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• Ten years ago: WorldCom Inc. began laying off 17,000 employees worldwide after disclosing accounting irregularities that later forced it into bankruptcy protection. Xerox Corp. said it had overstated revenue by $6.4 billion over the previous five years; the copier company said it had overhauled its books but still had $1.9 billion to report as revenue in the future.
• Five years ago: The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to strike down school integration plans in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, a decision that was denounced hours later by Democratic presidential candidates in their third primary debate. President George W. Bush's immigration plan to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants while fortifying the border collapsed in the Senate. The American bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list.
• One year ago: Taliban fighters raided an international hotel in Kabul and killed 10 people on the eve of a conference to discuss plans for Afghan forces to take over security when international troops left by the end of 2014. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde was chosen to lead the International Monetary Organization. Former All-Star goalie Ed Belfour was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, joining Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieuwendyk as inductees.
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• Today's Birthdays: Comedian-movie director Mel Brooks is 86. Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., is 78. Comedian-impressionist John Byner is 75. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is 74. Rock musician Dave Knights (Procul Harum) is 67. Actor Bruce Davison is 66. Actress Kathy Bates is 64. Actress Alice Krige is 58. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway is 52. Record company chief executive Tony Mercedes is 50. Actress Jessica Hecht is 47. Rock musician Saul Davies (James) is 47. Actress Mary Stuart Masterson is 46. Actor John Cusack is 46. Actor Gil Bellows is 45. Actress-singer Danielle Brisebois is 43. Jazz musician Jimmy Sommers is 43. Actress Tichina Arnold is 43. Actor Alessandro Nivola (nih-VOH'-luh) is 40. Actress Camille Guaty is 36. Rock musician Tim Nordwind (OK Go) is 36. Rock musician Mark Stoermer (The Killers) is 35. Country singer Big Vinny Hickerson (Trailer Choir) is 29. Country singer Kellie Pickler is 26.
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• Thought for Today: "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they." -- Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).
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