PORTLAND, Ore. – A NASCAR racing star is in Portland to kick off a charity
motorcycle ride across the nation.

Racing champ Kyle Petty is leading 200 other riders on an 8-state, 2,400-mile
trip across the continent.

He’s doing the ride to raise money for Victory Junction – a camp in his home
state of North Carolina for terminally ill children.

Kyle is the son of Richard Petty, a NASCAR champion nicknamed “The King.”

This is 23rd time they’ve done the ride, but it is the first time they’ve started
in Portland. Petty says he and his co-riders are loving their stay in Oregon.

The ride is set to begin this Saturday morning at Manheim Portland Auto
Auction in Hayden Island. They plan to end eight days later in Milwaukie,
Wisconsin. (KATU-TV NEWS)

     
CAMILLE BOHANNON

On this day in 1973.

Daniel Ellsberg (left) speaks to reporters.

Irving Berlin (Israel Isidore Baline)
(May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989)

Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered
one of the greatest songwriters in U.S. history.

Michael Parks (Harry Samuel Parks) (April 24, 1940 – May 9, 2017)

Parks was a singer and actor who appeared in many films and made frequent
television appearances, but was probably best known for his work in his later
years with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and
Kevin Smith. Michael Parks died in his Los Angeles home Tuesday.  A cause
of death  has yet to be revealed.   

                2008

SANDY KOZEL

Central Pacific and Union Pacific Rail Roads meet in Promontory,
UT on this day in 1869. A golden spike was driven in the track at
the celebration of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S.

            
                The identical twin of  the Last Spike.

The Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany on
this day in 1933.

Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president
on this day in 1994.

Bono (Paul David Hewson) is 57 years old today.

Bono is the front man of U2, known for such hits as "Sunday
Bloody Sunday" and "Beautiful Day." The band has earned
over 20 Grammy Awards and has sold over 150 million
records. He is also a well-known philanthropist who has
championed causes in his native Ireland, in Africa, and all
over the world.

He spent his childhood singing. Growing up on O’Connell
Street in a suburb of Dublin, he earned his nickname "Bono"
from the phrase "Bono Vox of O’Connell Street," which means
"good voice of O’Connell Street."  He was named the Time
Person of the Year in 2005, along with Bill and Melinda Gates.