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Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert. Can someone please let this dog inside?!

Here’s Thursday’s news:

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.
  • 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.
  • 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 anticipation surrounds 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.

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.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.