Juneteenth across America

Juneteenth across America
Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Can someone please let this dog inside?!
Here's Thursday's news:
Today will be filled with Juneteenth pageants, parades and festivals with music and speeches.
The 211 helpline is expanding services for caregivers — but it's still not enough.
Coastal Carolina clinched a spot in the College World Series finals.
A celebration of freedom and opportunity
Today marks 160 years since the origin of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day the last group of enslaved people found out they had been freed.
Long a holiday in the Black community and now federally recognized, the celebrations kick off each June 19, allowing people to gather, dance, reenact pivotal moments in history, and more.
How did Juneteenth get its start ? Juneteenth commemorates when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
? Juneteenth commemorates when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Galveston is among the communities keeping Juneteenth alive today. For this Juneteenth, USA TODAY is telling the stories of five different communities across the country where many are continuing to observe these rich traditions.
For this Juneteenth, USA TODAY is telling the stories of five different communities across the country where many are continuing to observe these rich traditions. Meanwhile, efforts for reparations for African Americans are renewed. The push also comes in the wake of efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle federal programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion.
The world awaits Trump's decision on Iran
Global attention is anticipating whether President Donald Trump will commit U.S. forces to Israel's campaign against Iran's nuclear program. Trump's potential move comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge after a hospital was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile. Netanyahu has said Israel's military attacks could result in the toppling of Iran's leaders, and Israel would do whatever is necessary to remove the "existential threat" posed by Tehran. Meanwhile, Trump has focused on ending Iran's nuclear program, but on June 17 he mused about the possibility of killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Follow live updates on the situation from USA TODAY.
The 40,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East would be vulnerable to counterattacks from Iran.
would be vulnerable to counterattacks from Iran. Meet America's more than 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb.
More news to know now
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Karen Read acquitted
A Massachusetts jury found Karen Read not guilty of the most serious charges and guilty on a lesser charge related to the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe, ending a weekslong trial that has drawn intense attention from true-crime fans across the country. The jury convicted Read of operating a vehicle under the influence (OUI) but not on charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Read was sentenced to one year probation. As the verdict was announced, Read smiled and embraced her defense team. Outside, supporters could be heard cheering and chanting "Karen is free."
Millions of caregivers have access to this help line. Still, they're drowning.
The 211 helpline is a national program supported by United Way Worldwide that connects callers to local experts who can refer them to health and social service organizations in their community. But with 53 million caregivers in the United States, according to a 2020 report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, advocates say it's not nearly enough − especially if the services 211 refers callers to start to dwindle. Specialists help with callers' most immediate needs like food and shelter, and then get them connected to other programs that specialize in long-term support.
Today's talkers
Can the SEC be iced out of college baseball's title?
After defeating Louisville Wednesday 11-3, Coastal Carolina will play LSU, starting June 21 in a best-of-three-game series to determine the national champion. LSU sealed the championship after the team was down 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning vs. Arkansas, but came back before Jared Jones walked it off to win 6-5. Coastal Carolina could be the only program in the nation to stop the SEC from winning a sixth consecutive national championship.
Ice bath! See photos of all the excitement from Omaha.
Photo of the day: Heist haul
How did they get away with it?! Look at some of the amazing items stolen in the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.

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CBS News

5 hours ago

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Minnesota's connection to the "fathers of Juneteenth"

Long celebrated by African Americans, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, and a Minnesota state holiday two years later. Parades, concerts, informal and formal gatherings are just some of the ways families and communities honor what's also called Freedom Day. But it's much more than just a party, says Lee Henry Jordan, National Juneteenth's Midwest and state director. "You need to know the history of what you're commemorating and celebrating," Jordan said. "The 13th Amendment, the Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3, we call those some of the 'Freedom Documents.'" Jordan believes all who take part in celebrations should know that in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in states that tried to secede from the United States. Two years later, in June 1865, about 2,000 Colored troops marched into Galveston Bay in Texas to enforce General Order No. 3, which formally freed about 250,000 enslaved people who were being held illegally. Jordan calls members of four regiments — the 20th, 28th, 29th and 31st United States Colored Troops — the "fathers of Juneteenth." "The history of the United States Colored Troops, that should be a part of the celebration," Jordan said. Members of the United States Colored Troops. He hopes people look to uncover the freedom story of their own family, diving deep into history. "There were people that didn't get press but still did the work, and those people are in your family," he said. Jordan truly believes someone in his family wore the Union uniform and was in Galveston Bay in 1865. Through his research, he found at least one Minnesotan there. "William Crosley, and the fact that he's buried in Rochester, Minnesota," he said. "He was at Galveston, Texas, when the United States Colored Troops were there. So if he was there, who else was there?" He believes following a trail of history can unlock your family's freedom story. "There is a continuing story, energy, power, whatever you want to call it, that's connected to freedom," he said. "Find whatever that is for you, bring that to a Juneteenth celebration, and trust me, you will find a kindred spirit." Kindred spirits with shared history — American history — that should be celebrated by all. "If you don't leave there with a little bit more knowledge of who you are and where you come from and what can be done, then, now I think you're missing a little something," he said. Click here for a list of Juneteenth events this weekend in the Twin Cities, including the Great Minnesota Cookout on the lawn of the Minnesota State Capitol.

Yahoo

10 hours ago

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Mobile celebrates Juneteenth with parade and other activities at Mardi Gras Park

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