1996
Local
the booming telecom industry exploded in Dallas
Dallas Area Rapid Transit begins operating the first light rail system in Texas (and the Southwest).
World
France agrees to end nuclear testing (Jan. 29). Background: nuclear disarmament
South Africa gets new constitution (May 8).
Science and technology
November 7 – NASA launches the Mars Global Surveyor.
July 5 – Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell, is born.
Arts and literature
In the United Kingdom, the first Orange Prize for Fiction for female novelists is awarded to Helen Dunmore for A Spell of Winter.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's Romance Writings, including first publication of her novel Princess Docile, are first published 234 years after her death.
Pop culture
Rapper Tupac Shakur Shot In Vegas/Later Dies
Rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg (Calvin Broadus) along with his bodyguard are charged with first and second-degree murder in the shooting death of a gang member in Los Angeles
1997
Local
TEXAS STATE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY AWARDED TOP HONOR
Volleyball sweeps No. 2 Texas on way to best start since 1997
World
Hong Kong was handed back to China from the United Kingdom.
Israel gives up large part of West Bank city of Hebron (Jan. 16).
Science and technology
US company launches first commercial spy satellite (Dec. 24).
Comet Hale-Bopp is the closest it will be to Earth until 4397 (March 22).
Arts and literature
J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone is published in the U.K. It comes to U.S. in 1998 as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Song of the Year: "Change the World," Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims, songwriters
Pop culture
Year 1997 – "I Believe I Can Fly" - R. Kelly
"Men In Black" Was A Top Movie In 1997
1998
Local
In 1998, Moss was hoping the Cowboys would draft him in the first round. So when they instead selected Greg Ellis with the eighth pick of the draft, Moss was fueled by the slight.
Murder of James Byrd, Jr. which gave impetus to passage of a Texas hate crimes law.
World
Major Hong Kong Bank Shuts Down. (01-12-1998)
U.S. Strike Afghanistan and Sudan Terrorists. (08-20-1998)
Science and technology
Windows 98 released by Microsoft on June 26th
India and Pakistan test nuclear weapons
Arts and literature
Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester Artist of the Year – Wendell Castle
1 November – Jackson Pollock retrospective opens at MoMA.
Pop culture
Popular Films- Titanic
Best Film Oscar Winner: Shakespeare In Love
1999
Local
Aggie Bonfire At approximately 2:42 a.m. on November 18, 1999,[31] the 59-foot high stack, consisting of about 5000 logs, collapsed during construction
In July of 1999, 10% of the African-American population in Tulia, Texas, a small town of 5,000 in the Texas Panhandle, was arrested on drug charges
World
2 Devastating Earthquakes kill 14,000 people in Turkey The worst floods seen in Mexico in 40 years causes a number of mudslides which buries whole villages leaving over 400 dead
Science and technology
Finally, Pac-Man’s Perfect Score! Billy Mitchell, played Pac-Man for six hours non-stop to reach the 256th screen and achieve a score of 3,333,360.
January 31 – A total penumbral lunar eclipse
Arts and literature
May 1 - Andrew Motion is appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom for 10 years.
June 19 - Stephen King is hit by a Dodge van while taking a walk. He spends the next three weeks hospitalized and does not continue with his next book, On Writing, until Jul
Pop culture
1999 Billboard Number One Songs January 30 – February 7:…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
The Academy Award for Best Picture went to Sam Mendes’ suburban crisis tale, American Beauty.
2000
Local
A-Rod, Rangers agree to richest deal in sports history
Texas population increase leads U.S. in latest estimates
World
Jan 31st - Alaska Airlines flight 261 MD-83, experiencing horizontal stabilizer problems,