MILESTONES: March 3 birthdays for Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jessica Biel, Brian Leetch
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Up Where We Belong” singer Jennifer Warnes, who was born in 1947; writer and historian Ron Chernow, who was born in Brooklyn in 1949; astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, who was born in 1949; Hooters guitarist John Lilley, who was born in 1954; “All My Children” star Darnell Williams, who was born in 1955; Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who was born in 1962; rapper and actor Tone Loc, who was born in 1966; N.Y. Rangers legend Brian Leetch, who was born in 1968; “Modern Family” star Julie Bowen, who was born in 1970; “7th Heaven” star Jessica Biel, who was born in 1982; and “Havana” singer Camila Cabello, who was born in 1997.
***
LIVES IN THE BALANCE: The Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress on this day in 1820. In February 1819, a bill was introduced to admit Missouri to the Union as a free state. At the time, there were 11 free states and 10 slave states. Southern congressmen feared this would upset the balance of power between North and South. As a compromise, Missouri was admitted as a slave state but slavery was forever prohibited in the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, this act was repealed when Kansas and Nebraska were allowed to decide on slave or free status by popular vote.
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.