Every year, communities gather together in honor of Juneteenth, otherwise known as “Freedom Day,” with celebrations of Black culture and heritage. Here’s a sampling of ways you can spend this holiday in the Bay.

Juneteenth at Oakland First Fridays: 5 to 9 p.m. June 2, 2633 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Join the community of Oakland in the celebration of freedom and inclusion through art, music, and dance, and browse the food, drinks and merchandise stalls. Free admission. bit.ly/FirstFridaysJuneteenth

Juneteenth – Living It, Learning It, Loving It!: 3 p.m. June 4, Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Join educator, speaker and radio personality Faith Alpher as she shares insights about Juneteenth and why we all can love it and learn from it. Celebrate and elevate as Faith shares history through humor and storytelling. Free. bit.ly/BankheadJuneteenth

Juneteenth on the Waterfront: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 10, Embarcadero Ferry Terminal Plaza, San Francisco. Kick off a month of Juneteenth celebrations with a day of delicious food, community and family fun. The event features 15 Black-owned food businesses, a Black craft marketplace, the SF Black Wall Street lounge and a Black Chefs and Wine Makers Talk. Free admission. bit.ly/WaterfrontJuneteenth

Tabia African American Theatre – Juneteenth Performance: 2 p.m. June 10, Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth St., Gilroy. Honor Juneteenth with a performance from the Tabia African-American Theatre Ensemble that combines music, poetry, dance and the distinctive creativity of African-Americans to the stage. Free. bit.ly/TAATJuneteenth

Berkeley Juneteenth Week: June 11-18, various venues in Berkeley. This week of Juneteenth events will include a prayer service, a historic house site visit, a farmers market, several workshops and the 36th annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival. Free admission. berkeleyjuneteenth.org/festival-2023/

Juneteenth Celebration with OneVet OneVoice and African Art Academy: 6 to 9 p.m. June 15, 1550 Evans Ave., San Francisco. Celebrate Juneteenth and honor black veterans with a panel discussion, an African American fashion designer showcase and a live music performance featuring an African headline band from the Ivory Coast. Free. bit.ly/OneVetJuneteenth

Juneteenth Salsa ‘N’ Skate: 5 to 9 p.m. June 16, Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. Celebrate Juneteenth and embrace Afro-Latin vibes with a night of skating, salsa dance lessons, live music performances and local food vendors. Free admission. bit.ly/JuneteenthSalsaSkate

‘Flying to Freedom’ Juneteenth Celebration: 8 p.m. June 16-17, 4705 Third St., San Francisco. Bayview Opera House Inc will celebrate Juneteenth with a collective reflection on liberation created and performed by Bay Area music, theater, dance and aerial artists. Free. zaccho.org/?event_flying-to-freedom

OIGC Juneteenth Concert Series: June 16-25, various venues in the Bay Area. The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir will celebrate Juneteenth and the resiliency of the Black community with a series of gospel choir concerts in Berkeley, Livermore and San Francisco. Ticket prices vary according to event. oigc.org/

Freedom Day at the Museum of the African Diaspora: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17, 685 Mission St., San Francisco. In honor of Juneteenth, MOAD is offering complimentary access to their current exhibitions, Elegies: Still Lifes in Contemporary Art, David Huffman: Terra Incognita and Sam Vernon: Impasse of Desires. Free admission. bit.ly/MOADJuneteenth

Vallejo Juneteenth Celebration: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 17, Downtown Vallejo. Enjoy a joyous parade and festival featuring merchandise and food, kids activities and live entertainment at Vallejo’s 33rd annual Juneteenth Celebration. Free admission. bit.ly/VallejoJuneteenth

Sonoma County Juneteenth Celebration: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1671 Hendley St., Santa Rosa. Enjoy live entertainment, food and drinks, basketball, arts and crafts, dominos, spoken word, zumba, health and wellness stalls and kids activities at Sonoma County’s 53rd annual Juneteenth and MLK Celebration. Free admission. sonomacountyjuneteenth.com/

Mill Valley Freedom Festival: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17, Mill Valley Downtown Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Celebrate African American independence with live music, festivities, food and fun for all ages. Free admission. millvalleylibrary.org/953/Freedom-Festival

Millbrae Juneteenth Celebration: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17, Millbrae Recreation Center and Central Park, Millbrae. Thie Juneteenth celebration will feature food, live music and special performances. Free admission. bit.ly/MillbraeJuneteenthCelebration 

Grace Arms of Antioch Juneteenth Celebration: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 17, 3415 Oakley Road, Antioch. Celebrate Juneteenth and honor cultural heritage with a day of entertainment, art, education, food and drinks and an ever-present, always-developing sense of community. Free admission. bit.ly/AntiochJuneteenth

SF Freedom Celebration: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17, 1330 Fillmore St., San Francisco. This Freedom Celebration will span eight city  blocks and feature carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a block party, a car show, a fashion show, plus dozens of retail and food vendors. Free admission. bit.ly/SFFreedomCelebration

Los Altos Juneteenth Festival: 12 to 5 p.m. June 17, Hillview Park, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Come out for an afternoon of art, music, food, drinks, dancing and live entertainment at Justice Vanguard’s fourth annual Juneteenth Festival. Free admission. bit.ly/JVJuneteenth

Juneteenth in the Streets: 12 to 7 p.m. June 17, SOFA District, Downtown San Jose. Enjoy food, artwork and more at this annual festival aimed at celebrating African American heritage and community education. Free admission. sjaacsa.org/juneteenth/home

Oakland Juneteenth Festival: 12 to 8 p.m. June 17, Lake Merritt Amphitheater, Oakland. Enjoy a celebration of Black/African culture promoting reflection, education, wellness, unity and pride. The festival will feature live music, food, merchandise stalls, wellness workshops, art installations and youth activities. $25 admission. bit.ly/OaklandJuneteenthFestival

Juneteenth Paint Night: 7 to 10 p.m. June 17, 1981 Sutter St., San Francisco. Join Honey Art Studio in celebrating Juneteenth and the independence of African Americans with a paint night accompanied by food and live entertainment. $25-$75. bit.ly/JuneteenthPaintNight2023

Richmond Juneteenth Celebration: June 17, Richmond. Save the date for Richmond’s annual Juneteenth celebration, featuring a parade beginning at the Booker T. Anderson Center, followed by a festival at Nicholl Park. Free admission. ci.richmond.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2296

Suisun City Juneteenth Celebration: June 17-18, Suisun Waterfront, 680 Main St., Suisun City. This memorable celebration of American history and community will feature live music, delicious food, local artisans, shopping and family-friendly activities. Free admission. bit.ly/SuisunCityJuneteenth

Juneteenth Celebration Hike: 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 18, Coyote Hills Visitors Center, Fremont. Celebrate historic Black contributions and achievements in science, conservation and art with a picturesque Juneteenth hike. Explore the wonders of Coyote Hills and acknowledge truth in history. Free. bit.ly/JuneteenthHike

Antioch Juneteenth Freedom Celebration: 12 to 5 p.m. June 18, Williamson Ranch Park, Antioch. Making Moves and the City of Antioch will host a Juneteenth celebration with live entertainment, food, games and more. Free admission. antiochca.gov/event/juneteenth-2/

Golden Gate Park Juneteenth Concert: 1 p.m. June 18, Golden Gate Park, 501 Stanyan St., San Francisco. In honor of Juneteenth, the Golden Gate Park Band will perform music of contemporary and historical black composers including Kevin Day, Katahj Copley, Omar Thomas, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and William Grant Still. Free. bit.ly/GoldenGateJuneteenth

Celebrating Black Stories: June 18-19, Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. Black stories take the spotlight in these seven short films that share the joy, determination, resilience and complexity of being Black and young. $5. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/celebrating-black-stories/

Juneteenth Celebration Walk: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 19, 1951 Bailey Road, Concord. Spend Juneteenth on a guided walk in the future Thurgood Marshall Regional Park. Celebrate stories of Black history, civil rights and the fight for freedom on this land. Come prepared for a mostly paved, 2-mile hike with views of Mount Diablo. Free. bit.ly/JuneteenthWalk

Juneteenth Choral Celebration: 4 to 5 p.m. June 19, New Destiny Church, 625 Eighth St., Oakland. Join Amateur Music Network and the New Destiny congregation to sing joyous spirituals for their third annual Juneteenth choral celebration, featuring a new arrangement of “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.” $10-$25. bit.ly/JuneteenthChoral

Joana Sanz is a model, and she shares a lot of gorgeous posts on social media. Sanz shared a new photo on her Instagram story this week. In it, she sunbathed wearing a black swimsuit. Sanz’s impressive figure was on display. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Joana Sanz stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

Sanz spends a lot of time outside. She loves to spend time by the water. One thing Sanz likes to do to stay in shape when she goes to the beach is paddleboard. She shared this set of photos and videos on Instagram of herself and a friend paddlebording in the Balearic Islands. Sanz captioned the post, “Adding summers together 👯‍♀️ I love you sister 💝Next destiny?”df44d9eab23ea271ddde7545ae2c09ec

One thing Sanz likes to do to stay in shape when she goes outside is swim. She shares a lot of posts on Instagram of herself by the pool or at the beach. Sanz shared this photo and video of herself splashing in a pool. She captioned the post, “Officially on vacation 🍹!!! Thank you life for every day.”

Sanz is an optimist. She opened up about this in the caption of these pool photos she posted on Instagram. “Focus on what does you good, what makes you progress. Surround yourself with people who love you well and better. @silviaboschmunoz look at the whatsapp I want to travel.”

Sanz is taking horseback riding lessons. She shared this photo and video on Instagram of herself riding. Sanz captioned the post, “Lucky me to be instructed by a jumping champion.” A study at Texas A&M reports that riding has a lot of benefits. “The study included 20 individuals completing three riding tests: a 45-minute walk-trot-canter ride, a reining pattern and a cutting pattern while wearing a telemetric gas analyzer.  Heart rate, respiratory frequency, pulmonary ventilation, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production were among several items evaluated. The study revealed energy expenditure and heart rate responses were greater for reining and cutting than for the walk-trot-canter ride. The researchers concluded that the results of the study ‘provide novel information about exercise intensity values for horseback activities and differences among riding disciplines measured in real time using a portable system.'”

Sanz makes sure to eat healthy. She even has an Instagram story highlight dedicated to some of her favorite healthy meals. One thing she likes to eat is salmon. In one photo, Sanz enjoys a plate of salmon and rice. SafeBeat.org reports that salmon has a lot of benefits. “Salmon is an excellent food source for the heart and brain. Medical studies have found that taking 0.45 to 4.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids can significantly improve heart function, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. The fish also contributes to cognitive health due to the presence of DHA—a type of omega-3 fatty acid.”

The song is a remix of Latto’s recent single, which she debuted at Coachella

By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING, STEPHEN GROVES, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fending off a U.S. default, the Senate gave final approval late Thursday to a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, grinding into the night to wrap up work on the bipartisan deal and send it to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline.

The compromise package negotiated between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy leaves neither Republicans nor Democrats fully pleased with the outcome. But the result, after weeks of hard-fought budget negotiations, shelves the volatile debt ceiling issue that risked upending the U.S. and global economy until 2025 after the next presidential election.

Approval in the Senate on a bipartisan vote, 63-36, somewhat reflected the overwhelming House tally the day before, relying on centrists in both parties to pull the Biden-McCarthy package to passage — though Democrats led the tally in both chambers.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of voting that the bill’s passage means “America can breathe a sigh of relief.”

Afterward he said, “We’ve saved the country from the scourge of default.”

Biden said in a statement following passage that senators from both parties “demonstrated once more that America is a nation that pays its bills and meets its obligations — and always will be.”

He said he would sign the bill into law as soon as possible. “No one gets everything they want in a negotiation, but make no mistake: this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people,” the president said. The White House said he would address the nation about the matter at 7 p.m. EDT Friday.

Fast action was vital if Washington hoped to meet next Monday’s deadline, when Treasury has said the U.S. will start running short of cash to pay its bills, risking a devastating default. Raising the nation’s debt limit, now $31.4 trillion, would ensure Treasury could borrow to pay already incurred U.S. debts.

In the end, the debt ceiling showdown was a familiar high-stakes battle in Congress, a fight taken on by McCarthy and powered by a hard-right House Republican majority confronting the Democratic president with a new era of divided government in Washington.

Refusing a once routine vote to allow a the nation’s debt limit to be lifted without concessions, McCarthy brought Biden’s White House to the negotiating table to strike an agreement that forces spending cutbacks aimed at curbing the nation’s deficits.

Overall, the 99-page bill restricts spending for the next two years, suspends the debt ceiling into January 2025 and changes some policies, including imposing new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and greenlighting an Appalachian natural gas line that many Democrats oppose.

It bolsters funds for defense and veterans, cuts back new money for Internal Revenue Service agents and rejects Biden’s call to roll back Trump-era tax breaks on corporations and the wealthy to help cover the nation’s deficits. It imposes automatic 1% cuts if Congress fails approve its annual spending bills.

After the House overwhelmingly approved the package late Wednesday, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell signaled he too wanted to waste no time ensuring it became law.

Touting its budget cuts, McConnell said Thursday, “The Senate has a chance to make that important progress a reality.”

Having remained largely on the sidelines during much of the Biden-McCarthy negotiations, several senators insisted on debate over their ideas to reshape the package. But making any changes at this stage would almost certainly derail the compromise and none were approved.

Instead, senators dragged through rounds of voting late into the night rejecting the various amendments, but making their preferences clear. Conservative Republican senators wanted to include further cut spending, while Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia sought to remove the Mountain Valley Pipeline approval.

The energy pipeline is important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and he defended the development running through his state, saying the country cannot run without the power of gas, coal, wind and all available energy sources.

But, offering an amendment to strip the pipeline from the package, Kaine argued it would not be fair for Congress to step into a controversial project that he said would also course through his state and scoop up lands in Appalachia that have been in families for generations.

Defense hawks led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina complained strongly that military spending, though boosted in the deal, was not enough to keep pace with inflation — particularly as they eye supplemental spending that will be needed this summer to support Ukraine against the war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Putin’s invasion is a defining moment of the 21st century,” Graham argued from the Senate floor. “What the House did is wrong.”

They secured an agreement from Schumer, which he read on the floor, stating that the debt ceiling deal “does nothing” to limit the Senate’s ability to approve other emergency supplemental funds for national security, including for Ukraine, or for disaster relief and other issues of national importance.

All told, most of the Democratic senators voted for the package, while most of the Republicans opposed it. The tally was 46 Democrats and 17 Republicans in favor; 31 Republicans along with four Democrats and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats opposed.

For weeks negotiators labored late into the night to strike the deal with the White House, and for days McCarthy had worked to build support among skeptics.

Tensions had run high in the House the night before as hard-right Republicans refused the deal. Ominously, the conservatives warned of possibly trying to oust McCarthy over the issue.

But Biden and McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition, with Democrats ensuring passage on a robust 314-117 vote. All told, 71 House Republicans broke with McCarthy to reject the deal.

“We did pretty dang good,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said afterward.

As for discontent from Republicans who said the spending restrictions did not go far enough, McCarthy said it was only a “first step.”

The White House immediately turned its attention to the Senate, its top staff phoning individual senators.

Democrats also had complaints, decrying the new work requirements for older Americans, those 50-54, in the food aid program, the changes to the landmark National Environmental Policy Act and approval of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline natural gas project they argue is unhelpful in fighting climate change.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the spending restrictions in the package would reduce deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, a top goal for the Republicans trying to curb the debt load.

In a surprise that complicated Republicans’ support, however, the CBO said their drive to impose work requirements on older Americans receiving food stamps would end up boosting spending by $2.1 billion over the time period. That’s because the final deal exempts veterans and homeless people, expanding the food stamp rolls by 78,000 people monthly, the CBO said.

___

AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Two men, one from Metro Vancouver and another from Alberta, are facing several charges following a weekend drug raid in Whitehorse.

A statement from Yukon RCMP says a search warrant was executed at a Whitehorse home on Saturday (May 27) and a 22-year-old Richmond man and 23-year-old Edmonton resident were arrested.

Charges against them include trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, and money laundering.

Mounties say more than $130,000 in cash was seized during the bust, along with cellphones, scales and nearly two-thirds of a kilogram of what they believe is packaged cocaine.

A pickup truck that investigators allege was used during the suspected trafficking was also seized.

The two men have appeared in Territorial Court in Whitehorse and have been released on bail under the condition they leave Yukon and only return for court dates, including the next one, set for July 12.

The Canadian Press

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Gabriella Howell is looking gorgeous in her swimsuit. The Sutton Unified soccer player shows off her incredible body in a pastel bathing suit in one of her latest social media posts. “No it’s not pancake day, it’s just my chest,” she captioned the Instagram snap. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Gabby Howell stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

Clearly one of the ways Gabriella stays is such great shape is by playing soccer. Mercedes Carnethon, MD, told the American Heart Association that soccer is a great workout for many reasons. “It is a game of continuous running and with very little stopping,” said Carnethon, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. “It also has anaerobic elements – that high intensity where you’re sprinting and then resting – you’re constantly moving.” Sports researcher Peter Krustrup, who has spent more than 15 years studying the health benefits of soccer, added that recreational-level play and soccer-related exercise drills can help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. Soccer also can help shift body composition by decreasing fat and increasing lean muscle.

Gabby is no stranger to trolls. “I like to keep [the hateful comments] on my profiles and I don’t delete them,” she told The Mirror. “Young girls think they want to be an influencer but they don’t see the downsides. I like to make people aware.” There was one occasion when trolls “broke her,” but she has vowed that it won’t happen again. “Not everyone’s going to like you. I repeat that to myself when I see these comments,” she said. “You’ve just got to develop a thick skin.”df44d9eab23ea271ddde7545ae2c09ec

Gabby drinks a lot of water. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is important for a variety of reasons. Water helps get rid of waste through urination, perspiration and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.

Gabby can often be found with a glass of white wine in hand. While red wine is slightly healthier than white, the lighter shade of vino generally has fewer calories than the darker shade. “Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy,” says the Mayo Clinic. “The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks.”

Gabby also loves drinking coffee. Science continues to prove that drinking coffee is great for your health. In fact, a new 2022 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that drinking two to three cups a day of most types of coffee – especially a mild to moderate intake of ground, instant, and decaffeinated coffee – may protect you from cardiovascular disease and an early death.