Juneteenth celebrations across Minnesota commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.

Juneteenth celebrations across Minnesota are marking the state and national holiday Friday, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. That includes the ANIKA Foundation’s 5th annual Juneteenth celebration at the state Capitol in St. Paul.

Some Minnesota Democrats have increased their criticism of Israel's leadership. It was a sentiment on display at last month's DFL convention. The tone shift stems in large part from Israel's conflict with Hamas and its military actions in Iran and Lebanon. Polls show a growing number of Americans have unfavorable views of Israel.

Construction is set to begin on a new freeway interchange near Stillwater that will eliminate the last remaining stoplight on a long stretch of Highway 36. It's being replaced because of a long history of crashes at that corner and because traffic volumes are on the rise. The project will route Lake Elmo Avenue underneath Highway 36, add new entrance and exit ramps and construct a new frontage road.

The World Cup is officially one week in, and for soccer fans keeping up with the tournament, there's an exciting lineup of games Friday. The U.S. looks to continue its hot streak and get a second win to advance to the knockout stages. That game is at 2 p.m.

Amid Middle East conflict, Minnesota Democrats more vocally criticize Israel's actions