1. Kansas became the 34th state of the United States on August 12, 1861. Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state after a long struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates. Kansas played a crucial role in the events leading up to the American Civil War, and its entry into the Union as a free state was a significant victory for the abolitionist movement.

2. On August 12, 1930, Charles F. Kettering, an engineer and inventor, tested the first successful diesel-electric locomotive in the United States in Herington, Kansas. The diesel-electric locomotive revolutionized the railroad industry by providing a more efficient and cost-effective way to move goods across the country.

3. On August 12, 1960, NASA launched the first successful weather satellite, TIROS-1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. TIROS-1 was designed and built by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in Hays, Kansas. The satellite provided the first images of cloud cover from space and paved the way for modern weather forecasting.

4. On August 12, 1977, a severe thunderstorm caused a flash flood in Johnstown, Colorado, that killed 144 people and caused $35 million in damage. The flood was caused by heavy rain that fell over the South Platte River basin, which includes parts of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas.

5. On August 12, 1990, the Kansas City Royals retired the jersey of outfielder George Brett in a ceremony at Kauffman Stadium. Brett played for the Royals from 1973 to 1993 and is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.