On Jan. 10, 2003, then-Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois’ death row in the aftermath of a scandal involving Chicago detective Jon Burge, who was accused of torturing suspects into making confessions and later found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice.
On Jan. 10, 1738, Ethan Allen was born. Allen was a Revolutionary War hero, who led the Green Mountain Boys to capture Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. Allen is also known as one fo the founders of the State of Vermont.