Today is the 159th day of 2012 and the 80th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1776, Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution calling for a declaration of independence to the Continental Congress.

In 1929, Vatican City became a sovereign state.

In 1942, the Allies emerged victorious from the Battle of Midway.

In 2008, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York suspended her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and endorsed Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), painter; Jessica Tandy (1909-1994), actress; Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000), poet; Tom Jones (1940- ), singer; Liam Neeson (1952- ), actor; Orhan Pamuk (1952- ), novelist; Prince (1958- ), musician; Anna Kournikova (1981- ), tennis player; Michael Cera (1988- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1978, the Washington Bullets (now Wizards) won the franchise's first and only NBA championship title.

TODAY'S FACT: About 40 people reside in the Midway Islands. Most of them are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff or their contractors.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I've stayed in the front yard all my life. I want a peek at the back where it's rough and untended and hungry weed grows. A girl gets sick of a rose." -- Gwendolyn Brooks, "A Street in Bronzeville"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 836 -- estimated population of Vatican City in 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (June 4) and last quarter moon (June 11).

Today is the 158th day of 2012 and the 79th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London.

In 1944, the D-Day invasion of Europe began as Allied forces landed in continental Europe at Normandy, France.

In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon.

In 2002, President George W. Bush proposed consolidating 22 federal agencies under a single, Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Diego Velazquez (1599-1660), painter; Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), poet; Thomas Mann (1875-1955), novelist; Harvey Fierstein (1952- ), actor; Bjorn Borg (1956- ), tennis player; Paul Giamatti (1967- ), actor; Natalie Morales (1972- ), TV journalist.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison became the first sitting president to attend a Major League Baseball game.

TODAY'S FACT: Basketball, racquetball and volleyball were all invented at YMCA facilities.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people." -- George W. Bush

TODAY'S NUMBER: $46.9 billion -- estimated amount in the U.S. federal budget devoted to the Department of Homeland Security in 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (June 4) and last quarter moon (June 11).

Today is the 157th day of 2012 and the 78th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed the Marshall Plan for economic aid to war-torn Europe.

In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan.

In 2004, former President Ronald Reagan died at age 93.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Adam Smith (1723-1790), economist/philosopher; John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946), economist; Bill Moyers (1934- ), TV journalist/author; Spalding Gray (1941-2004), actor/writer; Kenny G (1956- ), musician; Jeff Garlin (1962- ), actor/comedian; Mark Wahlberg (1971- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1964, 17-year-old Jim Ryun became the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes.

TODAY'S FACT: In 2012, an estimated 5.4 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "People don't start wars, governments do." -- Ronald Reagan

TODAY'S NUMBER: 24 -- approximate percentage of the Israeli population that is Arab.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (June 4) and last quarter moon (June 11).