By The Associated PressSun Sep 17, 8:00 PM ET

Today is Monday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2006. There are 104 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 18, 1793, President Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

On this date:

In 1810, Chile declared its independence from Spain.

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed slaveowners to reclaim slaves who had escaped to other states.

In 1851, the first edition of The New York Times was published.

In 1905, actress Greta Garbo was born in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1927, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) made its debut with a basic network of 16 radio stations.

In 1947, the National Security Act, which unified the Army, Navy and newly formed Air Force into a National Military Establishment, went into effect.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia.

In 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27.

In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 1981, a museum honoring former President Ford was dedicated in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ten years ago: Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole fell off a stage during a campaign rally in Chico, Calif., after a railing gave way; he was not seriously hurt. The O.J. Simpson civil trial opened in Santa Monica, Calif. The Food and Drug Administration declared the French abortion pill RU-486 safe and effective, but withheld final approval until later.

Five years ago: A week after the Sept. 11 attack, President Bush said he hoped to "rally the world" in the battle against terrorism and predicted that all "people who love freedom" would join. Letters postmarked Trenton, N.J., that later tested positive for anthrax were sent to the New York Post and NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw. Boeing announced plans to lay off up to 30,000 commercial airplane employees by the end of 2002.

One year ago: Tropical Storm Rita formed southeast of the Florida Keys. Millions of Afghans defied a Taliban boycott call and militant attacks to vote for a new parliament. German conservative challenger Angela Merkel's bloc won the most votes in elections, but fell short of a clear mandate to govern. "Everybody Loves Raymond" won the Emmy for best comedy in its final season; first-year hit "Lost" was named best drama.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Jimmie Rodgers is 73. Actor Robert Blake is 73. Sen. Robert Bennett (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah, is 73. Actor Fred Willard is 67. Singer Frankie Avalon is 66. Rock musician Kerry Livgren is 57. Actress Anna Deavere Smith is 56. Movie director Mark Romanek is 47. Actor James Gandolfini is 45. Singer Joanne Catherall (Human League) is 44. Actress Holly Robinson Peete is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ricky Bell (Bell Biv Devoe and New Edition) is 39. Actress Aisha Tyler is 36. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith is 35. Actor James Marsden is 33. Rapper Xzibit is 32. Actress Alison Lohman is 27. Actors Taylor and Brandon Porter are 13. Actor C.J. Sanders ("Ray") is 10.

Thought for Today: "Loneliness ... is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man." — From "You Can't Go Home Again," by Thomas Wolfe, American author (1900-1938).