Misery persists 9 days after Ida; Lee statue coming down in Va.; Spears’ father files to end conservatorship

Movie cinema staff spray disinfectant in preparation for its reopening at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. Malaysia's government announced the reopening of most entertainment and art sectors to fully vaccinated individuals in all states beginning Sept 9. 

The statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee is bathed in the late sun on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va., Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. The statue is scheduled to be removed by the state Wednesday, Sept. 8 after a ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court. 

Guthrie Matherne, left, and Blakland Matherne, right, looks at what remains of their hurricane destroyed business in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Lockport, La. 

1957 — Althea Gibson becomes the first Black player to win the U.S. Open, beating Louise Brough, 6-3, 6-2. Australia’s Malcolm Anderson defeats countryman Ashley Cooper in three sets to become the first unseeded player to win the U.S. Open.

1969 — Australia's Rod Laver wins the U.S. Open and the grand slam of tennis for the second time in his career with a four-set victory over Tony Roche. Laver wins 7-9, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

1990 — Gabriela Sabatini prevents Steffi Graf from winning her third consecutive Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory in the U.S. Open.

1998 — Mark McGwire breaks Roger Maris’ 37-year-old home run record, lining historic No. 62 just over the wall in left field with two outs in the fourth inning. McGwire’s shot off the Chicago Cubs’ Steve Trachsel sets off a wild celebration in Busch Stadium.

2001 — Venus Williams wins her second consecutive U.S. Open title by beating her sister, Serena, 6-2, 6-4 in the first prime-time women’s Grand Slam final. The match is the 10th between sisters in a Grand Slam match during the Open era, with the older sister winning every time.

2002 — Pete Sampras beats Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to win his 14th Grand Slam title and the U.S. Open for the fifth time. At 31, Sampras is the Open’s oldest champion since 1970.

2008 — Roger Federer salvages the 2008 season by easily beating Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 13th major title overall.

2013 — Riquna Williams sets a WNBA record with 51 points to help the Tulsa Shock rout the San Antonio Silver Stars 98-65. The second-year guard surpasses the previous record of 47 points set by Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi and matched by Seattle’s Lauren Jackson.

2013 — Top-seeded Serena Williams wins her fifth U.S. Open championship and 17th Grand Slam title overall by beating No. 2 Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 in a windy final.

2017 — David Benavidez becomes boxing’s youngest world champion and the youngest ever in the super middleweight division with a split decision victory over Ronald Gavril at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. At 20 years, 9 months old, Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) won the vacant WBC super middleweight title over the 31-year-old Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs).

In 1892, an early version of “The Pledge of Allegiance,” written by Francis Bellamy, appeared in “The Youth’s Companion.” It went: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In 1935, Sen. Huey P. Long, a Louisiana Democrat, was shot and mortally wounded inside the Louisiana State Capitol; he died two days later. (The assailant was identified as Dr. Carl Weiss, who was gunned down by Long’s bodyguards.)

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a “limited national emergency” in response to the outbreak of war in Europe.

In 1943, during World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower announced Italy’s surrender; Nazi Germany denounced Italy’s decision as a cowardly act.

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon covering his entire term in office.

Ten years ago: Addressing a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama challenged a reluctant Congress to urgently pass a larger-than-expected $450 billion jobs plan to “jolt an economy that has stalled.”

Five years ago: U.S. aviation safety officials took the extraordinary step of warning airline passengers not to turn on or charge a new-model Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7, during flights following numerous reports of the devices catching fire. 

Five years ago: Greta Zimmer Friedman, identified as the woman in an iconic photo seen kissing an ecstatic sailor in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II, died in Richmond, Virginia, at age 92.

Five years ago: California and federal regulators fined Wells Fargo a combined $185 million, alleging the bank’s employees illegally opened millions of unauthorized accounts for their customers in order to meet aggressive sales goals.

In 2019, Rafael Nadal held off a strong comeback bid to win his 19th Grand Slam title in a five-set U.S. Open final against Daniil Medvedev.

One year ago: Britain’s government banned gatherings of more than six people in England, as officials tried to keep a lid on daily new coronavirus infections.

One year ago: The Northern California foothill hamlet of Berry Creek was largely destroyed in what would be the deadliest of the wildfires burning through much of the state; it left 16 people dead. More than a dozen California firefighters trying to protect a fire station in rugged mountains were overrun by flames; several were hurt as they deployed emergency shelters.

Emma Raducanu, of Britain, celebrates after breaking the serve of Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

An elderly woman receives a coin from a Haitian migrant during a protest against treatment by Mexican immigration officials in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. The government has insisted that excessive force against a Haitian migrant caught on camera the past weekend was an aberration and two immigration agents were suspended. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

England's Joe Root puts his head on his bat as he leaves the pich after being bowled by India's Shardul Thakur on day five of the fourth Test match at The Oval cricket ground in London, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

In this aerial photo, the remains of destroyed homes are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Lafitte, La. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro waves to supporters outside Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Oscar Otte, of Germany, falls over the net during his match against Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, in the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

In this aerial photo, damaged ships are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Golden Meadow, La. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A man is surrounded by leaflets, following the passage of the supporters of a candidate during an electoral campaign in the place of Sraghna in the El Fida district in Casablanca, Monday Sept 6, 2021. The Election campaigns are often synonymous with the tossing of thousands of leaflets representing the symbol of the parties as well as the heads of candidate lists for electoral districts. Voting booths open on Sept. 8 for the North African kingdom's parliamentary elections, in which 395 seats in the upper house of Parliament are up for grabs. Communal and regional elections take place on the same day. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

Europe Captain, Catriona Matthew holds up the trophy after defeating the United States at the Solheim Cup golf tournament, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

A model shows a creation at the show of Austrian designer Florentina Leitner, who opened Berlin Fashion Week at Kraftwerk with the fashion show of her collection titled "Vacation on the Moon" in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Several events are planned throughout the city over the next few days. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

Philip Adams walks through what remains of his living room and kitchen at his hurricane destroyed home in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in Lockport, La. (AP Photo/John Locher)

People fish on the exposed bed of the Paraguay River, in Villeta, Paraguay, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, amid an ongoing drought. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

Social Democratic candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz listens during a debate about the situation in Germany ahead of the upcoming national election in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. National elections are scheduled in Germany for Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a debate about the situation in Germany ahead of the upcoming national election in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. National elections are scheduled in Germany for Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Jenson Brooksby, of the United States, reacts during his match against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, returns a shot against Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

A model presents a creation from Chinese fashion designer Janet Chen at China Fashion Week in Beijing, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)