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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'This is American history:' See photos around the US as the nation celebrates Juneteenth
'This is American history:' See photos around the US as the nation celebrates Juneteenth It's the day the promise of freedom finally rang true for more Americans: Juneteenth was celebrated with joy and resolve throughout the United States in 2025. Show Caption Hide Caption Black coastal town celebrate history while fighting to preserve it Officials in Eagle Harbor, a Black coastal town in Maryland, reflects on its rich history and legacy ahead of Juneteenth. Across the United States on Thursday, June 19, Americans celebrated the federal holiday commemorating the day the last group of enslaved African Americans were informed they were free. The day, dubbed Juneteenth, reflects on a moment when the promise of freedom first enshrined in the Declaration of Independence became a reality for more of its citizens. In 2021, then-President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. It officially named the holiday that has been long celebrated by Black people and beyond with dancing, parades, ceremonies and historical reenactments. The holiday marks the date in 1865 – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – that Major General Gordon Granger and 2,000 Union Army troops came to Galveston Bay, Texas, to proclaim freedom for more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state. This year's celebrations took place across the country, with the lessons of history as important as ever. 'This is American history': From Galveston to Concord, 5 communities keep Juneteenth stories alive Juneteenth in Illinois The city of Peoria, in Central Illinois, celebrated the day with a parade, poetry and a picnic. An area festival also featured food, musical performances, a bake-off and more. More than 1,000 miles north east, in Worchester, Massachusetts, the YWCA hosted Juneteenth celebrations with a flag raising ceremony and a vow to keep tradition and the history alive, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. "We are not here to celebrate," said Sha-Asia Medina, a volunteer with the area's Black Heritage Committee. "This is something to acknowledge and honor our ancestors, but the attack on our history and culture continues. This Juneteenth is important, especially given the time that we're in." Here are other photos of Americans celebrating the relatively new holiday across the United States in cities including Atlanta, New York and Savannah.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Flossmoor Juneteenth celebration continues to grow in fifth year
Richton Park's Destiny Watson is a person who likes to look ahead. Watson, 27, is the founder and CEO of You Matter 2 and one of the goals is to make the future better for youths in the Southland with programs and initiatives. But on Thursday morning, she had a chance to look back both figuratively and literally. You Matter 2 is the group that does the heavy lifting for the Juneteenth celebration in Flossmoor. Watson and You Matter 2 held its fifth celebration overall and fourth parade through the village. It was a chance for people to look back as Juneteenth celebrated June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and reading the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln signed two years earlier. Watson appreciates looking back on the history but as she marched at the front with the You Matter 2 group, she couldn't help but feel good about looking back and seeing 19 more groups and 450 people behind her as more than 1,000 people lined Flossmoor Road to cheer them on. 'To look back and see the line and groups of people — it was huge,' Watson said. 'The parade keeps growing every year. This was definitely our biggest one.' The parade stepped off at the Western Avenue Elementary School and went along Flossmoor Road until it reached Parker Middle School, where a block party continued the celebration. The parade featured dancers, cheerleaders and drums as well as groups coming out to celebrate and distribute candy to the younger parade watchers. Toward the end of the route, Calumet City's Deneen Holmes held a sign celebrating the holiday. 'It's a happy thing,' Holmes said. 'I love being Black and it's a celebration of freedom and a celebration of culture and we love that we can have this in the south suburbs for everyone to support and celebrate.' Holmes said she came last year with her family and loved the parade and the dancers. 'I love seeing the kids dance and the younger people get involved. It was a pleasure to watch,' she said. One of the groups marching was the Alpha Phi Alpha Theta Mu Lambda organization. Its members didn't dance or cheer, but it has been a presence in the south suburbs. Like You Matter 2, Alpha Phi Alpha promotes academic excellence and service in the area. Andre Sutton, the corresponding secretary for the chapter, sits on the executive board and said it benefits young people from Homewood, Flossmoor, Harvey, South Holland and other areas. 'We develop leaders and have a mentorship program where we mentor young African American men,' he said. 'We have members as young as 18 to members who are in their 60s and 70s.' Sutton said the Flossmoor Juneteenth celebration keeps growing. 'It's good to see families and it's good to see local people out here,' he said. 'It's great to see children out here having a great time and doing something positive in the community.' Watson helped get the ball rolling in 2021 with a festival in the parking lot at Homewood-Flossmoor High School days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared June 19 a state holiday and then-President Joe Biden signed legislation to make it a national holiday. 'It started with a vision, honestly, to bring our community together and celebrate Juneteenth,' Watson said. 'To see it grow every year and to see the turnout, it's a good feeling to see that people still want to come out and support it.' Watson, Kalyn Victor, Matthew Hill and Nicholas Amuh are the four running the show for You Matter 2 and put in a lot of work with the celebration. Watson said it's worth it to make people aware of the past plight of African Americans. 'I think there is more learning but with us having this presence, it gives people a chance to ask questions and learn more,' she said. 'And it gives us a bigger platform to reach the community.' Holmes said progress is being made with the holiday. 'I definitely think that it's more widespread,' Holmes said. 'A lot of Black culture is not necessarily celebrated nationally, but it's celebrated within our homes and within our families. 'So, it's nice to see that we can come and connect with the community.'
