Today is Wednesday, April 1, the 91st day of 2009. There are 274 days left in the year. This is April Fool’s Day.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT:

On April 1, 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II.

ON THIS DATE:

In 1933, Nazi Germany began persecuting Jews with a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

In 1939, the U.S. recognized the government of Gen. Francisco Franco in Spain.

In 1946, tidal waves struck the Hawaiian islands, resulting in more than 170 deaths.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.

In 1984, recording star Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., in Los Angeles, the day before his 45th birthday.

In 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law new protections for the unborn that made it a separate federal crime to harm a fetus during an assault on the mother.

In 2008, top executives of the country’s five biggest oil companies told a skeptical Congress they knew record fuel prices were hurting people, but argued it wasn’t their fault and their huge profits were in line with other industries.

Associated Press