This Week in American History: 2008 – American Trans Air Ceases Operations

By ANDY KOBER
Here is what happened this week in American History.
• Apr. 2. On this day in 1956, two soap operas, As the World Turns and The Edge of Night premiere on CBS and both debut as 30-minute programs. As the World Turns will air for 54 years, with 13,858 episodes. The Edge of Night airs for 28 years, though it changes from CBS to ABC.
• Apr. 3. In 2008, American Trans Air, also known as ATA, files bankruptcy for the second time in five years and all operations grind to a halt. ATA had been one of the larger airlines and was the largest charter airline. Southwest Airlines currently owns the remaining assets of ATA.
• Apr. 4. Today in 1951, tensions between President Harry Truman and General Douglas McArthur regarding the Korean War have become increasingly strained. Truman wants to negotiate a peace agreement based along the 38th Parallel. McArthur wants to crush the North Koreans Peoples Army and the Chinese Volunteer Peoples Army soldier that are in North Korea, putting an end to the war. This situation is about to come to a head and it is being closely monitored by political leaders in North Korea, China and Russia.
• Apr. 5. On this day in 1962, Lana Jean Clarkson is born in Long Beach, California. Reaching adulthood, she chose to pursue a career in acting and as a fashion model. Most of her acting was in B-movie science fiction and she worked the comic-con circuit. On Feb. 3, 2003, Clarkson was found dead in the mansion owned by record producer Phil Spector, killed by a single gunshot. Spector would be sentenced on a charge of second-degree murder and would die in prison.
• Apr. 6. In 1955, Michael Rooker is born in Jasper, Alabama. His mother and siblings moved to Chicago where he attended the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University. Although he has appeared in many roles, he is perhaps best known for his work in The Walking Dead and Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Apr. 7. Today in 1788, settlers found Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory having left New England in December 1787. The first group included 48 people.
• Apr. 8. On this day in 2014, the Microsoft operating system XP reaches the end of its life and support stops, though security updates remained available for a while. The program had been released in Aug. 2001.