January 13th

Today's Highlight in History:
On January 13th, 1794, President Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to 13 again.)

On this date:
In 1864, composer Stephen Foster died in New York.

In 1893, Britain's Independent Labor Party (a precursor to the current Labor Party) held its first meeting.

In 1898, Emile Zola's famous defense of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, %26quot;J'accuse,%26quot; was published in Paris.

In 1941, novelist James Joyce died in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1962, comedian Ernie Kovacs died in a car crash in west Los Angeles.

In 1966, Robert C. Weaver became the first black Cabinet member as he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Johnson.