Today is the 308th day of 2014 and the 44th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb in Egypt.

In 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began when militants loyal to Ayatollah Khomeini took 66 American hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli gunman.

In 2008, Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois became the first African-American to be elected president of the United States.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Will Rogers (1879-1935), humorist/writer/actor; Walter Cronkite (1916-2009), journalist; Art Carney (1918-2003), actor; Doris Roberts (1930- ), actress; Laura Bush (1946- ), former first lady; Kathy Griffin (1960- ), comedian/actress; Jeff Probst (1961- ), TV host; Sean "Diddy" Combs (1969- ), rapper/producer; Matthew McConaughey (1969- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: King Tutankhamen's burial chamber comprised four rooms. The peripheral rooms had been looted before Howard Carter's discovery in 1922, while the room in which Tut was actually buried remained completely intact.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7 to win the World Series, making the 4-year-old franchise the fastest expansion team to win the MLB championship.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money to even get beat with." -- Will Rogers

TODAY'S NUMBER: 444 -- days that 52 of the American hostages in Iran were held captive, until Jan. 20, 1981.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 30) and full moon (Nov. 6).

Today is the 307th day of 2014 and the 43rd day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 carrying a dog named Laika, the first creature to be sent into orbit.

In 1964, residents of Washington, D.C., were eligible to vote in the presidential election for the first time since the city was established in 1800.

In 1971, the first edition of the UNIX operating system's program manual was published.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton defeated incumbent Republican George Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot to win the White House.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), poet/journalist; Walker Evans (1903-1975), photographer; Charles Bronson (1921-2003), actor; Michael Dukakis (1933- ), politician; Anna Wintour (1949- ), fashion journalist; Roseanne Barr (1952- ), comedian/actress; Kate Capshaw (1953- ), actress; Dennis Miller (1953- ), comedian; Phil Simms (1955- ), football player/sportscaster; Dolph Lundgren (1957- ), actor; Evgeni Plushenko (1982- ), figure skater; Colin Kaepernick (1987- ), football player.

TODAY'S FACT: Though he didn't receive a single electoral vote, third-party candidate Ross Perot won a substantial portion (18.9 percent) of the popular vote nationally in 1992.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1990, quarterbacks David Klingler of Houston and Matt Vogler of Texas Christian University achieved a combined 80 completions and 12 touchdowns in Houston's 56-35 win.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Autumn ... the year's last, loveliest smile." -- William Cullen Bryant

TODAY'S NUMBER: 162 -- days Sputnik 2 was in orbit. Laika, its canine passenger, died within hours of the launch due to overheating.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 30) and full moon (Nov. 6).

Today is the 306th day of 2014 and the 42nd day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1947, designer Howard Hughes piloted his "Spruce Goose," the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built, on its maiden (and only) flight.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making the third Monday of January a federal holiday marking the birth of Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2000, the first permanent crew arrived at the International Space Station.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), queen of France; James Polk (1795-1849), 11th U.S. president; Warren G. Harding (1865-1923), 29th U.S. president; Burt Lancaster (1913-1994), actor; Steve Ditko (1927- ), comic-book artist/writer; Pat Buchanan (1938- ), political commentator; k.d. lang (1961- ), singer; David Schwimmer (1966- ), actor; Nelly (1974- ), rapper.

TODAY'S FACT: Jimmy Carter, elected president on this day in 1976, was the first U.S. president from the Deep South since before the Civil War.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1991, down 49-14 in the third quarter against Weber State, the Nevada Wolf Pack football team scored 41 points, winning 55-49 and setting the record for the biggest comeback in NCAA history.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family." -- James Polk

TODAY'S NUMBER: 14 -- age at which Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria married French King Louis XVI and became Marie Antoinette, Dauphine of France.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 30) and full moon (Nov. 6).