Today is Wednesday, July 1, the 182nd day of 2009. There are 183 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain as the British North America Act took effect.

ON THIS DATE

In 1859, the first intercollegiate baseball game took place in Pittsfield, Mass., between teams from Williams College and Amherst College. (Amherst won 73-32.)

In 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, resulting in a Union victory, began in Pennsylvania.

In 1946, the United States exploded a 20-kiloton atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1980, “O Canada” was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada.

In 1984, the Motion Picture Association of America established the “PG-13” rating.

In 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule.

In 2004, legendary film and stage actor Marlon Brando died in Los Angeles at age 80.

Associated Press