ABC News

Luigi Mangione appeared in Manhattan state court on Wednesday facing nine counts including second-degree murder in the December 4, 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He pleaded not guilty, with his state trial set for September 8 and attorneys planning an affirmative psychiatric defense. A prior court date was missed due to a prosecutorial paperwork error, and one ammunition-related count was dismissed.

Rex Heuermann, 62, was sentenced on Wednesday to consecutive life sentences without parole after pleading guilty in April to the murders of seven women. He also admitted to an eighth killing without facing formal charges. Victim family members delivered statements describing Heuermann as a coward who targeted vulnerable women.

Anne Hathaway, 43, confirmed her third pregnancy with husband Adam Shulman through an Instagram video posted on June 19, 2026. A representative verified the news to ABC News the same day. The post, which included a 1965 song and received over 800,000 likes quickly, follows the couple's marriage in 2012 and their two existing sons.

The first recorded Juneteenth observance occurred on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas. Historical records confirm this date as the practical extension of the Emancipation Proclamation to the last Confederate state. Interpretations of its broader significance vary across political perspectives.

Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Common, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen performed at the Obama Presidential Center opening according to ABC News reporting. The event has prompted differing interpretations regarding its cultural and political significance. Analyses from multiple viewpoints highlight both the performers' voluntary participation and questions about the center's funding and local impact.

Elena Katherine Moore, 39, was reported missing on June 12 after last contact following a June 11 visit to Planet Fitness in Lexington, South Carolina. A body matching her clothing description was recovered on June 17 in a searched area, with official identification still pending from the coroner.

The Trump administration transferred $397 million from a $1.2 billion Secret Service allocation to accounts for White House security measures, with nearly $11 million directed to operations and support and more than $385 million to procurement, construction, and improvements. The transfers occurred on June 12 and June 15 and were documented by the Office of Management and Budget. A separate claim of a $352 million shift remains disputed between sources.

On the night of 2026-06-18, Ukrainian drones struck Gazprom Neft’s Moscow oil refinery on the southeastern outskirts, producing visible black smoke. Russian air defenses intercepted 555 drones across multiple regions, including 180-200 near Moscow, prompting suspension of flights at four airports. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described the operation as a response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities.

The Department of Justice declined to provide a signed declaration from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirming it no longer intends to pursue a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema had requested statements from Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward after issuing a preliminary injunction. The notice was filed June 19, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia federal court, where the program remains formally intact according to court records.

The U.S. national average gasoline price dropped below $4 per gallon on Thursday after peaking at $4.56 on May 21, with benchmark crude oil prices also declining. President Trump signed an agreement with Iran following earlier U.S. and Israeli actions, while naval escorts continued in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional prices varied significantly, with California at $5.64 and South Carolina at $3.58.