Today is the 258th day of 2012 and the 87th day of summer.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry," the poem that provided the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In 1901, President William McKinley died of wounds from an assassin's bullet, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as his successor.
In 1975, Pope Paul VI canonized Elizabeth Ann Seton as the first American-born Catholic saint.
In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers of an E. coli outbreak originating in bagged spinach.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Margaret Sanger (1879-1966), women's health advocate; Zoe Caldwell (1933- ), actress; Walter Koenig (1936- ), actor/director/producer; Sam Neill (1947- ), actor; Faith Ford (1964- ), actress; Tyler Perry (1969- ), actor/filmmaker; Andrew Lincoln (1973- ), actor; Nas (1973- ), rapper; Amy Winehouse (1983-2011), singer.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1994, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced the cancellation of the remainder of the year's baseball season after a 34-day player strike.
TODAY'S FACT: "The Star-Spangled Banner" is sung to the tune of a British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven."
TODAY'S QUOTE: "A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have." -- Theodore Roosevelt
TODAY'S NUMBER: 8 -- days that passed between President William McKinley's 1901 shooting and his resulting death.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (Sept. 8) and new moon (Sept. 15).