Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on April 4, according to the Tribune’s archives.

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Front page flashback: April 5, 1968

The Chicago Tribune announced that Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in their April 5, 1968 edition.

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune announced that Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in the April 5, 1968 edition.

1968: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

At the time of his death, King was chatting with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Chicago musician Ben Branch.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 79 degrees (1929)
  • Low temperature: 16 degrees (1975)
  • Precipitation: 1.9 inches (1947)
  • Snowfall: 6.4 inches (1920)

Cap Anson ventured into politics after quitting baseball. Here he is resting on his mount after a political demonstration in the Loop when he was running for city clerk on the Democratic ticket. Anson was elected in 1905. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)Cap Anson ventured into politics after quitting baseball. Here he is resting on his mount after a political demonstration in the Loop when he was running for city clerk on the Democratic ticket. Anson was elected in 1905. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1905: Former Chicago Cubs first baseman A.C. “Cap” Anson was elected city clerk on the Democratic ticket. He served in the position for two years.

Wallace Rice, poet and author who designed the official Chicago flag, explains to Jimmy Malles, 10, left, and Frank Pfieffer, 12, the meaning of the emblem, circa 1938. The flag was made by Mrs. Emil Rieger and will be presented to the Sheffield branch of the Chicago Boys Clubs. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) Wallace Rice, poet and author who designed the official Chicago flag, explains to Jimmy Malles, 10, left, and Frank Pfieffer, 12, the meaning of the emblem, circa 1938. The flag was made by Mrs. Emil Rieger and was to be presented to the Sheffield branch of the Chicago Boys Clubs. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1917: Chicago’s now iconic flag, designed by Wallace Rice, was adopted by the City Council.

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Chicago police, shown here with rifles, crouch behind a patrol car to take cover from gunfire during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. (Don Casper/Chicago Tribune)

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1968: Riots exploded on Chicago’s West Side after King was assassinated in Memphis.

Mayor-elect Richard M. Daley is surrounded by confetti after his victory speech at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on April 4, 1989. Daley was elected mayor of Chicago by a wide margin, capturing the office held by his father for 21 years, but still facing the task of building a multiracial coalition of support before the next election only two years away. Daley built his victory by winning overwhelming support from white voters and chipping loose enough elements of Harold Washington's old coalition to easily defeat Ald. Timothy Evans (4th), whose claim to be the rightful heir to the late mayor failed to stir all of Chicago's black community. The election marked only the second time in history that a son has followed his father into the mayor's office. Carter Harrison and Carter Harrison II served a total of 22 years between 1879 and 1915. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)Mayor-elect Richard M. Daley is surrounded by confetti after his victory speech at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on April 4, 1989. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

1989: Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J., was elected mayor.

Flashback: As Richard M. Daley turns 80, a look at his political rise and embrace of ‘lakefront liberals’

He served until 2011, holding office even longer than his father.

Travelers walk through a grandly decorated terminal at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 3, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/ Chicago Tribune)Travelers walk through a grandly decorated terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Dec. 3, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/ Chicago Tribune)

1990: “Home Alone” filmed a memorable scene at O’Hare International Airport. The 14-odd members of the McCallister family raced through Terminal 3 before miraculously hopping aboard their American Airlines flight at Gate K-12. (Though the Tribune incorrectly reported at the time that a flight bound for Honolulu would figure into the plot.)

4/4/98 FIRE A WPOPE 86686 Chicago Fire's Frank Klopas celebrates after scoring his team's first home goal during the first half Saturday against the Tampa Bay Mutiny. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY WES POPE 86686 ORG XMIT: 86686Chicago Fire’s Frank Klopas celebrates after scoring his team’s first home goal on April 4, 1998, against the Tampa Bay Mutiny. (Wes Pope/Chicago Tribune)

1998: The Chicago Fire, an MLS expansion team, won their home opener at Soldier Field against the Tampa Bay Mutiny, 2-0. Chicago native Frank Klopas scored one of the goals. He dedicated it to his father-in-law, who died in a plane crash the previous year.

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