Today is the 173rd day of 2012 and the second day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1788, the U.S. Constitution went into effect as New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.

In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag was a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment.

In 2004, SpaceShipOne, piloted by Mike Melvill, became the first privately sponsored craft to carry a human into space.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003), cartoonist; Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), philosopher; Mary McCarthy (1912-1989), writer; Jane Russell (1921-2011), actress; Ray Davies (1944- ), guitarist/songwriter; Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007), politician; Juliette Lewis (1973- ), actress; Prince William (1982- ), Duke of Cambridge.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1997, the first Women's National Basketball Association game kicked off the league's debut season.

TODAY'S FACT: James Buchanan was the only U.S. president who never married.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does." -- Jean-Paul Sartre

TODAY'S NUMBER: 142,000 -- population of New Hampshire in 1790, following ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (June 19) and first quarter moon (June 26).

Today is the 172nd day of 2012 and the first day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1893, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of her parents' murder in an infamous trial.

In 1973, Juan Peron returned to Argentina after 18 years of exile.

In 1999, NATO formally ended its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia as Serb forces completed their withdrawal from Kosovo.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), composer; Lillian Hellman (1905-1984), playwright; Errol Flynn (1909-1959), actor; Audie Murphy (1924-1971), war hero/actor; Olympia Dukakis (1931- ), actress; Brian Wilson (1942- ), musician/songwriter; Bob Vila (1946- ), handyman/TV personality; Lionel Richie (1949- ), musician; John Goodman (1952- ), actor; Nicole Kidman (1967- ), actress; Christopher Mintz-Plasse (1989- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be inducted. The Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971.

TODAY'S FACT: Western Argentina is home to many mountains of extreme height. Aconcagua Mountain is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, with an altitude of 22,834 feet.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify." -- Henry David Thoreau

TODAY'S NUMBER: 36 -- Billboard Top 40 hits recorded by the Beach Boys, the record for an American group.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (June 19) and first quarter moon (June 26).

Today is the 171st day of 2012 and the 92nd day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1865, with the arrival of federal troops, slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The day is celebrated as the holiday Juneteenth.

In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created.

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved after a lengthy filibuster in the Senate.

In 1991, the last Soviet troops left Hungary after 45 years of occupation.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), philosopher/scientist; Lou Gehrig (1903-1941), baseball player; Lester Flatt (1914-1979), bluegrass guitarist; Salman Rushdie (1947- ), author; Kathleen Turner (1954- ), actress; Paula Abdul (1962- ), singer/TV personality; Poppy Montgomery (1975- ), actress; Zoe Saldana (1978- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1999, the Dallas Stars won hockey's Stanley Cup, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a game that went into three overtime periods and lasted more than four hours (including breaks).

TODAY'S FACT: Juneteenth has been celebrated as an official state holiday in Texas since 1980.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it short." -- Blaise Pascal

TODAY'S NUMBER: 83 -- days for which senators in opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act filibustered the bill.

TODAY'S MOON: New moon (June 19).