Here's a quick look at our top stories for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025:
Watch the latest weather forecast
TOP HEADLINES:
Anaconda bar shooting suspect found unfit for trial, mental health evaluation ordered
Historic Montana State-Montana playoff game creates ticket frenzy
Lack of snow creates challenges for Bozeman winter sports businesses
Firefighters practice ice rescue techniques despite thin ice conditions
THAT’S INTERESTING:
Major Historical Events for December 17th
1903 - Wright Brothers' First Flight ✈️
The most famous event of December 17th occurred at 10:35 AM when Orville Wright piloted the first sustained, powered, and controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The historic flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, forever changing human transportation and launching the age of aviation.
1777 - France Recognizes American Independence
During the American Revolution, France formally recognized the United States as an independent nation, providing crucial international support for the colonists' fight against British rule.
1807 - Napoleon's Milan Decree
Napoleon issued the Milan Decree, confirming the Continental System that forbade all neutral countries and French allies from trading with Britain, escalating the economic warfare of the Napoleonic Wars.
2010 - Arab Spring Catalyst
Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolated as a protest against economic conditions in Tunisia. He died 18 days later at age 26, and his act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the broader Arab Spring movement across the Middle East.
1862 - General Grant's Controversial Order
Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued General Order No. 11, expelling all Jewish people from his military district (parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky), blaming them for cotton speculation. The order was quickly revoked by President Lincoln.
1986 - Medical History Made
Davina Thompson made medical history by receiving the first successful heart, lung, and liver transplant at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England.
Notable Birthdays
Historical Figures
- 1760 - Deborah Sampson - Revolutionary War hero who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army
- 1936 - Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) - Current Pope of the Catholic Church
- 1905 - Simo Häyhä - Finnish sniper known as "The White Death," credited with over 500 kills during WWII
Entertainment & Arts
- 1975 - Milla Jovovich - Ukrainian-born American actress and model
- 1974 - Sarah Paulson - American actress known for "American Horror Story"
- 1946 - Eugene Levy - Canadian actor and comedian, co-creator of "Schitt's Creek"
- 1953 - Bill Pullman - American actor known for "Independence Day" and "While You Were Sleeping"
Sports & Music
- 1978 - Manny Pacquiao - Filipino boxing legend, only fighter to win major world titles in 8 different weight divisions
- 1937 - Art Neville - American funk and R&B musician (Neville Brothers, The Funky Meters)
Notable Deaths
Scientific Giants
- 1907 - Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) - British mathematical physicist who developed the Kelvin temperature scale and made groundbreaking contributions to thermodynamics and electricity
Political Leaders
- 2011 - Kim Jong Il - North Korean dictator who ruled the Communist nation with an iron fist from 1994 until his death from a heart attack while traveling by train
Cultural Figures
- 1967 - Harold Holt - Australian Prime Minister who mysteriously disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach; his body was never recovered, leading to numerous conspiracy theories
Fun Facts About December 17th
- Special Observances: December 17th is officially Wright Brothers Day in the United States and National Maple Syrup Day
- Pop Culture: The first episode of "The Simpsons" aired on December 17, 1989
- Movie History: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" was released worldwide on December 17, 2003
- Aviation Milestone: On the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight (2003), pilot Brian Binnie achieved supersonic flight in SpaceShipOne, the first privately-built spacecraft to reach such speeds
- Zodiac: People born on December 17th are Sagittarius ♐
Parts of this story were converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
