The Texas Ranger Division is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction based in Austin, Texas, in the United States. Over the years, the Texas Rangers have investigated crimes ranging from murder to political corruption, kept the peace during riots, acted as detectives, protected the Texas governor, tracked down fugitives, and functioned as a quasi-military force at the service of both the Republic (1836–45) and the state of Texas. The Texas Rangers were unofficially created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 and formally constituted in 1835. Although the organization went through periods of inactivity during the 19th century, it was never officially dissolved, and as such is the oldest serving law enforcement agency in North America and the United States. Since 1935, the organization has been a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and currently fulfills the role of Texas' State Bureau of Investigation. As of 2005, there are 118 active Rangers.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Ranger_Division

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1547: Ivan the Terrible was crowned Tsar of Russia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_IV_of_Russia)

1605: Book One of Don Quixote, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, was first published in Madrid, Spain. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote)

1909: The expedition led by Sir Ernest H. Shackleton located the Magnetic South Pole. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton)

1917: World War I: The Zimmermann Telegram was dispatched. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love... I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr.)