Current Events
1994
Shannen Doherty leaves 90210. Her character Brenda Walsh is replaced by Valerie played by Tiffani Amber Thiessen.
French writer Jules Verne, who predicted automobiles, fax machines, subways, and the electric chair back in the 1860's in his book Paris in the Twentieth Century, was criticized for his work.
But after the manuscript turned up in an attic, it got published for the first time in France in 1994.
Heather Whitestone was the first deaf person to be crowned Miss America. She won the contest in 9/94, after a talent competition where she danced to the vibrations of the music.
On November 8, 1994, Republicans won a huge election victory, taking most of the seats in both houses of Congress, a big blow to the Democrats and President Bill Clinton.
Bob Dole, from Kansas, became the majority leader of the Senate and later would run for president in 1996.
Newt Gingrich, from Georgia, took over as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Republicans began to pass new laws based on the "Contract With America."
Japan's worst earthquake in 50 years hit the city of Kobe and its surroundings in 1/95. Over 5,000 people died, and 25, 000 were hurt, and hundreds of thousands lost their homes.
The O.J. Simpson Trial started in 1/95.
The 49ers beat the Chargers 49-26 in Miami on January 29, 1995. Steve Young, named MVP, threw a record 6 touchdown passes.
Michael Jordan, who retired from basketball in late 1993, returned to the sport in early 1995.
In 2/95 pianist Helen Huang, 12, played for the first time with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She still wasn't very tall-a special gadget had to be used so her feet could reach the pedals.
Grammy winners in 95 included Sheryl Crow, who won best New Artist, and San Francisco punk-pop band Green Day for Best Alternative Performance. Boyz II Men won Best R&B Group while
Soundgarden picked up awards for hard rock and metal.
On April 12, 1995, the Lady Huskies of UCONN won the NCAA tounnament with a perfect 35-0 record. The last and only other team to do so were the Lady Longhhorns of the University of Texas in 1986.
On April 19, 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by a massive car bomb explosion. The nation mourned the loss of the 168 people who died.
There was no world series in 1994. Baseball players went on strike on August 12th. A new season began on April 26, 1995, after an agreement had been made.
South Africa has a black president for the first time. Nelson Mandela became the country's leader in 5/94. Before then, black people could not vote and had to live under harsh laws.
Mandela, who fought against these laws when he was younger, was arrested by the government, and spent over 25 years in prison.
In June 1995, Houston Rockets won their second consecutive NBA championship sweeping the Orlando Magic 4-0 in the series. Hakeem Olajuwon was honored MVP for the second year in a row.
Email: kewlies@eden.rutgers.edu
