On this day: January 17

/on/january-17
2016 • neutral • 48 views

CIA Publishes Declassified UFO Files from 1940s–1990s

Stacks of declassified government documents, some stamped with classification markings, laid out on a table in an archive reading room.

On Jan. 17, 2016, the CIA released a trove of declassified documents on unidentified aerial phenomena, spanning reports, analyses and internal correspondence from the mid-20th century to the 1990s, aiming to clarify past investigations but leaving some questions unresolved.

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Year unknown • neutral • 28 views

CIA Releases Declassified UFO Files Covering 1940s–1990s

Stacks of declassified CIA documents and typewritten reports spread on a table, labeled with dates from the 1940s to the 1990s, alongside a black-and-white aviation photograph.

The CIA has published declassified documents on unidentified flying objects spanning the 1940s through the 1990s, making internal reports, analyses and some photo materials publicly available for the first time in consolidated form.

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1988 • neutral • 31 views

Byner’s Goal-Line Fumble Costs Browns in 1988 AFC Championship

Late-1980s AFC Championship scene at Mile High Stadium showing a pileup near the goal line with players reaching for a loose ball; snow-dusted field and packed stands visible.

On Jan. 17, 1988, Cleveland Browns running back Earnest Byner fumbled at the Denver Broncos’ 2-yard line late in the AFC Championship, a turnover that preserved a Broncos lead and helped send Denver to Super Bowl XXII.

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1988 • neutral • 43 views

FDA Orders Withdrawal of Popular Drug Following Reported Deaths

A late-1980s pharmacy counter with prescription bottles and an official FDA notice posted on the wall, suggesting a drug withdrawal announcement.

On January 17, 1988, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the removal of a widely used prescription medication from the market after linked fatalities and safety concerns prompted regulators to act.

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1988 • neutral • 51 views

Earnest Byner’s Goal-Line Fumble Costs Browns in 1988 AFC Championship

Cleveland Stadium field during a late-1980s playoff game, showing players clustered near the goal line with a fumble recovery in progress; snowy or cold late-January conditions implied.

On January 17, 1988, in the AFC Championship at Cleveland Stadium, Browns running back Earnest Byner fumbled at the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter, ending a potential game-winning drive and sealing a 23–20 loss to the Denver Broncos.

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1999 • neutral • 45 views

Gary Anderson's First Missed Field Goal Comes in NFC Title Game

Metrodome interior during an NFL playoff game in January 1999, showing a turf field, goalposts, and crowd-filled stands under a domed roof; no identifiable player faces visible.

Kicker Gary Anderson, previously perfect on field-goal attempts all season, missed his first try during the January 17, 1999 NFC Championship Game, a turning point that contributed to the Minnesota Vikings' loss and ended their bid for a Super Bowl appearance.

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