Today is Sunday, March 30, the 90th day of 2008. There are 276 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot outside a Washington hotel by John Hinckley Jr. Also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty.

On this date:

n In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long, of Jefferson, Ga., first used ether as an anesthetic during a minor operation.

n In 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly.”

n In 1870, the 15th amendment to the Constitution, giving all citizens the right to vote regardless of race, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.

n In 1870, Texas was readmitted to the Union.

n In 1964, the original version of the TV game show “Jeopardy!” premiered on NBC.

n In 1986, actor James Cagney died at his farm in Stanfordville, N.Y., at age 86.

Five years ago: A Palestinian suicide bomber wounded 30 people outside a packed cafe in northern Israel, an attack the Islamic Jihad called “Palestine’s gift to the heroic people of Iraq.”

One year ago: President Bush went to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he apologized to troops for shoddy conditions in outpatient housing. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Richard Dysart is 79. Actor John Astin is 78. Game show host Peter Marshall is 78. Actor-director Warren Beatty is 71. Rock musician Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues) is 67. Rock musician Eric Clapton is 63. Actor Robbie Coltrane is 58. Actor Paul Reiser is 51. Rap artist MC Hammer is 45. Singer Tracy Chapman is 44. Actor Ian Ziering is 44. Singer Celine Dion is 40. Actor Mark Consuelos is 37. Singer Norah Jones is 29.

Thought for Today: “It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.” — Rene Descartes, French philosopher (1596-1650).

—The Associated Press