Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 — the 59th day of the year. There are 306 days left in 2025.
On this date in history:
Feb. 28, 1993 — A gunfight broke out at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms moved to arrest leader David Koresh on weapons charges. Four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians were killed, and the confrontation marked the start of a 51-day siege.
Feb. 28, 1844 — A 12-inch cannon aboard the USS Princeton exploded while the ship was on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others. President John Tyler, who was also aboard, was not injured.
Feb. 28, 1953 — Francis H.C. Crick announced, with James D. Watson, the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure.
Feb. 28, 1975 — A London Underground train failed to stop at Moorgate station and crashed into the tunnel end, killing 43 people.
Feb. 28, 1983 — The final episode of the TV series M*A*S*H aired; nearly 106 million viewers watched, making it the most-watched episode in U.S. television history.
Feb. 28, 1986 — Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated while walking with his wife in Stockholm; the killer was never identified.
Feb. 28, 2013 — Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, becoming the first pope to step down in about 600 years; he was succeeded the following month by Pope Francis.
Feb. 28, 2014 — President Barack Obama publicly warned Russia over reported military activity in Ukraine, saying there would be costs for any intervention.
Notable birthdays today:
Architect Frank Gehry, 96; rock singer Sam the Sham (Domingo Samudio), 88; actor-director-choreographer Tommy Tune, 86; racing legend Mario Andretti, 85; actors Mercedes Ruehl and Bernadette Peters, both 77; economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, 72; Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, 70; actor John Turturro, 68; actress Maxine Bahns, 55; actor Robert Sean Leonard, 56; musician Pat Monahan (Train), 56; actress Tasha Smith, 54; hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros, 52; actress Ali Larter, 49; country star Jason Aldean, 48; and NBA guard Luka Dončić, 26.
