Today is the 268th day of 2012 and the third day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1789, Congress passed the First Judiciary Act, which provided for the Supreme Court and the office of attorney general.
In 1968, "60 Minutes," American prime-time television's longest-running program, premiered.
In 2005, Hurricane Rita hit Texas and southwestern Louisiana.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: John Marshall (1755-1835), chief justice of the United States; F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), novelist/short-story writer; Jim McKay (1921-2008), sportscaster; Jim Henson (1936-1990), puppeteer; Nia Vardalos (1962- ), actress/screenwriter.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Dodgers' last game at Ebbets Field.
TODAY'S FACT: The Brooklyn Dodgers' team name changed several times after the organization joined the National League in 1890, even before the move to Los Angeles. The club's former names include the Bridegrooms, Superbas, Trolley Dodgers and Robins.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at forty-five they are caves in which we hide." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald
TODAY'S NUMBER: 360,740 -- population of New Orleans, the fastest-growing city in the United States, in 2011. The city remains at 80 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina population of 454,863 in 2005.
TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (Sept. 22) and full moon (Sept. 29).