Today is Friday, March 25, the 84th day of 2011. There are 281 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On March 25, 1911, 146 people, mostly young female immigrants, were killed when a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York.

On this date

In 1634, English colonists sent by Lord Baltimore arrived in present-day Maryland.

In 1865, during the Civil War, Confederate forces attacked Fort Stedman in Virginia but were forced to withdraw by counterattacking Union troops.

In 1894, Jacob Coxey began leading an “army” of unemployed from Massillon, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., to demand help from the federal government.

In 1918, French composer Claude Debussy died in Paris.

In 1947, a coal mine explosion in Centralia, Ill., claimed 111 lives.

In 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 marchers to the state capitol in Montgomery, Ala., to protest the denial of voting rights to blacks.

In 1975, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was shot to death by a nephew with a history of mental illness. (The nephew was beheaded in June 1975.)

In 1991, “Dances With Wolves” won seven Oscars, including best picture, at the 63rd annual Academy Awards.

Ten years ago

At the 73rd Academy Awards, “Gladiator” won best picture; its star, Russell Crowe, won best actor; Julia Roberts won best actress for “Erin Brockovich”; Steven Soderbergh won best director for “Traffic.”

Five years ago

In Los Angeles, half a million people marched to protest federal legislation to make illegal immigration a felony and build more walls along the border. In Seattle, Aaron Kyle Huff opened fire in a house full of ravers, killing six of them before killing himself.

One year ago

Osama bin Laden threatened in a new message to kill any Americans al-Qaida captured if the U.S. executed Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, or other al-Qaida suspects. Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved new rules easing enforcement of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Today’s Birthdays

Modeling agency founder Eileen Ford is 89. Former astronaut James Lovell is 83. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 77. Singer Anita Bryant is 71. Singer Aretha Franklin is 69. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 68. Singer Elton John is 64. Actress Bonnie Bedelia is 63. Actor James McDaniel is 53. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is 53. Rock musician Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) is 51. Actress Marcia Cross is 49. Author Kate DiCamillo (“Because of Winn-Dixie”) is 47. Actress Lisa Gay Hamilton is 47. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is 46. Former MLB All-Star pitcher Tom Glavine is 45. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Dr. Debi Thomas is 44. Actor Sean Faris is 29. Auto racer Danica Patrick is 29. Actress-singer Aly (AKA Alyson) Michalka is 22.

Thought for Today

“Scratch a pessimist, and you find often a defender of privilege.”

— Lord Beveridge,

British economist (1879-1963)