Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called for cancelling Juneteenth after he had previously posted a video celebrating the holiday, NBC News reported. Mr Ramaswamy spoke in Vail, Iowa, about how to make elections more secure. In his speech, he called for Election Day to be made a national holiday. “Cancel Juneteenth or one of the other useless ones we made up,” he said. In addition, he called for paper ballots and voter identification cards despite the fact there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud. When asked if he considers Juneteenth a “useless” holiday, he said, “I basically do.” Juneteenth commemorates when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on 19 June 1865 and announced that enslaved people were officially freed. In the ensuing years, it became a day of celebration in Black communities across Texas. In 2021, Congress voted overwhelmingly and President Joe Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a national holiday. But two months ago, Mr Ramaswamy posted a video celebrating Juneteenth. “We don’t just look back and flog ourselves, that’s beside the point,” Mr Ramaswamy said. “What we celebrate is how far we’ve come, and as a first-generation American myself, you better believe I’m proud of it. Happy Juneteenth, everybody.” When asked by NBC News whether he thought Veterans Day or Memorial Day were useless, Mr Ramaswamy deferred. “I stand with the presumption of time-tested traditions,” he said, calling Juneteenth “redundant” of Martin Luther King Jr Day and Presidents Day. “The reason for making it a holiday was under political duress. It was a political hostage situation on the back of the death of George Floyd,” he said. Read More Vivek Ramaswamy's Hindu faith is front and center in his GOP presidential campaign Republicans rage against Jack Smith after latest indictment of Donald Trump over 2020 election conspiracy Indictment ignored, Trump barely a mention, as GOP candidates pitch Iowa voters to challenge him Vivek Ramaswamy's Hindu faith is front and center in his GOP presidential campaign GOP presidential hopeful Chris Christie says 'inhumanity' of war is palpable during visit to Ukraine

A quiet community just outside of Chicago was turned upside down when a couple, their two young sons and three dogs were found shot dead inside their home. Police were called in for a welfare check at the home in Romeoville, Illinois, on Sunday morning. Officers arrived to find the bodies of Alberto Rolon, 38, Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, their two boys, aged 7 and 10, and their dogs. Investigators determined that the victims died by homicide - with the killer still at large days later. “I want to know what happened to my nephews, my sister, her husband and WHY?” Bartolomei’s sister Bryana wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post. Here is everything we know about the Rolon-Bartolomei family case: ‘Not a murder suicide’ Romeoville police were dispatched on Sunday (17 September) to check on the Rolon-Bartolomei family after relatives shared concern that one of the parents didn’t turn up for work that day. In a press conference on Monday, police said family members called several times throughout the day to check on the adult, but there was no response. Just before 9pm Sunday, officers carried out a welfare check at the family’s home on the residential 500 block of Concord Avenue. The family of four were found dead of gunshot wounds – along with their three dogs. Authorities believe the murders took place between 9pm Saturday and 5am Sunday. “We do not believe the offender is among the victims. It is not a murder-suicide,” Deputy Chief Burne said during the press conference. The killer is not yet known, but police have said they do not feel the need to lock down the area. Deputy Chief Burne added: “Due to the timeframe that has gone by – more than 18 hours from the time we were contacted – we are not asking anybody to shelter in place, we are not actively looking for anybody in the area.” However, authorities have advised residents to “have a good sense of self-awareness” and have asked them to report anything they might see as suspicious. Deputy Chief Burne said that the investigation is in the early stages, so further details will not yet be released due to the sensitivity of the case. ‘Their kids were the sweetest most innocent angels’ The loss of the Rolon-Bartolomei family has shocked many friends and family members – with Bartolomei’s sister Bryana stepping forward and sharing her heartache with the community. In the description of a GoFundMe, Bryana wrote: “This fundraiser has been created with the aim of helping the Rolon-Bartolomei family with funeral expenses, as well as to create awareness of this ongoing case. Zoraida Bartolomei, Alberto Rolon, their kids Adriel & Diego (ages 10 & 7) were involved in a horrific crime that took their lives and shattered countless others.” Bryana said her sister and brother-in-law had just brought their first home together and described the children as “the sweetest most innocent angels who could hug your worries away.” “The world is going to be a much dimmer place without them,” she added. She also pleaded for anyone with information on the killings to contact police. The post was met with comments from the community sharing their condolences. “We know her and your parents from church, we are so saddened by this horrible news. Prayers for you all,” one user said. Another wrote: “My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.” Neighbours were also grappling with the death of the family. Lynn Phillips, who lives one door down from the home, told The Chicago Sun Times on Monday: “I’ve been crying on and off all day.” Although she said she didn’t know the family well, Ms Phillips said they still had a good relationship. “It was a mom and dad and a couple of kids. The parents would be outside working the yard, and we’d wave hi and bye, that kind of thing,” Ms Phillips said. “Nothing unusual. We all keep to ourselves.” Read More Murder of family of four with their three dogs was not murder-suicide but was not ‘random’, police say Ex-NFL star Sergio Brown and his mother went missing. Police say she was murdered and he has yet to be found Delphi murders suspect makes bombshell claim that victims were ‘sacrificed’ by white nationalist cult

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