**FILE** Students from J.C. Nalle Elementary participate in the April 2023 Emancipation Day Parade. Nalle has been waiting patiently for a full modernization of a school building that, among other things, lacked a unified HVAC system. (WI photo)

Today’s Headlines – June 19, 2024

Nalle Elementary’s Field in Jeopardy, Baseball Legend Dies, Juneteenth Discussions, and Capital Book Fest

Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, June 19. Happy Juneteenth! Here are today’s top stories: The field at Nalle Elementary is at risk during its long-awaited modernization process. The school community has been waiting over a decade for updates to address issues like the lack of a unified HVAC system and occasional fuel odors. In sports news, we mourn the loss of Hall of Fame baseball legend Willie Mays, who passed away at 93. He is often celebrated as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Local leaders are highlighting Juneteenth as not just a holiday but a call to action for ongoing justice. The day marks the end of chattel slavery in the U.S. and continues to serve as a significant reminder of the fight for freedom and equality. Lastly, the Capital Book Fest attracted hundreds in support of improving reading skills among D.C. students. Community organizations like Turning the Page are dedicated to raising reading levels, which currently lag behind the national average.

Nalle Elementary’s Field in Jeopardy During Modernization Process

Students from J.C. Nalle Elementary at the April 2023 Emancipation Day Parade. Nalle has been waiting patiently for a full modernization of a school building that, among other things, lacked a unified HVAC system. (WI File Photo)

For more than a decade, community members at J.C. Nalle Elementary School have waited patiently for the full modernization of a school building that, among other things, lacked a unified HVAC system and periodically reeked of fuel.  

Baseball Legend Willie Mays Dies at 93

**FILE** Willie Mays (Michael Marconi, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
**FILE** Willie Mays (Michael Marconi, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

Willie Mays, the Hall of Fame baseball legend often hailed as the greatest player in the game’s history, died Tuesday. He was 93.

Local Leaders Discuss Importance of Juneteenth, Emphasize Holiday as a Call-to-Action to Continue Justice Fight

**FILE** The Rev. Bill Lee, the Rev. Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church, and Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, take part in an event to increase voting in the Black community in May. Pastor Lee and Cambell both emphasize he importance of commemorating Juneteenth’s history and using the day to continue fighting for justice. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)
**FILE** The Rev. Bill Lee, the Rev. Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church, and Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, take part in an event to increase voting in the Black community in May. Pastor Lee and Cambell both emphasize he importance of commemorating Juneteenth’s history and using the day to continue fighting for justice. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas were notified of their already earned freedom–  a moment marking the official end of American chattel slavery, though  President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation two-and-a-half years prior.  From 1865, until today, local and national leaders note that Juneteenth is a party with a purpose.

Capital Book Fest Attracts Hundreds to Support D.C. Students’ Reading Skills

Angie Johnson promotes the annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee to future participants at the Capital Book Fest on Saturday, June 15 at the Woodrow Wilson Plaza in D.C. (D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)
Angie Johnson promotes the annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee to future participants at the Capital Book Fest on Saturday, June 15 at the Woodrow Wilson Plaza in D.C. (D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)

Improving reading levels among D.C. students that are lower than the national average is a rallying call for community organizations like Turning the Page (TTP), which held its Third Annual Capital Book Fest on Saturday, June 15, at the Woodrow Wilson Plaza in Northwest.

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Desmond Barnes was born in Washington, DC. He is the son of Washington Informer Publisher Denise Barnes. He has been a part of the Washington Informer family all of his life. He helps produce Sounds Of...