January 3 Events

2011 With news that Facebook received investments of $500 million, analysts estimate the value of the company at $50 billion
2011 Over 5,000 red-winged blackbirds suddenly die in Beebe, Arkansas, on New Year's Eve; scientists investigate causes of the bird die-off
2010 Australian researchers discover the first plane taken to Antarctica in 1912
2009 Israel launches an invasion of the Gaza strip
2007 Gerald Ford is buried in Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004 Flash Airlines flight 604 crashes near Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, killing 148
1998 "Side Show," closes at Richard Rodgers New York City after 91 performances
1998 Grandpa Jones suffers a stroke
1997 Bryant Gumbel co-hosted his final Today show on NBC-TV
1997 Eddo Brandes takes ODI hat-trick vs. England at Harare
1997 Zimbabwe clean-sweep ODI series vs. England 3-0
1994 "Gray's Anatomy" closes at Beaumont Theater New York City after 13 performances
1994 100s killed in Venezuela in prison revolt
1994 Tupolev-154M crashes at Irkutsk, Siberia: 122 killed
1994 35-foot-tall Chief Wahoo, trademark of Indians on top of Stadium since 1962, is taken down, to be moved to Jacob's Field
1993 "Catskills on Broadway" closes at Lunt-Fontanne New York City after 452 performances
1993 "Christmas Carol" closes at Broadhurst Theater New York City after 22 performances
1993 "Lost in Yonkers" closes at Richard Rodgers New York City after 780 performances
1993 "Secret Garden" closes at St. James Theater New York City after 706 performances
1993 "Tommy Tune Tonite!" closes at Gershwin New York City after 10 performances
1993 Junk bond king Michael Milkin is released from jail after 22 months
1992 32 Cubans defect to the U.S. via helicopter
1992 Boon completes 11 Test Cricket century, 129* vs. India at Sydney
1991 Israel reopens consulate in U.S.S.R. after 23 years
1991 Los Angeles King Wayne Gretzky scores his 700th goal against New York Islanders
1990 Panama's leader General Manuel Noriega surrenders to U.S. authorities
1989 Jim and Tammy Bakker return to TV (Oy Vey!)
1989 Russian newspaper Izvestia gets its 1st commercial advertisement
1988 Israel orders 9 Palestinian "instigators" deported from W Beirut
1988 Margaret Thatcher becomes longest-serving British Prime Minister this century
1987 "Oh Coward!" closes at Helen Hayes Theater New York City after 56 performances
1987 "Smile" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater New York City after 48 performances