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Today is Monday, May 20, the 140th day of 2002. There are 225 days left in the year. 

Highlight: 

One hundred year ago, on May 20, 1902, the United States ended its three-year military presence in Cuba as the Republic of Cuba was established under its first elected president, Tomas Estrada Palma. 

On this date: 

In 1506, Christopher Columbus died in poverty in Spain. 

In 1861, North Carolina voted to secede from the Union. 

In 1861, the capital of the Confederacy was moved from Montgomery, Ala., to Richmond, Va. 

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y., aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France. 

In 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland for Ireland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. 

In 1939, regular transatlantic air service began as a Pan American Airways plane, the Yankee Clipper, took off from Port Washington, N.Y., bound for Europe. 

In 1942, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded ”(I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo” at Victor Studios in Hollywood. 

In 1961, a white mob attacked a busload of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, Ala., prompting the federal government to send in U.S. marshals to restore order. 

In 1989, comedian Gilda Radner died in Los Angeles at age 42. 

Ten years ago: 

Proclaiming his innocence to the end, Roger Keith Coleman was executed in Virginia’s electric chair for the 1981 rape-murder of his sister-in-law, Wanda McCoy. Thailand’s much-revered monarch (King Bhumibol Adulyadej) called for an end to violent clashes between troops and pro-democracy protesters. 

Five years ago: 

The Senate approved legislation to ban certain late-term abortions, but fell three votes shy of the total needed to override President Clinton’s threatened veto. 

One year ago: 

President Bush, in an address to graduating Notre Dame students, urged a new generation of American voters to “revive the spirit of citizenship” and carry on the work of two Democratic presidents: Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty and welfare reforms under Bill Clinton. The Italian film “The Son’s Room” won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Today’s Birthdays: 

Actor James McEachin is 72. Actor Anthony Zerbe is 66. Actor David Proval is 60. Singer Joe Cocker is 58. Singer-actress Cher is 56. Actor-comedian Dave Thomas is 53. Musician Warren Cann is 50. Actor Dean Butler is 46.