April 28

On April 4, 1949, a catastrophic nighttime fire swept through St. Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham, Illinois. Seventy-four people died—including patients, nuns, and a priest—making it one of the deadliest hospital fires in U.S. history. The disaster exposed the hazards of outdated medical buildings and led to monumental changes in fire safety codes for healthcare facilities nationwide.

The killing of Daunte Wright by police officer Kim Potter in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on April 11, 2021, occurred amid nationwide scrutiny over police violence and racial injustice. Potter fatally shot Wright during a traffic stop, later claiming she mistook her firearm for a Taser. The incident sparked widespread protests, significant unrest, and prompted both local and national reforms in policing practices.

A tragic bombing attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon resulting in deaths, injuries, and major security changes.