1989

The fall of the Berlin wall on November 9th.

Cold fusion is announced in March and then denounced at the end of summer as clumsy science.

Arsenio Hall becomes first African-American to host a nightly talk show January 3rd.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini places a US $3-million bounty on the head of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.

Kim Basinger buys Braselton, Georgia for $20 million.

Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Alaska's Prince William Sound the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of oil after running aground.

Students protest on Tienanmen Square, Beijing, China - the army intervenes; 3000-7000 killed.

Worldwide ban of ivory

The stealth bomber is finished.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles become an over night sensation

Time and Warner combine to become Time Warner Inc.

Panama invasion, loud rock music drives Manuel Noreiga from his asylum.

Rob Lowe is spotted in a soft porn video with an underage girl.

The parents of the Menendez brothers are found murdered, Lyle and Erik are later accused of the murders.

Milli Vanilli gets Best New Artist Grammy which is later stripped when it's learned they were lip synching for another (much uglier) duo.

Pete Rose is banned from baseball for betting on games, August 24.

Collin Powell is appointed Joint Cheifs of Staff, highest army post to ever be held by a black officer.

Soviet Union begins fully withdraws from Afghanistan after 10 years of fighting with Afghan mujihadeen forces.

Vance vs. Judas Priest: Parents of two teenaged Judas Priest fans who attempted suicide in December 1985 sue the band, claiming that a subliminal message in the song "Better by You, Better than Me" influenced their actions. (Justice Jerry Carr Whitehead will rule in favor of the band in 1993.)

Serial killer Ted Bundy is executed in Florida's electric chair.

United Airlines Flight 232 (Douglas DC-10) crashes in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 112; due to extraordinary efforts by the pilot and crew, 184 on board survive.

In California, convicted murderer Richard Ramirez (the "Night Stalker") is sentenced to death.

Deaths:
Salvador Dalí, Spanish artist (b. 1904)
Lucille Ball, American entertainer (b. 1911)
Keith Whitley, American singer (b. 1955)
Gilda Radner, American comedian and actress (b. 1946)
Mel Blanc, American voice actor (b. 1908)
Irving Berlin, American composer (b. 1888)
Bette Davis, American actress (b. 1908)