1990 – 25 years ago
• Harold Severson, a newspaper reporter for almost 70 years and something of a legend in southeastern Minnesota, is retiring as the Post-Bulletin's Town and Country editor. Severson, the author of 18 books, lives in his hometown of Kenyon. It was there that he began his newspaper career at age 11, working as a sports stringer for the Kenyon News.
• Reservations are now being taken for the 10th anniversary Mayowood Christmas tour beginning Nov. 2. The Christmas tour program is sponsored by the Friends of Mayowood Residence as a benefit for the preservation of the mansion.
1965 – 50 years ago
• A 2-1 Twins win gave Minnesotans their first American League pennant since the baseball franchise moved here from Washington D.C. The effort to obtain tickets to any World Series games may prove futile for local fans.
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• Dago, a black Labrador owned and handled by Carl Ruffalo of Rochester, captured first place in the open all-age title in a Zumbro Valley Retriever Club trial at Pirate's Den Kennels.
1940 – 75 years ago
• Olmsted and Dodge counties were stocked today with an additional 1,200 quail released in game refugees of 4-H club members. The quail, six weeks old, will be safe on the refugees and will be fed by club members.
• More than 1,000 people, the largest crowd ever to witness a junior college football game in Rochester, saw Rochester bow to a much bigger and stronger Austin Junior College team 25-0.
1915 – 100 years ago
• The Congregational church in Rochester has decided to build a new house of worship. Work will start next spring and an effort to raise $37,500 is underway. Pledges in the amount of $25,726 have already been received. The new structure will be an artistic building in every respect.
From news services
Ten years ago: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of conspiring to violate political fundraising laws. (DeLay was convicted in 2010, but the conviction was ultimately overturned.) A woman disguised as a man slipped into a line of Iraqi army recruits and detonated explosives strapped to her body, killing six recruits in the first known suicide attack by a woman in Iraq's insurgency. The U.S. Treasury unveiled the new $10 bill, featuring splashes of red, yellow and orange.
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Five years ago: The youngest son of North Korean President Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, was selected for his first leadership post in the ruling Workers Party, putting him well on the path to succeed his father. Movie director Arthur Penn ("Bonnie and Clyde") died in New York a day after turning 88.
One year ago: In an interview that aired on CBS' "60 Minutes," President Barack Obama acknowledged that U.S. intelligence agencies had underestimated the threat from Islamic State militants and overestimated the ability and will of Iraq's army to fight. Gov. Jerry Brown announced that he had signed a bill making California the first in the nation to define when "yes means yes" and adopt requirements for colleges to follow when investigating sexual assault reports. Europe defeated the United States to win the Ryder Cup, 16 1/2 to 11 1/2. Jordan Zimmermann threw the first no-hitter by a Washington Nationals pitcher in a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.
Today's birthdays: Actress Brigitte Bardot is 81. Actor Joel Higgins is 72. Singer Helen Shapiro is 69. Movie writer-director-actor John Sayles is 65. Rock musician George Lynch is 61. Zydeco singer-musician C.J. Chenier is 58. Actor Steve Hytner is 56. Actress-comedian Janeane Garofalo is 51. Country singer Matt King is 49. Actress Mira Sorvino is 48. TV personality Moon Zappa is 48. Actress-model Carre Otis is 47. Actress Naomi Watts is 47. Country singer Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) is 46. Country musician Chuck Crawford is 42. Country singer Mandy Barnett is 40. Rapper Young Jeezy is 38. World Golf Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak is 38. Actor Peter Cambor is 37. Writer-producer-director-actor Bam Margera is 36. Actress Melissa Claire Egan is 34. Actress Jerrika Hinton is 34. Pop-rock singer St. Vincent is 33. Rock musician Daniel Platzman (Imagine Dragons) is 29. Actress Hilary Duff is 28. Actor Keir Gilchrist is 23.
