On July 26, 1775, the Continental Congress established a Post Office and appointed Benjamin Franklin its Postmaster-General.

Ten years ago

In a dramatic turnaround from her first murder trial, Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity by a Houston jury in the bathtub drownings of her five children; she was committed to a state mental hospital. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to a joint meeting of U.S. Congress to press the war in Iraq with money and troops. In Baghdad, a thinner but combative Saddam Hussein returned to his trial for the first time since his hunger strike and hospitalization.

Five years ago

The White House threatened to veto emergency House legislation that aimed to avert a threatened national default. Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon announced he would resign amid the political fallout from an 18- year-old woman’s allegations of an unwanted sexual encounter with him, charges that Wu denied.

One year ago

Closing out a historic visit to the land of his father’s birth, President Barack Obama told Kenyans that their country was at a crossroads, and he urged them to “choose the path to progress” by continuing to root out corruption, eliminate income inequality and be more inclusive of women and girls. In a rare Sunday session, senior Senate Republicans lined up to rebuke Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz – without mentioning him by name – for harshly criticizing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Chris Froome won his second Tour de France in three years.

— By The Associated Press