On Sept. 16, 1966, the Metropolitan Opera officially opened its new opera house at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s “Antony and Cleopatra.”

Ten years ago

The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI “sincerely” regretted offending Muslims with his reference to an obscure medieval text characterizing some of the teachings of Islam’s founder as “evil and inhuman,” but the statement stopped short of the apology demanded by Islamic leaders. Mexico extradited accused drug kingpin Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix to the U.S. (Arellano Felix later pleaded guilty to federal charges of selling cocaine in a San Diego motel and was sentenced to six years in prison, but was returned to Mexico in 2008 after getting credit for time served in Mexico while awaiting extradition; he was killed in October 2013 by a gunman disguised as a clown.)

Five years ago

President Barack Obama signed into law a major overhaul of the nation’s patent system to ease the way for inventors to bring their products to market. A World War II-era fighter plane plunged into spectators during air races in Reno, Nevada, killing 74-year-old Florida stunt pilot Jimmy Leeward and 10 others.

One year ago

Eleven Republican presidential candidates debated at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, wrangling over immigration, gay marriage and foreign affairs. Country singer Sturgill Simpson and singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, both eclectic genre-bending artists, took home top honors at the Americana Honors and Awards show in Nashville.

— By The Associated Press