1962: Deadly smog moves across Britain

A thick and polluted fog continued to spread across Britain today, sending hundreds to hospitals and proving deadly for at least 67 in London alone. Today was the fourth day Britain was plagued by the smog.

"Conditions were the worst since the 'killer smog' of 1952 which caused 4,000 fatalities in four days. The deadly concentration of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere was quickly approaching the levels of the smog which took the heavy toll almost 10 years ago. Doctors offices were jammed with sufferers of respiratory ailments, such as asthma, bronchitis, choking from the dense and soot-laced mists," reported The Independent on December 6, 1962.

Newspapers reported that most of the smog was gone the following day due to a south wind. Although, by November 7, the Star-News wrote that more than 1,000 people were hospitalized and 106 reported dead in London due to the smog.

NYC to ban trans fats

The New York City Health Board voted yesterday to ban artificial trans fats at all city restaurants. According to the ban, restaurants must stop serving food with artificial trans fats by July of 2008, but trans fats must be eliminated from frying oils before this coming July. While health and medical groups are supporting the ban, restaurant industry representatives argue that a city has no business legislating diets. Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, is very concerned with health issues, as he banned smoking in bars and restaurants during his first term.

While cities do not often issue food bans, Chicago banned the bird liver delicacy foie gras from its restaurants earlier this year. To prepare the delicacy, birds are force-fed through a tube in order to fatten the liver, which the Chicago City Council considered to be inhumane. Click on the links below to read about food bans, including proposed bills that place bans on junk foods in schools.

1865: Thirteenth Amendment is ratified

Georgia ratified the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution today, becoming the 27th state to do so and the last needed to officially ban slavery in the U.S. Twelve days later, Secretary of State William Henry Seward issued a proclamation declaring the amendment. On December 26, 1865, The Hillsdale Standard printed Seward's proclamation, which included the amendment. Section 1 read, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Section 2 followed with, "Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

 

1907: Hundreds die in coal mine explosion

Nearly 400 workers were killed today when a coal mine exploded at Monongah, West Virginia. "The accident happened in Monongahela mines Nos. 6 and 8 and was caused by the fan house, which supplied the miners with air, failing to work. The mines were idle yesterday and that is why it is thought that the fans failed to work this morning," explained The Evening Times on December 6, 1907. "There were some very marvelous escapes, several men having been blown out of the mines through the air holes and escaped with only a few slight injuries." More than 100 workers were believed to have escaped from the mines; however, many of these men were severely burned.

1923: First presidential address on radio

US President Calvin Coolidge broadcasted the first presidential address over radio today. "Congress assembled at noon and shortly afterward both houses united in a joint session while millions of people scattered over more than half the states of the Union listened for the first words of the president's address, transmitted from the capital by radio," read an article in the Modesto Evening News on December 6, 1923. Coolidge's address began with a tribute to President Harding, his predecessor. Some of the topics Coolidge covered included tax reductions, prohibition and foreign affairs, among many others.

 

1947: Truman dedicates
Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park was dedicated today in Everglades City, Florida. "President Truman helped dedicate a 454,000-acre tract of the Florida Everglades as the Everglades National Park today with a challenge to the American people to resist 'raids' on their natural resources by interests who would exploit them for 'private gain,'" reported The Charleston Gazette on December 7, 1947. "Mr. Truman declared that proper use of land and water resources was as much a public responsibility as were 'world order, world peace and world recovery.'" Although the park was dedicated today, the land was declared a national park on May 30, 1934.

1978: Spain approves constitution

"Spaniards have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution abolishing the last trappings of Generalissimo Francisco Franco's dictatorship and ushering in Western-style democracy, late returns showed today," an article in The Newport Daily News reported on December 7, 1978. "'Yes' votes swamped 'no' votes by an estimated 87.8 percent to 7.9 percent – a stunning 11-to-1 margin in favor of the 169-article document that abrogates Franco's so-called fundamental laws and establishes a parliamentary monarchy." As a result of this vote, December 6 is 'Constitution Day' in Spain.