Today is the 125th day of 2015 and the 47th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. patent, for a weaving technique.

In 1821, exiled former French emperor Napolean Bonaparte died in British custody on the island of Saint Helena.

In 1862, the Mexican army halted the invading French army in the Battle of Puebla. This day would later be celebrated as the "Cinco de Mayo" holiday.

In 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into outer space.

In 1994, 18-year-old American Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore as punishment for theft and vandalism.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), philosopher; Karl Marx (1818-1883), philosopher; Nellie Bly (1864-1922), journalist; Tyrone Power (1914-1958), actor; Michael Palin (1943- ), actor/comedian; John Rhys-Davies (1944- ), actor; Brian Williams (1959- ), TV journalist; Craig David (1981- ), singer-songwriter; Henry Cavill (1983- ), actor; Adele (1988- ), singer-songwriter; Chris Brown (1989- ), singer-songwriter.

TODAY'S FACT: Tchaikovsky was the guest conductor at the grand opening of New York's Carnegie Hall (then called the Music Hall) on this day in 1891.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby with a time of 1:59:40, a record that still stands.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "In the life of the individual when love awakens it is older than everything else, because when it exists it seems as if it has existed for a long time; it presupposes itself back into the distant past until all searching ends in the inexplicable origin." -- Soren Kierkegaard

TODAY'S NUMBER: 21 -- perfect games (as of April 2015) thrown by major league pitchers in baseball's modern era. A perfect game is one in which no opposing player reaches base. Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox became the first pitcher to accomplish the feat on this day in 1904.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (May 3) and last quarter moon (May 11).

Today is the 124th day of 2015 and the 46th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1886, a labor demonstration in Chicago's Haymarket Square turned violent when a bomb exploded and demonstrators began rioting.

In 1959, the first Grammy Awards were held.

In 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent State University during an anti-war protest.

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister in British history.

In 1998, "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years in Sacramento, California.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Horace Mann (1796-1859), educator; Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), author/activist; Hosni Mubarak (1928- ), former president of Egypt; Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), actress/UNICEF ambassador; Roberta Peters (1930- ), opera singer; Dick Dale (1937- ), guitarist; George Will (1941- ), journalist/author; Randy Travis (1959- ), singer-songwriter; Will Arnett (1970- ), actor; Erin Andrews (1978- ), sportscaster; Lance Bass (1979- ), singer; Rory McIlroy (1989- ), golfer.

TODAY'S FACT: About 14.6 million Americans were members of a labor union in 2014.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2002, Barry Bonds hit his 400th home run as a member of the San Francisco Giants, making him the first player to hit 400 home runs for one team and 100 for another. Bonds hit 176 home runs as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the Giants.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering cold iron." -- Horace Mann

TODAY'S NUMBER: 5 -- Oscars for which Audrey Hepburn was nominated in the Best Actress category. She won once.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (May 3) and last quarter moon (May 11).

Today is the 123rd day of 2015 and the 45th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1802, Washington, D.C., was incorporated as a city.

In 1921, West Virginia approved the first state sales tax.

In 1973, construction was completed on Chicago's Sears Tower (later renamed the Willis Tower), the tallest building in the world at the time.

In 2006, Zacarias Moussaoui, convicted of conspiracy in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was sentenced to life in prison.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), statesman/philosopher; Golda Meir (1898-1978), Israeli prime minister; Bing Crosby (1903-1977), singer/actor; Pete Seeger (1919-2014), singer-songwriter; Sugar Ray Robinson (1921-1989), boxer; James Brown (1933-2006), singer-songwriter; Frankie Valli (1934- ), singer; Greg Gumbel (1946- ), sportscaster; Christina Hendricks (1975- ), actress; Dule Hill (1975- ), actor; Cheryl Burke (1984- ), dancer.

TODAY'S FACT: Residents of Washington, D.C., did not receive the right to vote in presidential elections until the 23rd Amendment was passed in 1961.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1987, Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers played his final game, finishing with 30,026 points, 10,525 rebounds and 5,176 assists in his professional basketball (ABA and NBA) career.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that's in rhythm or you're in trouble." -- Sugar Ray Robinson

TODAY'S NUMBER: 23 -- hours of solitary confinement each day for prisoners at the Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, where Zacarias Moussaoui is imprisoned.

TODAY'S MOON: Full moon (May 3).