Great Plains News Digest
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IOWA
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US–Election 2028-Democrats-Iowa Caucus
Iowa Democrats consider bringing back lead off caucuses, even if it means going ‘rogue’ in 2028
SUMMARY: Iowa’s state party officials say it was a mistake that the party’s 2024 nominating calendar forced them to ditch the five-decade, first-in-the-nation caucus where community members publicly signal their support for a candidate. The state party’s criticism comes with an open threat of defying the national party’s orders in 2028 just days before national Democrats gather for their annual summer meeting. Iowa Democrats are looking to bring the once-competitive, rural and agricultural Midwest state back on the radar of a party questioning its values, direction and future leaders. In 2022, President Joe Biden forced a shake-up of the 2024 election calendar, moving South Carolina’s primary ahead of contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
WORDS: 796 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:39 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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US–Election-2026-Redistricting-Other States
What states are doing in the battle for partisan advantage in US House maps
SUMMARY: Texas Republicans and California Democrats are battling for partisan advantage in U.S. House maps. And their fight may spread to other states. Republican state lawmakers in Texas are backing revised congressional districts at the prodding of President Donald Trump. California Democrats are doing likewise at the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Politicians in both states are trying to give their party a chance to win as many as five more seats in next year’s congressional elections. Officials in other states, such as Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New York and Maryland, also are considering redrawing congressional districts to try to gain a partisan advantage.
WORDS: 1086 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 7:01 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–Princess Butter Sculptures
Minnesota State Fair butter sculpture tradition has dairy princesses bundling up in the summer
SUMMARY: Malorie Thorson, the newly crowned 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way, has embraced a unique tradition at the Minnesota State Fair. On Thursday, she sat bundled up in a rotating glass studio as sculptor Gerry Kulzer carved a likeness of her head from a 90-pound block of butter. This event marks the start of the fair and honors the state’s dairy farm families. Several other state fairs across the country also feature butter sculptures. The Iowa State Fair has been famous for its annual life-sized Butter Cow for over a century. A replica goes on display Saturday at the Smithsonian in Washington.
WORDS: 588 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:16 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US–Election-2026-Redistricting-Other States
What states are doing in the battle for partisan advantage in US House maps
SUMMARY: Texas Republicans and California Democrats are battling for partisan advantage in U.S. House maps. And their fight may spread to other states. Republican state lawmakers in Texas are backing revised congressional districts at the prodding of President Donald Trump. California Democrats are doing likewise at the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Politicians in both states are trying to give their party a chance to win as many as five more seats in next year’s congressional elections. Officials in other states, such as Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New York and Maryland, also are considering redrawing congressional districts to try to gain a partisan advantage.
WORDS: 1086 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 7:01 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Last WWII Ace Dies
America’s last living ace pilot from World War II dies at age 103
SUMMARY: A World War II veteran from Nebraska believed to be America’s last surviving “ace” pilot because he shot down five enemy planes has died. Donald McPherson’s death at age 103 earlier this month was first reported by the Beatrice Daily Sun. The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum and the American Fighter Aces Association both listed McPherson as the last surviving WWII ace. He also received the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. But McPherson’s daughter, Beth Delabar, told the newspaper that her dad wanted to be remembered more for his dedication to faith, family and community than for his wartime feats.
WORDS: 520 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 5:22 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Funeral Home-Corpse Abuse
Funeral home owner who stashed nearly 200 decaying bodies set to be sentenced for corpse abuse
SUMMARY: Two years after piles of decaying bodies were found in a rural Colorado building, a funeral home owner is set to be sentenced for 191 counts of corpse abuse. Jon Hallford, who owned Return to Nature Funeral Home, ran a fraudulent scheme with his wife from their business in Colorado Springs. Instead of cremating bodies as families requested, he dumped them in a bug-infested building. Hallford gave families dry concrete resembling ashes and pocketed the cremation fees. He and his wife acknowledged defrauded the government out of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid for small businesses.
WORDS: 785 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 11:09 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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GYM–USA Gymnastics-Abuse Inquiry
Gymnast who sparked FBI sex abuse inquiry into coach tells AP she’s proud to come forward
SUMMARY: A gymnast whose report of sexual abuse against her former coach led to his arrest and an FBI investigation into potential misconduct at gyms in three states says she’s proud she made a difference. Finley Weldon spoke in an interview with The Associated Press about her role in exposing the allegations against Sean Gardner, her coach at a renowned academy in Iowa until 2021. The 18-year-old Iowa State University freshman says she “felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls, so they didn’t have to go through what I went through.” Weldon says she’s going public because she’s proud to have come forward. The FBI arrested Gardner last week.
WORDS: 1312 – MOVED: 08/20/2025 11:04 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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FBN–Chiefs-Reid-Bullet
Bullet was fired into Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s office in May 2024 while he was inside
SUMMARY: Authorities say multiple bullets were fired at the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility in May 2024, with one entering coach Andy Reid’s office while he was inside. No one was injured. The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that Reid was working alone when a bullet broke through the window and lodged in a wall. The team installed bulletproof glass afterward. Two more bullets hit the facility. Police are investigating the incident as aggravated assault. Chiefs president Mark Donovan said Thursday the organization cooperated with authorities and emphasized safety for staff and fans. No arrests have been made.
WORDS: 426 – MOVED: 08/20/2025 10:10 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Rangers-Royals
Vinnie Pasquantino’s homer in 4th straight game helps lift Royals over Rangers 6-4
SUMMARY: Vinnie Pasquantino homers for the fourth straight game, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers. This marks the Royals’ sixth win in their last seven games. Nick Loftin also homered, boosting Kansas City’s playoff hopes with an 8-2 record on a 10-game homestand. Michael Lorenzen struggled, but Angel Zerpa and others shut down the Rangers. Carlos Estévez earned his AL-leading 33rd save. Corey Seager had three hits for Texas, while Jacob Webb gave up Pasquantino’s homer. The Royals challenge a call in the third inning, but it stood.
WORDS: 381 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:18 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cardinals-Rays
Contreras HR, Burleson’s 2 RBIs power the Cardinals to a 7-4 win over the Rays
SUMMARY: Willson Contreras homered, Alec Burleson’s two-run single highlighted a five-run second inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4. Sonny Gray (12-6) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, with six strikeouts and a walk for the win. Kyle Leahy, Matt Svanson and JoJo Romero (fourth save) combined to limit Tampa Bay to one run and five hits the rest of the way. Tampa Bay’s Yardy Diaz hit a two-run homer in the third. It was his 17th homer at Steinbrenner Field and 21st of the season overall.
WORDS: 287 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 9:49 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–Resilient Fever
Fever overcomes Caitlin Clark’s absence and 3 season-ending injuries to stay in WNBA playoff hunt
SUMMARY: The Indiana Fever have overcome a barrage of critical injuries to stay in the WNBA playoff hunt. An injured right groin and subsequent bone bruise suffered while recovering have kept two-time All-Star guard Caitlin Clark out since July 15, and there’s still no timetable for her return. Backup guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson had season-ending injuries in the same game, Aug. 7 at Phoenix. Then Sunday, guard Sophie Cunningham sustained a season-ending knee injury. Still, with nine regular season games remaining, the resilient Fever are somehow still in playoff position.
WORDS: 737 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 2:19 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Athletics-Twins
Tyler Soderstrom goes 4 for 4 to stretch hitting streak to 19 games as A’s sweep Twins with 8-3 win
SUMMARY: Tyler Soderstrom went 4 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 19 games and the Athletics swept the Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 victory. Lawrence Butler had a three-run double, Brent Rooker added an RBI double, and Nick Kurtz hit his 26th homer of the season. The A’s have won eight of their last 11 games and are 18-13 since the All-Star break. A’s rookie Jack Perkins won his third straight start, allowing two runs in five innings. Osvaldo Bido earned a three-inning save. Twins stopgap starter José Ureña took the loss with six runs in five innings.
WORDS: 340 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 3:17 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Jets-Moves
Jets make trade for Phillips official and place Weaver on season-ending IR, cut Mathis
SUMMARY: The New York Jets have placed defensive lineman Rashad Weaver on season-ending injured reserve and released defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. This move coincides with the official acquisition of nose tackle Harrison Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings. Phillips, who played three seasons with Minnesota, joins the Jets along with a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. The Jets traded sixth-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Vikings. On Wednesday, the Jets also acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and a seventh-rounder from Cleveland. Weaver, signed in March, was expected to be part of the defensive line rotation.
WORDS: 430 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:16 p.m. CDT
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BKL–Lynx-Dream
Gray scores 27 and the Dream win 75-73 as the Lynx lose consecutive games for first time this season
SUMMARY: Allisha Gray scored 27 points, Rhyne Howard added 16 and the Atlanta Dream held on for a 75-73 victory to hand the Minnesota Lynx consecutive losses for the first time this season. Bridget Carleton scored 16 points for Minnesota (28-7) and Jessica Shepard had 15 points and 16 rebounds. Gray recorded her 15th 20-point game this season for Atlanta (23-13), which tied its 2018 franchise record with 23 victories. Kayla McBride also scored 15 points and Smith added 10 for Minnesota. Napheesa Collier missed her sixth straight game due to a right ankle injury.
WORDS: 240 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 9:13 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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FBN–Chiefs-Reid-Bullet
Bullet was fired into Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s office in May 2024 while he was inside
SUMMARY: Authorities say multiple bullets were fired at the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility in May 2024, with one entering coach Andy Reid’s office while he was inside. No one was injured. The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that Reid was working alone when a bullet broke through the window and lodged in a wall. The team installed bulletproof glass afterward. Two more bullets hit the facility. Police are investigating the incident as aggravated assault. Chiefs president Mark Donovan said Thursday the organization cooperated with authorities and emphasized safety for staff and fans. No arrests have been made.
WORDS: 426 – MOVED: 08/20/2025 10:10 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Rangers-Royals
Vinnie Pasquantino’s homer in 4th straight game helps lift Royals over Rangers 6-4
SUMMARY: Vinnie Pasquantino homers for the fourth straight game, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers. This marks the Royals’ sixth win in their last seven games. Nick Loftin also homered, boosting Kansas City’s playoff hopes with an 8-2 record on a 10-game homestand. Michael Lorenzen struggled, but Angel Zerpa and others shut down the Rangers. Carlos Estévez earned his AL-leading 33rd save. Corey Seager had three hits for Texas, while Jacob Webb gave up Pasquantino’s homer. The Royals challenge a call in the third inning, but it stood.
WORDS: 381 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:18 p.m. CDT
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FBC–SEC-Nine Games
SEC approves 9-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, joining Big Ten and Big 12
SUMMARY: The Southeastern Conference is moving to a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026. The decision ends years of debate and potentially eases a path toward another expansion of the College Football Playoff. The change was approved by conference presidents and chancellors. It previously had been recommended by league athletic directors. The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Conference still plays eight league games. The Big 12 and the Big Ten already play nine.
WORDS: 434 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:34 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Rays-Williams
Rays call up shortstop Carson Williams, place Ha-Seong Kim on the IL with recurring back trouble
SUMMARY: The Tampa Bay Rays called up top shortstop prospect Carson Williams on Thursday before their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rays made the move as they placed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on the injured list with recurring back trouble.Williams arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field less than an hour gametime and was not in the lineup. He is expected to see his first action later in the series. At Triple-A Durham this season, Williams hit .213 with 23 home runs, 55 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 111 games.
WORDS: 359 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 5:46 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cardinals-Rays
Contreras HR, Burleson’s 2 RBIs power the Cardinals to a 7-4 win over the Rays
SUMMARY: Willson Contreras homered, Alec Burleson’s two-run single highlighted a five-run second inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4. Sonny Gray (12-6) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, with six strikeouts and a walk for the win. Kyle Leahy, Matt Svanson and JoJo Romero (fourth save) combined to limit Tampa Bay to one run and five hits the rest of the way. Tampa Bay’s Yardy Diaz hit a two-run homer in the third. It was his 17th homer at Steinbrenner Field and 21st of the season overall.
WORDS: 287 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 9:49 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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FBC–SEC-Nine Games
SEC approves 9-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, joining Big Ten and Big 12
SUMMARY: The Southeastern Conference is moving to a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026. The decision ends years of debate and potentially eases a path toward another expansion of the College Football Playoff. The change was approved by conference presidents and chancellors. It previously had been recommended by league athletic directors. The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Conference still plays eight league games. The Big 12 and the Big Ten already play nine.
WORDS: 434 – MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:34 p.m. CDT
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