1. In 1837, Kentucky governor James Clark signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for all crimes except murder and treason. This was a significant change in the state's justice system, as prior to this law, many crimes were punishable by death.

2. On March 18, 1962, Kentucky native and famous boxer Muhammad Ali won his second professional fight against Tony Esperti. Ali, who was then known by his birth name Cassius Clay, went on to become one of the greatest boxers of all time.

3. The Battle of Mill Springs, which took place on January 19, 1862, is considered one of the most significant battles of the Civil War in Kentucky. However, on March 18, 1862, a few months after the battle, Union forces finally occupied the town of Somerset, which was a strategic location in the state.

4. Kentucky has a rich basketball history, and on March 18, 1950, the Kentucky Wildcats won their third NCAA men's basketball championship. The Wildcats defeated the Baylor Bears 64-58 in the final game, which was held at the Memorial Coliseum in New York City.

5. On March 18, 2007, Kentucky native George Clooney won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Syriana." This was Clooney's first Oscar win, and he has since gone on to win additional awards for his work in film and television.