June 2010 Current Events: U.S. News

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Business News | Disasters & Science News

Here are the key events in United States news for the month of June 2010.

• Obama Names New Director of National Intelligence (June 4): President Obama names Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper Jr. as the new director of national intelligence. Clapper is tasked with improving the coordination between the 16 U.S. spy and intelligence agencies. The former director, Adm. Dennis C. Blair, was forced out of the job two weeks earlier.
• Two Americans Arrested on Terrorism Charges (June 6): Two Americans on their way to Somalia with intentions to join Islamic extremist group Al Shabab, which aims to kill American troops, are arrested at the Kennedy International Airport in New York.
• Chicago Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup (June 9): For the first time in 49 years, the Chicago Blackhawks win the National Hockey League's ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 in overtime to take the title.
• L.A. Lakers Defeat Boston Celtics to Win 16th N.B.A. Championship (June 18): In Game 7 of the series of an evenly matched N.B.A. finals, the L.A. Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 83–79 to win their second consecutive championship, and the 16th title in their franchise's history. Kobe Bryant is awarded the Most Valuable Player award.
• Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Giving Aid to Terror Groups (June 21): In a 6–3 decision on a free speech versus national security, the Supreme Court upholds a federal law that makes it illegal to give "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, no matter how the aid is meant to be used. Justices John Paul Stevens, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Anthony Kennedy, and Samuel Alito supported the majority decision, claiming that any support, even if it's intended for peace-keeping operations, "bolsters the terrorist activities of that organization."
• U.S. Soccer Team Advances to Round of 16 in World Cup (June 23): The United States national soccer team beats Algeria 1–0, solidifying its place at the top of its group and in the the second round of the World Cup finals.
• Stanley McChrystal Fired as Commander in Afghanistan (June 23): After a controversial interview with Rolling Stone that included some demeaning remarks about President Obama and his administration, General Stanley McChrystal is relieved of his position as commander of the American Forces in Afghanistan and replaced by his boss, General David Patraeus. President Obama claims the interview was not the cause of the firing, but his desire to unify his national security team in a time of war.
• Supreme Court Rules Right to Bear Arms Applies to State and Local Governments (June 28): The Supreme Court rules in a 5-to-4 decision that the Second Amendment's guarantee, the right to bear arms, applies to local and state gun control laws. Justice Samuel Alito, who spoke for the majority, said the right to self defense is fundamental to American civil liberties. The decision is a particular blow to local government in Chicago and Oak Park Illinois, where handguns are essentially banned.