U.S. and world news for June 19

Iran hits Israeli hospital

One week after Israel’s unprecedented attack on Iran, the two countries continue to trade strikes. In Israel, Iran’s latest wave of missiles damaged a hospital in the southern city of Beer Sheva as well as several high-rise buildings in Ramat Gan, just east of Tel Aviv. At least 65 people were injured, Israel’s emergency services said. Iran’s state news agency reported that the “principal target” of the missile strike that damaged the Israeli hospital was a nearby technology park used by the Israel Defense Forces. In Iran, 40 Israeli fighter jets struck the “inactive” Arak nuclear facility about 155 miles southwest of Tehran during a series of overnight raids. The facility was reportedly not seriously damaged. In the skies above both countries, civilians who remained above ground could see anti-aircraft fire intercepting even more missile attacks.

Some Juneteenth commemorations scaled back in wake of Trump Administration DEI assault

Juneteenth is the oldest regular U.S. celebration of the end of slavery. It commemorates June 19, 1865 – the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told a group of slaves that the Civil War had ended and they were free – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Since his reelection, Donald Trump has made the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs a centerpiece of his administration, cracking down on diversity efforts in the federal government with a series of executive orders. That has affected the celebration of Juneteenth. Among the communities where Juneteenth celebrations have been scaled back or canceled are: Akron, Ohio; Bend, Oregon; Newport, Rhode Island; Denver, Colorado; Wheeling, West Virginia; and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Trump cuts services at suicide and crisis hotline

The Trump Administration plans to end the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, anyone who reaches out to the 988 Lifeline will still receive help, but the “Press 3 option,” which connected callers to crisis counselors trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth and adults under 25, will no longer be available. Since the specialized service launched in 2022, nearly 1.3 million callers have reached out for assistance. The change was announced on the same day the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Roughly half of U.S. states have bans similar to Tennessee’s. Transgender advocates framed the ruling as a “devastating loss.”

More than 15 million under heat alerts today

A heat dome is expected to send temperatures soaring to record-breaking levels over the weekend and into next week. According to the National Weather Service, more than 15 million people from Washington, D.C., to Florida are under a level 3 of 4 heat risk today. Many places will experience highs in the low- to mid-90s. When factoring in the humidity, it will feel even hotter and stickier. Temperatures are also forecast to climb across parts of the Northeast and central U.S. in advance of next week’s intense heat dome. That dome is forecast to expand across the central and eastern U.S., and high temperatures are predicted to rise at least 15 degrees above normal. It could feel as hot as 110 degrees, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Charges filed in massive jewelry theft

Federal theft and conspiracy charges have been announced against seven people who were allegedly involved in an operation prosecutors described as “the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.” A newly-unsealed federal grand jury indictment said the crew of serial thieves spotted a Brinks tractor-trailer leaving a jewelry show in San Mateo, California, on July 10, 2022. The suspects allegedly followed the truck south for nearly 300 miles, and when the driver pulled into a truck stop, they broke in and stole 24 bags filled with jewelry, gold, Rolex watches and thousands of loose diamonds. Agents recovered some of the loot, which was worth about $100 million, while executing a search warrant on Monday.

Hurricane Erick hits Mexico

Hurricane Erick hit Western Mexico today from the waters of the Eastern Pacific. The hurricane came ashore as a Category 3 storm rather than the Category 4 storm it had been. The top winds were recorded at 125 miles per hour. The storm moved between the resort areas of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido. Rainfall of up to 16 inches was expected from the storm. Storm surges of up to 10 feet played havoc with beaches. The Mexico National Guard, police and utility crews were deployed in advance of the storm coming ashore to quickly begin the cleanup after the storm’s passage.