Today is Saturday, May 23, the 143rd day of 2026. There are 222 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On May 23, 1934, bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were shot to death during a police ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
Also on this date:
In 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, aligning with the Triple Entente of Russia, France and the United Kingdom.
In 1939, the diesel-electric submarine USS Squalus sank during a test dive in 240 feet (73 meters) of water off the coast of New Hampshire, killing 22 crew members. (Thirty-three survivors were rescued from the vessel in a 13-hour operation using a newly developed diving chamber the following day).
In 1945, Nazi official Heinrich Himmler killed himself while in British custody in Lüneburg, Germany.
In 1984, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a report saying there was “very solid” evidence linking cigarette smoke to lung disease in non-smokers.
In 2013, the Boy Scouts of America announced it would remove membership restrictions based on sexual orientation, while maintaining a ban on openly gay Scout leaders. (The ban on gay Scout leaders and organization employees was lifted two years later.)
In 2015, supporters of marriage equality in Ireland celebrated as referendum results showed a constitutional amendment in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage passing by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
In 2018, NFL owners approved a new policy allowing players to protest during the national anthem by staying in the locker room but forbidding players from sitting or taking a knee if they’re on the field.
In 2021, a cable car taking visitors to a mountaintop view of northern Italy’s Lake Maggiore plummeted to the ground when a cable snapped, killing 14 people.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Joan Collins is 93. Tennis Hall of Famer John Newcombe is 82. Chess grand master Anatoly Karpov is 75. Comedian-TV host Drew Carey is 68. Comedian-actor Lea DeLaria is 68. Author Mitch Albom is 68. Actor Melissa McBride is 61. Singer-songwriter Maxwell is 53. “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings is 52. Singer-songwriter Jewel is 52. Filmmaker Ryan Coogler is 40. Singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz (juh-ROHZ’) is 35.