Today is Sunday, May 20th, the 140th day of 2001. There are 225 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 20th, 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland for Ireland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. 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, Alabama, to Richmond, Virginia. In 1902, the United States ended its occupation of Cuba. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, aboard the "Spirit of St. Louis" on his historic solo flight to France. In 1939, regular transatlantic air service began as a Pan American Airways plane, the "Yankee Clipper," took off from Port Washington, New York, bound for Europe. In 1961, a white mob attacked a busload of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, Alabama, prompting the federal government to send in US marshals to restore order. In 1969, US and South Vietnamese forces captured Apbia Mountain, referred to as "Hamburger Hill" by the Americans, following one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. In 1970, some 100,000 people demonstrated in New York's Wall Street district in support of US policy in Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1989, comedian Gilda Radner died in Los Angeles at age 42. Ten years ago: Lawmakers in the Soviet Union voted to liberalize foreign travel and emigration. The American Red Cross announced measures aimed at screening blood more carefully for the AIDS virus. The movie "Barton Fink" won the top prizes at the 44th annual Cannes Film Festival. Five years ago: The Supreme Court struck down, 6-to-3, a Colorado measure banning laws that protect homosexuals from discrimination. In another decision, the court curtailed, 5-to-4, huge jury awards aimed at punishing or deterring misconduct. One year ago: The five nuclear powers on the UN Security Council agreed to eventually eliminate their nuclear arsenals, as part of a new disarmament agenda approved by 187 countries. "Red Bullet" won the Preakness Stakes, outpacing Kentucky Derby winner "Fusaichi Pegasus." Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal died in Paris at age 78. Today's Birthdays: Actor James McEachin is 71. Actor Anthony Zerbe is 65. Actor David Proval is 59. Singer Joe Cocker is 57. Singer-actress Cher is 55. Actor-comedian Dave Thomas is 52. Musician Warren Cann is 49. Actor Dean Butler is 45. Ron Reagan is 43. Rock musician Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's) is 43. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 42. Actor Tony Goldwyn is 41. Singer Susan Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 41. Singer Nick Heyward is 40. Actress Mindy Cohn is 35. Rock musician Tom Gorman (Belly) is 35. Rapper Buster Rhymes is 29. "We must have ... a place where children can have a whole group of adults they can trust." -- Margaret Mead, American anthropologist (1901-1978). (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)