U.S. and world news for June 20

Israel says it struck multiple targets in Iran

Israel’s military said it struck dozens of targets in Iran overnight, including missile production sites and a nuclear research facility in Tehran. Iran’s Red Crescent Society said five hospitals were damaged as a result of Israeli strikes. An Iranian missile was intercepted over Israel, but the fall of munitions reportedly caused several fires in Beer Sheva. Iran also issued an evacuation warning to Israel’s Channel 14 news, which it claims is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “propaganda channel.” On Thursday, the White House said that President Trump will decide whether to launch a US strike on Iran within the next two weeks, and in the meantime, diplomatic efforts may proceed. However, Iran has said that it will not engage in further talks with the US until the Israeli attacks end.

Cleanup underway after Hurricane Erick

Power is being restored to more than 100,000 businesses and residences in Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Erick. One death was reported. Numerous roads were closed by floodwaters and mudslides. Erick slammed into Mexico’s Oaxaca state yesterday as a Category 3 storm. The hurricane unleashed powerful 125 mph winds at the coast and dumped heavy rains inland. Reports from the affected region said the storm had affected homes, businesses, beaches and boats. Erick is the first major hurricane — Category 3 or greater — on record to hit Mexico before July. The storm quickly weakened as it moved into a mountainous area.

Federal appeals court says Trump can control California National Guard

A federal appeals court has granted a request from President Trump to maintain control of roughly 4,000 National Guardsmen from California. In an unsigned ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by Gov. Gavin Newsom that the president had violated federal law when he seized control of part of the state’s militia to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. Last week, senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump had not satisfied any of the requirements that must be met to call up a state’s National Guard and that the demonstrations did not constitute an insurrection. More legal wrangling over how Trump is using the guardsmen is expected.

Minnesota shooting victims tell what happened

Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, have hared details of the harrowing attack that left them critically injured. Around 2 a.m. last Saturday, the Hoffmans were asleep at home when they heard someone pounding on their front door who identified himself as a police officer. But when the couple and their adult daughter, Hope, opened the door, the man began shooting. The state senator lunged at the gunman and was shot nine times. When his wife tried to push the man and shut the door, she was shot eight times. Hope Hoffman managed to get the door closed and locked, then called 911. After undergoing several surgeries, John Hoffman is now in critical but stable condition; Yvette Hoffman is in stable condition as well. The gunman also shot and killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, that same night. Authorities later arrested Vance Boelter for the attacks.

Insurance company Aflac hacked

The insurance company Aflac today revealed that its computer systems have been hacked. Aflac says that it promptly initiated cyber incident response protocols and stopped the intrusion within hours. The potentially impacted files contain claims information, health information, Social Security numbers, and other personal information related to customers, beneficiaries, employees, agents, and others. Aflac said its business remains operational, and systems were not affected by ransomware. Aflac said that many insurance companies are currently experiencing attacks by hackers. It believes the attack was caused by a sophisticated cybercrime group as part of a cybercrime campaign against the insurance industry.

Trump says there are too many federal holidays

Donald Trump in a post on social media says there are too many federal holidays during which people don’t have to go to work. He said it is costing the country billions of dollars. While calling for the elimination of some non-working federal holidays, Trump did not specify which holidays he would eliminate. Trump had no public events at the White House on yesterday’s Juneteenth holiday. There also was no White House recognition of Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday during the Biden Administration. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day the end of slavery was announced to Black residents in Texas two years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation..