On This Day, Dec. 3: Judge OKs Detroit's largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S.

On December 3, 2013, a federal judge ruled that Detroit was eligible for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. File Photo by Bill Pugliano/UPI
On December 3, 2013, a federal judge ruled that Detroit was eligible for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. File Photo by Bill Pugliano/UPI
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Dec. 3 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1818, Illinois was admitted as the 21st state in the United States.

In 1833, Oberlin College in Ohio, the first truly coeducational college in the United States, opened with an enrollment of 29 men and 15 women.

In 1929, the Ford Motor Co. raised the pay of its employees from $6 to $7 a day despite the collapse of the U.S. stock market.

In 1967, Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant at Cape Town, South Africa.

Graduating Midshipman Judith Cho (L) congratulates classmate Michaela Connally after she took the oath of office during the 2016 graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on May 27, 2016. On December 3, 2015, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced all combat roles in the U.S. armed forces would be opened to women. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

In 1984, poison gas leaked at a Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, in the world's worst chemical disaster. Death toll estimates varied widely. Government officials said about 3,000 people died shortly after the leak and many thousands more in the months and years ahead.

UPI File Photo
UPI File Photo
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (L) and U.S. President George H.W. Bush (R) eat dinner during a summit December 2, 1989, in Malta. On December 3, the two leaders declared an end to the Cold War. File Photo by David Valdez/U.S. president's office
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (L) and U.S. President George H.W. Bush (R) eat dinner during a summit December 2, 1989, in Malta. On December 3, the two leaders declared an end to the Cold War. File Photo by David Valdez/U.S. president's office

In 1989, U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared the Cold War over during a summit in Malta. Some historians believe the Cold War didn't end until 1991, though, when the Soviet Union collapsed.

In 1992, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to authorize sending a U.S.-led multinational force to Somalia.

The Comcast Center in downtown Philadelphia is seen on December 3, 2009, as Comcast Corp. agreed to take majority-ownership of NBC Universal from General Electric Corp. in a complex deal valued at more than $30 billion. File Photo by John Anderson/UPI
The Comcast Center in downtown Philadelphia is seen on December 3, 2009, as Comcast Corp. agreed to take majority-ownership of NBC Universal from General Electric Corp. in a complex deal valued at more than $30 billion. File Photo by John Anderson/UPI

In 1997, delegates from 131 countries met in Canada to sign the Convention on the Prohibition, Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines.

In 2006, Hugo Chavez, an outspoken critic of U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. foreign policy, was re-elected for a third term as president of Venezuela.

U.S. President Bill Clinton walks with a group of U.S. troops just back from Somalia on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 5, 1993. On December 3, 1992, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to authorize sending a U.S.-led multinational force to Somalia. UPI File Photo
U.S. President Bill Clinton walks with a group of U.S. troops just back from Somalia on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 5, 1993. On December 3, 1992, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to authorize sending a U.S.-led multinational force to Somalia. UPI File Photo
File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

In 2009, Comcast, the largest cable operator in the United States, bought 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric for $13.75 billion.

In 2013, a federal judge ruled that Detroit was eligible for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

In 2015, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced all combat roles in the U.S. armed forces would be opened to women.

In 2017, astronauts on the International Space Station held the first pizza party in space.

In 2022, former President Donald Trump called for the "termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" in a Truth Social post falsely claiming that tech companies and Democrats conspired to manipulate the 2020 election results. The Biden White House condemned Trump's statement.

File Photo by John Nacion/UPI
File Photo by John Nacion/UPI