TODAY IN HISTORY: March 18 - St. Augustine Record

The Associated PressToday is Thursday, March 18, the 77th day of 2021.

In 1911: Irving Berlin’s first major hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” was first published by Ted Snyder & Co. of New York.

(Three days later, the jury awarded $25 million in punitive damages; Gawker, which ended up going bankrupt, finally settled with Hogan for $31 million.)

One year ago: The U.S. and Canada agreed to temporarily close their shared border to nonessential travel.

Describing himself as a “wartime president,” President Donald Trump said he would invoke emergency powers to let the government steer production of needed medical supplies by private companies.