Friday March 13th. Day 72 of 2026
1693: Harvard University was named for clergyman John Harvard
1884: Standard time was adopted throughout the U.S.
1974: The Senate voted 54-33 to restore the death penalty
1991: Exxon paid $1 billion in fines and for the clean-up of the Alaskan oil spill
2012: After 244 years of publication, Encyclopedia Britannica announced it would discontinue its print edition
2020: President Trump declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a national emergency
2020: Breonna Taylor is killed by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky; her death sparked extensive protests against racism and police brutality
2022: After a 40-day retirement, quarterback Tom Brady announced he will play at least one more season in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
News: Alexander County Board of Elections will canvass the primary election today…Taylorsville man charged with felony fraud…Alexander County Sheriff’s Office serve warrants on Taylorsville man for burning a building in Iredell County…Taylorsville man with extensive criminal history is back in jail
Weather: Clouds and 60 today
Sports: Cougar Softball and Baseball open league season at St Stephens today…Northern Guilford, the team that nipped the Lady Cougars in Regional Final wins Championship on Thursday…Duke survives, Tar Heels go down in ACC Tourney…Charlotte advances in American Conference Tournament…Canes lose at home…NASCAR rolls in Vegas
Happy Birthday: William H. Macy, Dana Delany, Adam Clayton, Will Clark, Annabeth Gish, Danny Masterson, Emile Hirsch, Mikaela Shiffrin, Coco Gauff
Word of the Day: connoisseur [kon-uh-sur] A person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste, a discerning judge of the best in any field. From French meaning “knower” “By all accounts, he was considered the finest connoisseur of of vintage wine.”
Quote of the Day: “I would say I see myself as a psychiatrist in remission.” … Charles Krauthammer (Born this day in 1950)