- January 29
- The Castaways hotel and casino in Las Vegas closes. (The hotel originaly opened in the 1950s as the Showboat.) [386.169]
- February 3
- The US Central Intelligence Agency admits that there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. [25]
- February 11
- Comcast in the USA launches a US$54 billion hostile takeover bid for the Walt Disney Company. The bid is withdrawn on April 28. [6]
- February 12
- San Francisco, California begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as an act of civil disobedience. [25]
- February 13
- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics discovers the universe's largest known diamond, white dwarf star BPM 37093. [5]
- February 26
- The United States lifts a 23-year travel ban against Libya. [25]
- March
- The US Mint releases a circulating 5-cent coin for the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase. [342.26]
- March 24
- The European Competition Commission labels Microsoft an abusive monopolist. The Commission says Microsoft must offer European computer makers two versions of Windows, with and without Windows Media Player, must share technical information on server software with rivals, and must pay a US$613 million fine. [4]
- March 31
- Four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA are killed, and their bodies mutilated, after being ambushed in Fallujah, Iraq. [25]
- April 26
- The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing introduces new US$50 Federal Reserve notes, incorporating color and more complex security elements. [347.1]
- April 28
- Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse in Iraq is revealed on the US television show 60 Minutes II. [25]
- April 29
- The last Oldsmobile car rolls off of the assembly line in the USA, ending 107 years of production. [5] [25]
- In Washington, D.C., the National World War II Memorial opens on 7.4 acres of land. [129]
- May 1
- The Sasser computer worm is first noticed on the loose, affecting Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The worm crashes and rebots computers, replicating itself to other computers. Millions of computers are quickly affected worldwide. [4]
- May 4
- A WNBC helicopter crashes in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. This event is covered by rival station WABC-TV. [25]
- May 12
- An American civilian contractor in Iraq, Nick Berg, is shown being decapitated by a group allegedly linked to al-Qaida on a web-distributed video. [25]
- May 14
- Two US Marines are sentenced to prison for electrocuting an Iraqi prisoner a month earlier. [46.445]
- May 17
- Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage in compliance with a ruling from the state's Supreme Judicial Court (Goodridge v. Department of Public Health). [25]
- May 20
- The Olsen specimen of the US 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent piece (Proof 64 NGC) is sold for $3 million. [560.18] [686.18]
- May 26
- Terry Nichols is convicted by an Oklahoma state court on murder charges stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. [25]
- May 29
- In Washington, D.C., the National World War II Memorial is formally dedicated by U.S. President George W. Bush. [25] [129]
- June 3
- Central Intelligence Agency director George Tenet tenders his resignation, citing "personal reasons". John E. McLaughlin, US Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director, becomes the acting Director until a permanent Director is chosen and confirmed by Congress. [25]
- June 4
- Marvin Heemeyer destroys many local buildings with a home-made tank in Granby, Colorado. [25]
- June 8
- The 30th G8 summit takes place over the next two days on Sea Island, in Georgia, USA. [25]
- June 11
- Terry Nichols is spared the death penalty by an Oklahoma state court on murder charges stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The decision comes on the third anniversary of the execution of his co-defendant, Timothy McVeigh, in Terre Haute, Indiana. [25]
- July 4
- Groundbreaking takes place for the Freedom Tower begins at Ground Zero in New York City. [25]
- July 8
- (to July 9) Bowers and Merena Auctions conduct the auction of Jim Gray's North Carolina Collection. Some highlights:
- US 1870-S half dime, unique, MS-63 NGC: US$661,250;
- US 1873-CC Seated Liberty dime, No Arrows, MS-65 NGC: US$891,250.
[420.78] [518.38]
- July 22
- Production of the 2004 model Corvette ends, also ending production of the C5 model Corvette. Nearly 250,000 were built since the 1997 model. [8]
- July 26
- (to July 29) The Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts nominates John Kerry for U.S. President and John Edwards for Vice President. [25]
- August 3
- In the USA, the Statue of Liberty reopens after security improvements. [25]
- August 9
- Disney's Donald Duck cartoon character receives a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. [6]
- August 12
- New Jersey Governor James McGreevey announces that he is "a gay American" and will resign effective November 15, 2004. [25]
- August 13
- Hurricane Charley kills 27 people in Florida after killing four in Cuba and one in Jamaica. Charley made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Charley is the most intense hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. [25]
- August 29
- Around 200,000 protesters demonstrate in New York City against U.S. President George W. Bush and his government, ahead of the 2004 Republican National Convention. [25]
- August 30
- (to September 2) U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are re-nominated at the Republican National Convention in New York City. [25]
- September 3
- Hurricane Frances makes landfall in Florida. After killing two people in the Bahamas, Hurricane Frances kills ten people in Florida, two in Georgia and one in South Carolina. [25]
- September 8
- In the "Rathergate" affair, the first Internet posts appear pointing out that documents claimed by CBS News to be typewritten memos from the early 1970s appear instead to have been produced using modern word processing systems. [25]
- September 13
- The U.S. Assault Weapons Ban expires. [25]
- September 16
- The US Mint unveils the design of a new 5-cent coin showing a close-up of Thomas Jefferson, and two new reverse designs commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition. [351.14]
- Hurricane Ivan strikes Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 3 storm, killing 25 in Alabama and Florida, becoming the third costliest hurricane in American history. [25]
- September 22
- In the USA, ABC airs the premiere of the TV series Lost. [50.90]
- September 23
- Mount St. Helens in Washington state, USA, becomes active again. [25]
- Tropical Storm Ivan, having come around and reformed in the Gulf of Mexico, makes its final landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, to little effect. In total, the storm will kill 92 people. [25]
- September 25
- Hurricane Jeanne makes landfall near Port Saint Lucie, Florida, near location Hurricane Frances hit two weeks earlier. Jeanne kills over 3,030, mostly in Haiti. [25]
- September 29
- In Mojave, California, the first Ansari X-Prize flight takes place of SpaceShipOne, which is competing with a number of spacecraft (including Canada's Da Vinci Project, claimed to be its closest rival). [25]
- October 2
- American Samoa joins the North American Numbering Plan. [5]
- October 8
- Martha Stewart begins serving a five-month sentence for insider trading, at the Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia. [25]
- October 20
- Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 crashes in Missouri, killing 13 people and injuring two. [25]
- October 25
- The US Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. [25]
- November 2
- U.S. presidential election: U.S. President George W. Bush defeats Senator John Kerry. Republicans make gains in the House and Senate. [25]
- November 8
- Heritage Numismatic Auctions sells a US 50-cent coin, 1919-D MS-66 for US$270,250. [303.31]
- November 12
- In Redwood City, California, a jury finds Scott Peterson guilty of the murder of his wife Laci and unborn son Conner. [25]
- November 14
- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell submits his resignation. (He is replaced by Condoleezza Rice after her confirmation by the US Congress.) [25]
- November
- A US 1885 Trade Dollar graded Proof-63 sells at auction for US$1,006,250. [505.56]
- November 26
- An oil tanker sppills as much as 1.8 million litres of crude oil into the Delaware River between Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, USA. [522]
- November 30
- Longtime Jeopardy! (TV show) champion Ken Jennings finally loses, leaving him with $2,520,700, television's all-time biggest game show haul. [5]
- December 2
- David Bieber, a 38-year-old former American marine, is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a Leeds policeman and the attempted murder of two others following an incident on December 26, 2003. The trial judge recommends that he should never be released from prison. [25]
- December 6
- Terrorists attack the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, killing several people. [25]
- December 10
- Malaysian freighter Selendang Ayu carrying 1.8 million litres of fuel oil snaps in two off Unalaska Island, Alaska, USA, releasing thousands of litres of fuel oil. [522]
- December 25
- An historic and unprecedented snowfall occurs over portions of southern Texas during the early morning hours. Daily totals include 1.5 inches at Brownsville, 3.5 inches at McAllen, 4.4 inches at Corpus Christi, and 12.1 inches at Victoria. [25]
2005
- January 12
- Steven Contursi and Donald Kagin purchase the unique (US) 1787 Brasher gold doubloon for US$2,990,000, third highest price ever paid for a rare coin at public auction. [421.125] [548.79]
- January
- Heritage Auction Galleries sells a 1907 Saint-Gaudens, Ultra High Relief double eagle for nearly $3 million. [548.79]
- January 19
- Anna Escobedo Cabral becomes the 42nd US Treasurer. [504.4]
- January 20
- George W. Bush is inaugurated in Washington, D.C. for his second term as the 43rd President of the United States. [26] [443.52]
- January 26
- Two trains derail, killing 11 and injuring 200, in Glendale, California near Los Angeles. [26]
- February 3
- Alberto Gonzales wins Senate confirmation (60-36) as the USA's first Hispanic attorney general. [129]
- February 24
- David Hernandez Arroyo goes on a shooting rampage at the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler, Texas. He kills two, including his ex-wife, and wounds four others before being killed in a police chase. [26]
- February 25
- Wichita, Kansas police apprehend the so-called BTK serial killer Dennis Rader, 31 years after his first murder. [26]
- March 1
- The Supreme Court of the United States rules the death penalty unconstitutional for juveniles who committed their crimes before age 18. [26]
- March 2
- President George W. Bush awards the nation's highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously to Jackie Robinson's widow. Robinson died in 1972. [56]
- March 11
- Three people, including a judge, are murdered in the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia; the main suspect, Brian Nichols, surrenders to police the next day. [26]
- March 21
- Ten are killed in the Red Lake High School massacre in Minnesota, the worst school shooting since the Columbine High School massacre. [26]
- March 23
- The United States' 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refuses 2-1 to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. [26]
- April 19
- The US Mint announces plans to produce 24-karat gold bullion coins in 2006. [304.29]
- May 2
- The Pontiac Grand Am car ceases production at the 100 year-old Lansing Car Assembly plant. [5]
- May 11
- Serial killer Michael Ross becomes the first person executed in New England in 45 years. [26]
- May 13
- The United States Department of Defense issues a list of bases to be closed as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC 2005). [26]
- May 16
- George Galloway appears before a U.S. Senate committee, to answer allegations of making money from the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme. [26]
- June 2
- At the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, a US $20 gold coin, 1927-D PCGS MS-66 sells for US$1.65 million. [304.28]
- June 9
- At Logan Airport, almost 400 people narrowly avoid death when two jet airliners nearly collide on the runway. [26]
- June 15
- Off the coast of Northern California, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
- June
- American Numismatic Rarities auctions a US 1796 Capped Bust, No Stars quarter eagle MS-65 for $1,380,000. [548.79]
- June 17
- A 6.7 aftershock, which followed a 5.3 earthquake the previous day, hits California, making it the fourth earthquake since June 12 in California. [26]
- Because of "quadruple-witching" options and futures expiration, the New York Stock Exchange sees the heaviest first-hour trading on record. 704 million shares are traded between 9:30-10:30 A.M. (1.92 billion shares for the day). [26]
- (month unknown)
- Steven Contursi of Rare Coin Wholesalers purchases the King of Siam Proof set (including Class I US 1804 dollar) for $8.5 million. [525.78]
- July 10
- Hurricane Dennis strikes near Navarre Beach, Florida as a Category 3 storm, killing ten people after killing over 50 people in the Caribbean. [26]
- July 19
- President George W. Bush nominates Appeals Court Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to the United States Supreme Court, following the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor. [26]
- July 26
- Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on its "Return To Flight" mission. This is the first space shuttle flight in nearly 2 1/2 years since the breakup of Space Shuttle Columbia on its return from mission STS-107. [26] [129]
- August 18
- In the USA, BTK killer Dennis Rader receives ten consecutive life sentences. [26]
- August 29
- At least 1,836 are killed, and severe damage is caused along the U.S. Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Katrina strikes coastal areas from Louisiana to Alabama, and travels up the entire state of Mississippi (flooding coast 31 feet/10 m), affecting most of eastern North America. [26] [68.29]
- September 5
- John G. Roberts is nominated by President George W. Bush for Chief Justice of the United States, to replace William Rehnquist, who had died two days previously. [26]
- September 24
- Hurricane Rita hits the U.S. Gulf Coast, devastating areas near Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana. The New Orleans's 9th Ward re-floods since Katrina, and Mississippi and Alabama are also affected. [26]
- Worldwide protests occur against the Iraq War, with over 150,000 protestors in Washington DC. [26]
- September 26
- U.S. Army Reservist Lynndie England is convicted by a military jury on six of seven counts in connection with the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. [26]
- September 28
- American politician Tom DeLay is indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy by a Texas grand jury. [26]
- September 29
- John G. Roberts, Jr. is confirmed and sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States. [26]
- September 30
- Michael Eisner resigns from The Walt Disney Company board of directors, also his last day as CEO of the company. The value of the company during Eisner's term (1984-2005) rose from US$3 billion to US$60 billion. New company CEO is Robert Iger. [6]
- October 2
- A shipwreck in Lake George, New York kills 20 people. [26]
- October 3
- St. Tammany Parish Schools reopen in Louisiana, just over a month after Hurricane Katrina closed them. [26]
- U.S. President George W. Bush nominates Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court of the United States. [26]
- October 15
- A riot occurs in Toledo, Ohio during a Neo-Nazi rally on racial issues; 114 are arrested. [26]
- October 21
- Lyn Knight auction of Series 1890 $1000 US Treasury "Grand Watermelon" note sells for record US$1,092,500. [555.30]
- October 24
- Hurricane Wilma makes landfall in southwestern Florida as a category 3 hurricane. [26]
- October 26
- The American death toll in the Iraq war reaches 2,000. [26]
- October 27
- Harriet Miers withdraws her name from consideration for the Supreme Court of the United States. [26]
- October 28
- Vice presidential adviser Lewis "Scooter" Libby resigns after being charged with obstruction of justice, perjury and making a false statement in the US Central Intelligence Agency leak investigation. [26]
- October 31
- U.S. President George W. Bush nominates Federal Appeals Court Judge Samuel Alito to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. [26]
- November 1
- The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive in the United States for a state visit, their first overseas tour since their marriage. [26]
- United States Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats force a closed session of the Senate over the Lewis Libby indictment. [26]
- November 4
- The U.S. and Uruguay governments sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty. [26]
- November 6
- A tornado hits western Kentucky and southwestern Indiana, killing at least 22. [26]
- November
- The American government administration lifts its arms embargo on Indonesia, resuming full relations with the Indonesian military. [240.52]
- A US 1884 Trade Dollar graded Proof-65 sells at auction for US$603,750. [505.56]
- November 20
- The Washington Post rebukes journalist Bob Woodward over his conduct in the US Central Intelligence Agency leak probe. [26]
- December 2
- In Wentworth, North Carolina, Kenneth Boyd becomes the 1,000th person to be executed in the United States since the re-introduction of capital punishment in 1976. [26]
- December 7
- A U.S. Federal Air Marshal fatally shoots Rigoberto Alpizar on a jetway at Miami International Airport in Florida. [26]
- December 8
- Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 overshoots the runway at Chicago Midway Airport, killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring 11 other people. [26]
- December 20
- New York City's Transport Workers Union Local 100 goes on strike for three days, shutting down all New York City Subway and Bus services. [26]
- December 22
- US President George W. Bush signs the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 into law as Public-Law 109-145. [548.113]
- December 23
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announces the first in an expected series of troop drawdowns following the Iraqi elections. [26]
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