(Continued from page 25)

of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain. California voters approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, overturning a state Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to wed just months earlier. Author Michael Crichton (KRY'-tuhn) died in Los Angeles at age 66.
• One year ago: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said cold temperatures would leave "tens of thousands" of people whose homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy in need of alternate housing. Two-year-old Maddox Derkosh was mauled to death by a pack of African wild dogs when he fell into their pen from a viewing area at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Zac Vawter, a 31-year-old amputee from Yelm, Wash., climbed the 103 floors of Chicago's Willis Tower, becoming the first person ever to complete the task wearing a mind-controlled prosthetic limb.
•
• Today's Birthdays: Actress Doris Roberts is 83. Actress Loretta Swit is 76. Rhythm-and-blues singer Harry Elston (Friends of Distinction) is 75. Blues singer Delbert McClinton is 73. Former first lady Laura Bush is 67. Actress Markie Post is 63. Rock singer-musician Chris Difford (Squeeze) is 59. Country singer Kim Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 53. Actress-comedian Kathy Griffin is 53. Actor Ralph Macchio is 52. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst is 52. Rock singer-musician Wayne Static (Static-X) is 48. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 44. Rapper-producer Sean "Puffy" Combs is 44. Talk show host Bethenny Frankel is 43. Rhythm-and-blues singer Shawn Rivera (Az Yet) is 42. Actress Heather Tom is 38. Rhythm-and-blues/gospel singer George Huff is 33. Actress Gillian Zinser (TV: "90210") is 28.
•
• Thought for Today: "No one is so eager to gain new experience as he who doesn't know how to make use of the old ones." -- Marie Ebner von Eschenbach, Austrian writer (1830-1916).
•