TODAY IN HISTORY

Friday, September  27, 2013 AP Highlight in History:  On Sept. 27, 1996, the Taliban, a band of former seminary students, drove the government of Afghani President Burhanuddin Rabbani out of Kabul, captured the capital and executed former leader Najibullah.   AP Photo/Hader Shah
On this date in: 1540 Pope Paul III issued a papal bull establishing the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, as a religious order. 1825 The first locomotive to haul a passenger train was operated by George Stephenson in England. 1928 The United States recognized the Nationalist Chinese government. 1939 Warsaw, Poland, surrendered after weeks of resistance to invading forces from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. AP Photo 1954 "Tonight!" hosted by Steve Allen, made its debut on NBC-TV. 1964 The Warren Commission issued a report concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy. 1990 The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Supreme Court nomination of David H. Souter. 1991 The Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked, 7-7, on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. 1994 More than 350 Republican congressional candidates signed the "Contract with America," a 10-point platform they pledged to enact if voters sent a GOP majority to the U.S. House. 1998 Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his record-setting 69th and 70th home runs in the last game of the season. 1999 Tiger Stadium closed after 87 years as home of baseball's Detroit Tigers.		Video HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY IN HISTORY Today's Birthdays: Actress Gwyneth Paltrow turns 41 years old today. AP Photo/Evan Agostini Name Profession Age Jayne Meadows Actress 93 Wilford Brimley Actor 79 Randy Bachman Rock singer, musician (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) 70 Meat Loaf Rock singer 66 Liz Torres Actress 66 Mike Schmidt Baseball Hall of Famer 64 Shaun Cassidy Singer 55 Lil' Wayne Rapper 31 Rock singer Avril Lavigne turns 29 years old today. AP Photo/Michel Spingler