Today is Sunday, April 27, the 117th day of 2014. There are 248 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On April 27, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives in the Philippines.

On this date:

In 1509, Pope Julius II placed the Republic of Venice under an interdict following its refusal to give up lands claimed by the Papal States. (The pope lifted the sanction in February 1510.)

In 1777, the only land battle in Connecticut during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Ridgefield, took place, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1805, during the First Barbary War, an American-led force of Marines and mercenaries captured the city of Derna, on the shores of Tripoli.

In 1813, the Battle of York took place in Upper Canada during the War of 1812 as a U.S. force defeated the British garrison in present-day Toronto before withdrawing.

In 1822, the 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio.

In 1865, the steamer Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tenn., killing more than 1,400 people, mostly freed Union prisoners of war.

In 1938, King Zog I of the Albanians married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi.

In 1941, German forces occupied Athens during World War II.

In 1967, Expo '67 was officially opened in Montreal by Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.

In 1973, Acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray resigned after it was revealed that he'd destroyed files removed from the safe of Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt.

In 1982, the trial of John W. Hinckley Jr., who had shot four people, including President Ronald Reagan, began in Washington. (The trial ended with Hinckley's acquittal by reason of insanity.)

In 1994, former President Richard M. Nixon was remembered at an outdoor funeral service attended by all five of his successors at the Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Ten years ago: Iraqi police moved into the streets of the besieged city of Fallujah following hours of pounding of Sunni insurgents by U.S. warplanes and artillery. A ruptured pipeline began spilling some 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel into Suisun Bay, east of San Francisco. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., beat back a tough primary threat, barely defeating conservative congressman Pat Toomey.

Five years ago: A 23-month-old Mexico City toddler died at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, becoming the first swine-flu death on U.S. soil. A strong earthquake struck central Mexico, rattling nerves among residents already tense from a swine flu outbreak. One of President Barack Obama's Air Force One jets, a Boeing 747, and an F-16 fighter jet panicked New Yorkers as they circled over lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty for what turned out to be a photo op. General Motors announced plans to cut 21,000 hourly jobs and scrap the Pontiac brand.

One year ago: North Korea announced that Kenneth Bae, an American missionary detained for nearly six months, was being tried in the Supreme Court on charges of plotting to overthrow the government (Bae was later sentenced to 15 years of hard labor). Center-left leader Enrico Letta forged a new Italian government in a coalition with former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's conservatives.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Anouk Aimee is 82. Announcer Casey Kasem is 82. Actress Judy Carne is 75. Rock musician Jim Keltner is 72. Rhythm-and-blues singer Cuba Gooding is 70. Singer Ann Peebles is 67. Rock singer Kate Pierson (The B-52's) is 66. Rhythm-and-blues singer Herbie Murrell (The Stylistics) is 65. Actor Douglas Sheehan is 65. Rock musician Ace Frehley is 63. Pop singer Sheena Easton is 55. Actor James Le Gros (groh) is 52. Rock musician Rob Squires (Big Head Todd and the Monsters) is 49. Singer Mica Paris is 45. Actor David Lascher is 42. Actress Maura West is 42. Actress Sally Hawkins is 38. Rock musician Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket) is 36. Rock singer Jim James (My Morning Jacket) is 36. Rock singer-musician Travis Meeks (Days of the New) is 35. Actress Ari Graynor is 31. Rock singer-musician Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy) is 30. Pop singer Nick Noonan (Karmin) is 28. Actor William Moseley is 27. Singer Allison Iraheta is 22.

Thought for Today: "For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while." -- Luther Burbank, American horticulturist (1849-1926).

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