Today in history: Sept. 28
In 1928, Scottish medical researcher Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first effective antibiotic, and more events that happened on this day in history.
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1920: The Chicago White Sox
In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. (All were acquitted at trial, but all eight were banned from the game for life.)
1928: Alexander Fleming
In 1928, Scottish medical researcher Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first effective antibiotic.
1939: Poland
In 1939, during World War II, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a treaty calling for the partitioning of Poland, which the two countries had invaded.
1962: Ross Barnett
In 1962, a federal appeals court found Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett in civil contempt for blocking the admission of James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi. (Federal marshals escorted Meredith onto the campus two days later.)
1991: Miles Davis
In 1991, jazz great Miles Davis died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 65.
1995: Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat
In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat signed an accord at the White House ending Israel’s military occupation of West Bank cities and laying the foundation for a Palestinian state.
2000: RU-486
In 2000, capping a 12-year battle, the government approved use of the abortion pill RU-486.
2011: The Obama Administration
In 2011, the Obama administration formally appealed a federal appeals court ruling striking down a key provision of President Barack Obama’s health care law requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. (The U.S. Supreme Court later upheld the individual mandate.)
2016: Shimon Peres
In 2016, Israeli statesman Shimon Peres, 93, died of complications from a stroke.
2016: Veto Overridden
In 2017, in a resounding rebuke, Democrats joined with Republicans to hand Barack Obama the first veto override of his presidency, voting overwhelmingly to allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts for its alleged backing of the attackers.
2019: Afghanistan
In 2019, voters in Afghanistan went to the polls to elect a president for the fourth time since a U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban regime in 2001; the vote was marred by violence, Taliban threats and widespread allegations of mismanagement. (After a series of delays, the country’s independent election commission announced months later that Ashraf Ghani had won a second term as president.)
2020: Wildfires
In 2020, Northern California’s wine country was on fire, as strong winds fanned flames, destroying homes and prompting orders for nearly 70,000 people to be evacuated.