Today in History: FDR signs order authorizing Japanese-American internment
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2025. There are 315 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Feb. 19, 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the internment of 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry, including U.S.-born citizens.
Also on this date:
In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.
In 1847, the first rescuers reached members of the Donner Party, who had been snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains near the California-Nevada border for nearly four months.
In 1878, inventor Thomas Edison was issued a patent for the phonograph.
In 1945, Operation Detachment began during World War II as the first wave of U.S. Marines landed at Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful monthlong battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford, calling the issuing of the 1942 internment order for people of Japanese ancestry 'a sad day in American history,' signed a proclamation formally confirming its termination.
In 2003, an Iranian military plane carrying members of the elite Revolutionary Guards crashed in southeastern Iran, killing all 275 people on board.
In 2008, an ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a half-century in power; his brother Raúl was later named to succeed him.
Today's birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson is 85. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) is 77. Author Amy Tan is 73. Actor Jeff Daniels is 70. Actor Ray Winstone is 68. Actor Leslie David Baker is 67. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 66. Tennis Hall of Famer Hana Mandlíková is 63. Singer Seal is 62. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 58. Author-cartoonist Jeff Kinney is 54. NBA center Nikola Jokić is 30. Singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is 27. Actor Millie Bobby Brown is 21.
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41 minutes ago
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This new Wine Country restaurant makes all its own pasta. This is the one to order
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2 hours ago
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Brick by brick: Hamilton father-daughter duo make history on ‘Lego Masters'
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While 59-year-old Jamie had enjoyed building Star Wars Lego sets as a child, the true obsession started with five-year-old Maia. Maia's parents gifted her a castle set in the '90s. Young Maia enjoyed rebuilding the set over and over. 'My dad said to me 'You know you don't have to build it exactly how the instructions say. You can take the parts and build a different castle,'' said Maia. 'I was like 'Gasp, no way.'' But it was not until Maia started working that she was able to expand her collection. Jamie's Lego passion started in the late '70s and early '80s when he would build basic space-themed sets — sets that his younger brother would promptly destroy. Both Jamie and Maia said they continue to build because the process is therapeutic and relaxing. 'It can really take you out of this world,' said Maia. 'For myself, I think it's really the creative process,' said Jamie. 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Where The show is streaming episodes on CTV2 on Mondays at 8 p.m. Watch Go to to watch. Maia Hughes' Lego workshop is lined with towers of drawers filled with expertly sorted Lego pieces. In one drawer, Lego people are sorted separately into heads, hair, torsos, and lower bodies. In another animals are sorted by species, and in another food is sorted by type. A unique dragon creation designed and built by Maia Hughes. The CN tower and SkyDome, a small kit purchased at a Toronto Lego convention. One of Maia Hughes' favourite creations is Rivendell from 'Lord of the Rings.' Maia Hughes' Lego workshop is lined with towers of drawers filled with expertly sorted Lego pieces. Maia Hughes Lego workshop is lined with towers of drawers filled with expertly sorted Lego pieces. In one drawer, Lego people are sorted separately into heads, hair, torsos, and lower bodies. Maia Hughes Lego workshop is lined with towers of drawers filled with expertly sorted Lego pieces. Maia Hughes' Lego workshop is lined with towers of drawers filled with expertly sorted Lego pieces. Animals are sorted by species, food is sorted by type. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
