry to Australia for the Australian Open due to non-compliance with COVID-19 vaccination rules. Two years later, in 2024, an Alaska Airlines jetliner experienced a door plug malfunction shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, resulting in an emergency landing with no serious injuries reported.