Thursday is Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day.

Celebrations are being held around the country to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday marking the day in 1865 when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Texas.

Former President Joe Biden will be attending a Juneteenth celebration at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church in Galveston, Texas.

Harmful bleaching of the world’s coral has now grown to include 84% of the ocean’s reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history.

An endangered sea turtle has been released into the Gulf of Mexico after being found off the coast of the Netherlands, 5,000 miles from its home.

Coral reefs are in the midst of an ecological crisis and are at risk of extinction, according to the United Nations Capital Development Fund.

Scientists say temperatures that have gone “crazy haywire” hot, especially in the Atlantic, are close to making the current global coral bleaching event the worst in history.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that up to 2,000 gallons of oil may have spilled into surrounding waters when a barge carrying fuel broke free from a tugboat and slammed into a bridge near Galveston, Texas.

Officials say a barge has hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road connecting the city to Pelican Island.

The world is not doing enough to protect coral reefs.

Reef scientists say coral reefs around the world are experiencing global bleaching for the fourth time due to prolonged warming of the oceans.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the National Defense Authorization Act and it includes authorizations for a $34 billion plan to protect residents and the petrochemical industry near Galveston and Houston in Texas.

The greatest challenge in recent years for the only surviving battleship that served in both world wars has been a leaky hull that's raised concerns it could sink.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday last year, but many African Americans have celebrated it for years. It marks the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free.

Several artists including Bun B, Lupe Fiasco and 6LACK have recorded songs honoring Juneteenth for Apple Music.

President Joe Biden will sign legislation into law on Thursday that officially makes Juneteenth a federal holiday -- the first new national holiday since 1983.

It’s an occasion that’s recognized in most states and the District of Columbia, but it’s not as of yet a federal holiday.

This Aug. 7, 2018, photo provided by the Galveston, Texas, County Jail shows Suzanne Rivera. Rivera has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of her 4-year-old son, whose body was found on a beach in Galveston in October 2017. Court records show Rebecca Suzanne Rivera was sentenced Thursday, Fev. (Galveston County Jail via AP)GALVESTON, Texas – A 37-year-old Texas woman has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of her 4-year-old son, whose body was found on a beach in Galveston in 2017. Rebecca Suzanne Rivera was sentenced Thursday following her conviction on a charge of injury to a child by omission, according to court records.

HOUSTON – Beta weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday as it parked itself over the Texas coast, raising concerns of extensive flooding in Houston and areas farther inland. Beta, which made landfall late Monday as a tropical storm just north of Port O’Connor, is the first storm named for a Greek letter to make landfall in the continental United States. The storm was moving east-northeast at 5 mph (8 kilometers) and was expected to crawl inland along the coast over Texas through Wednesday. However, forecasters and officials reassured residents that Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Now a tropical storm, Paulette was expected to become a post-tropical remnant low in the next day or so.

HOUSTON – As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area. Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimeters). Forecasters and officials reassured residents Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Harvey in 2017 dumped more than 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain on Houston, causing $125 billion in damage in Texas.

Forecasters said Beta was not expected to bring the same amount of rainfall that Texas experienced during either Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda last year. The first rain bands from Beta reached the Texas coast on Sunday, but the heaviest rain wasn't expected to arrive until Monday into Tuesday. If the system makes landfall in Texas, it would be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in 2020. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda. Wilfred, which had been a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression earlier Sunday.

MIAMI – An exceptionally busy Atlantic hurricane season was churning along Saturday as the Texas coast prepared for a tropical storm that could strengthen into a hurricane before breaching its shores in the week ahead. Both the city of Galveston and Galveston County on Saturday issued voluntary evacuation orders ahead of Tropical Storm Beta, as did the city of Seabrook to the north of Galveston. Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning from Port Aransas, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Beta had maximum sustained winds at 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 2 mph (4 kph) Saturday night. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda.

Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, line up to board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)GALVESTON, Texas – Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be "unsurvivable” and capable of sinking entire communities. In Lake Charles, National Guard members drove school buses around neighborhoods, offering to pick up families. By Wednesday afternoon, Laura had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) as it churned about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from Lake Charles, Louisiana, moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph). Forecasters predict winds will reach at least 145 mph winds but may weaken ever so slightly before landfall.

The Latest on Hurricane Laura (all times local):GALVESTON, Texas Hurricane Laura strengthened Wednesday into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane," The National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters warn of catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding" and 20 feet (6 meters) of storm surge. Tropical storm winds Wednesday afternoon reached the coast of Louisiana where water levels started to rise. Laura is predicted to reach at least 145 mph (233 kph) winds, but may weaken ever so slightly before landfall. -GALVESTON, Texas Texas Gov.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS A special session of the Minnesota Legislature ended Saturday without agreement on remaking policing in the state where George Floyd was killed. I'm deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans ended the special session before our job was done," Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent tweeted. Were not walking away from Minnesota here, but I think we could all benefit from a breather, Gazelka said just before adjournment, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The special session was necessary for Democratic Gov. If Walz seeks to extend his emergency powers an additional 30 days, he's required to call another special session for July 12 to let lawmakers object.

Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, originated 155 years ago. (Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News via AP, File)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. YOUNG IMMIGRANTS STILL FACE UNCERTAINTY The Supreme Court rejected Trumps effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants, but activists say legislation giving them a path to U.S. citizenship remains elusive. SINGAPORE OPENS GYMS, DINING OUT The latest relaxation in the city-state comes as reopenings in many places around the world are touching off fresh spikes in coronavirus infections. BIDEN SEIZES ON BOLTON BOOK The Democrats top aides say Trump kowtowed to Xi Jinping and ignored human rights abuses while trying to get the Chinese presidents assistance with domestic politics.

The date - June 19th - is not a federal holiday, and many non-black Americans have only recently become of aware of the day. Several of her employees are spending the day volunteering for the Juneteenth Freedom Phonebank, an initiative encouraging Census participation. Declaring the date a federal holiday would add considerable momentum, and there is growing support for the idea. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, introduced legislation Thursday to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. In contrast, 93% of employers close on Independence day, with similar rates for Labor Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.

DETROIT A Freedom Rally was held in Detroit Friday to celebrate Juneteenth -- a 155-year-old holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in Galveston, Texas. The celebration concluded with the publics first chance to see the new Power to the People mural on Woodward Avenue, from Jefferson Avenue to Larned Street. The red, white and black mural was painted by 20 student artists from Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Heals Detroit. Renowned artist Hubert Massey was chosen by the students to lead the mural installation, due to his community outreach and work with young people. RELATED: Local everyday hero inspires through artMassey has artwork in the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Athletic Club and the TCF Center.

Galveston, Texas - A mounted Galveston police officer said "this is gonna look really bad" shortly before he escorted a handcuffed man down the street by a line. The Galveston police chief will now review the report and decide whether any further action is needed, the city said in a statement. "This is gonna look really bad," Brosch says. As the officers lead Neely away, Brosch says again, "This is gonna look so bad." "I'm glad you're not embarrassed, Mr. Neely," Brosch says.

HOUSTON - Hundreds of cars were left on Houston freeways Thursday as flooding made the highways and many other roads impassable. The storm brought intense rain to southeastern Texas over three days. Houston may receive more than 12 inches of rain before the storm is over, while suburbs will have received more. Generally, Harvey, which claimed dozens of lives and caused billions of dollars in damage, dropped more rain than Imelda. Harvey left 34 inches of rain at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and more than 40 inches in areas east of the city.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has requested the release of body camera footage recorded by two mounted Galveston police officers who led a handcuffed black man down the city's streets. GALVESTON, Texas - Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has requested the release of body camera footage recorded by two mounted Galveston police officers who led a handcuffed black man down the city's streets. The police department has 30 days to comply, or face a civil rights march through the city, Crump said at a press conference Monday. "Until you release that video from that body cam, we are not going anywhere," Crump said. CNN has reached out to the Galveston Police Department for comment.

Police in Galveston, Texas apologize after photos surface of man in handcuffs being led using a 'line,' tied to mounted officer. GALVESTON, Texas - The Galveston Police Department chief has already apologized for the way that two mounted officers escorted a handcuffed African-American man over the weekend. But the leaders of two police unions came to the arresting officers' defense on Thursday, saying they did nothing wrong. In a statement, Galveston Police Chief Vernon L. Hale III apologized to Neely and said his officers "showed poor judgement in this instance." Bell had previously posted on social media that it was hard for her to understand "why these officers felt this young man required a leash, as he was handcuffed and walking between two mounted officers."

Police in Galveston, Texas apologize after photos surface of man in handcuffs being led using a 'line,' tied to mounted officer. GALVESTON, Texas - A Texas police department is apologizing for its treatment of an African-American man that the police chief said caused the man "unnecessary embarrassment." Photos show two mounted officers from the Galveston Police Department escorting a handcuffed man. One officer is leading the man, identified as 43-year-old Donald Neely, with what appears to be a rope. Bell had previously posted on social media that it was hard for her to understand "why these officers felt this young man required a leash, as he was handcuffed and walking between two mounted officers."

A photograph of two mounted police officers escorting a handcuffed black man down a street with what appears to be a rope has sparked a social media uproar. A backlash quickly followed, especially among black people who said the photo evoked the history of slavery, racism and violence directed at black people in America. It is hard to understand why these officers felt this young man required a leash, as he was handcuffed and walking between two mounted officers. I would say "We need answers," but nothing you can say would ever justify what you did to this man. This young black man was put on a leash while handcuffed between two mounted horses in Galveston, Texas.