Many Americans today will celebrate Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US. A blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” it marks June 19, 1865, when Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and proclaimed that enslaved African Americans there were free.
Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.
A rare Level 4 of 4 flood risk has been issued across parts of the South as moisture-rich air from what was Tropical Storm Arthur continues to drench communities already saturated by days of rain. More than 17 million people remain under flood watches through the weekend, with forecasters warning that some areas could see rainfall rates of up to 6 inches per hour. Read more.
WATCH: Flash floods force water rescues in Mississippi
As the US and Iran work through a 60-day period to finalize a peace agreement, teams have been quietly exchanging proposals for implementing the 14-point memorandum signed this week. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is defending the text amid growing criticism, calling it Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and insisting there are “no limits” to his power. Read more.











