As nation marks Juneteenth, Obama

presidential center opens in Chicago

CHICAGO — As people gathered to celebrate Juneteenth at events across the U.S., former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to his presidential center. A million visitors a year are expected to come together at the sprawling campus honoring the nation’s first Black president.

The center’s grand opening arrives as a symbolic convergence of legacy and liberation in this fifth year since June 19 became a federal holiday. This year’s Juneteenth events, held to celebrate the end of slavery, come amid deep political divisions as the nation grapples with renewed questions about the arc of racial progress.

Friction between Trump, Republican

senators growing ahead of midterms

WASHINGTON \ — The relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans seems to be nearing a breaking point.

Tensions flared this week on Capitol Hill as Trump upended Republicans efforts for a swift confirmation of his intelligence nominee and as he thwarted quick passage of a bill to renew a surveillance law. Republicans have been frustrated and openly critical of Trump’s agreement with Iran.

The public tensions are an almost complete reversal from a year ago. Back then, Republicans senators worked closely with Trump on a complicated effort to push through his massive package of spending and tax cuts.

Two trains collide north of London,

killing at least one, injuring dozens

LONDON — Emergency services rushed to the scene of a collision between two trains north of London on Friday afternoon that killed one person. A passenger reported that he was thrown into the by the impact and saw fellow travelers with broken bones and bloody injuries.

Both trains were traveling south to London St. Pancras station when they collided outside the town of Bedford around 12:15 p.m. EDT, according to information on rail tracking websites. Emergency services deployed a number of resources to the scene including an air ambulance and hazardous incident team.

The Associated Press

from the East of England Ambulance Service.