Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis-Funeral
Hundreds mourn 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, who was killed in a mass shooting at a Minneapolis church
SUMMARY: A funeral has been held for one of two schoolchildren killed when a mass shooter opened fire at a Minneapolis Catholic church during Mass. Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday for the service of the 8-year-old boy, Fletcher Merkel. His obituary described him as having an infectious smile and adventurous spirit. Mourners recalled how Fletcher seemed constantly in motion and loved fishing, which he did often with his dad. They recalled his generosity. The Aug. 27 shooting injured at least 21 people, most of them students at Annunciation Catholic School. A service is planned Sept. 14 for the other child killed, a 10-year-old girl named Harper Moyski.
WORDS: 367 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 8:02 p.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota-Juvenile-Lifer
Appeals court upholds Myon Burrell’s conviction in gun and drug case
SUMMARY: An appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Minnesota man in a gun and drug case. This decision comes after Myon Burrell’s life sentence was commuted in a high-profile murder case. On Monday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the search following a 2023 traffic stop was legal. Police found drugs and a handgun in Burrell’s SUV after he was stopped. Burrell was 16 when he was arrested for a 2002 murder. His sentence was commuted in 2020 after questions were raised about the investigation, but his conviction remained on his record so he couldn’t legally have a gun.
WORDS: 431 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 12:35 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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FBC–T25-AP Poll-Bracket Watch
Oregon would give the Big Ten 3 of the top 4 seeds in AP Top 25-based CFP bracket
SUMMARY: The Big Ten would claim three of the top four seeds in the College Football Playoff based on The Associated Press Top 25 poll while Miami, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame would host first-round games. Ohio State and Penn State remain the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds on the projected bracket and conference mate Oregon would be No. 4. LSU would be the No. 3 seed. The top four receive first-round byes. The Big Ten would have four teams in the 12-team field, the SEC three, ACC two and Big 12 and American one each.
WORDS: 459 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 1:56 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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BBO–Twins-Royals
Ober, Buxton, Clemens leads Twins to 5-1 win, drop Royals 2 back for last AL wild card
SUMMARY: Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens homered and the Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City 5-1 to drop the Royals two games back for the last AL wild card. Buxton led off the game against Michael Lorenzen (with his 30th homer, extending his career high. He was hit by a 91.8 mph sinker in the fifth inning and was replaced for the bottom of the sixth because of what the Twins said was a bruised left knee. Clemens hit his 16th homer in the fourth, a 451-drive that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
WORDS: 291 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 4:29 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Chiefs-Worthy
Chiefs may be without WRs Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals against Eagles in Super Bowl rematch
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs may face the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch without wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals on Sunday. Worthy injured his shoulder in a collision during the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil. Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Worthy’s recovery is ongoing. Royals, a rookie, missed last week’s practice and Friday’s game because of a knee injury. If both players are absent, the Chiefs will be without three key receivers, as Rashee Rice is serving a suspension. Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton led the way for the Chiefs in their game against Los Angeles.
WORDS: 625 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 12:36 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BBO–Twins-Royals
Ober, Buxton, Clemens leads Twins to 5-1 win, drop Royals 2 back for last AL wild card
SUMMARY: Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens homered and the Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City 5-1 to drop the Royals two games back for the last AL wild card. Buxton led off the game against Michael Lorenzen (with his 30th homer, extending his career high. He was hit by a 91.8 mph sinker in the fifth inning and was replaced for the bottom of the sixth because of what the Twins said was a bruised left knee. Clemens hit his 16th homer in the fourth, a 451-drive that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
WORDS: 291 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 4:29 p.m. CDT
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BKN-Timberwolves-Reid-Sister Killed
NBA player’s sister fatally shot at New Jersey apartment complex, her boyfriend charged with murder
SUMMARY: The sister of Minnesota Timberwolves player Naz Reid was fatally shot at a New Jersey apartment complex by her boyfriend. Twenty-nine-year-old Shaquille Green has been charged with murder. Ocean County prosecutors say Jackson police went to the Paragon apartment complex around 11 a.m. Saturday, after receiving reports of shots fired. They soon found 28-year-old Toraya Reid unresponsive. Officers also saw Green running down a nearby road, and he was soon taken into custody without incident. Prosecutors say Toraya Reid and Green had been in “a dating relationship” but did not provide further details. They didn’t know whether Green had retained an attorney.
WORDS: 223 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 11:12 a.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Twins-Royals
Ober, Buxton, Clemens leads Twins to 5-1 win, drop Royals 2 back for last AL wild card
SUMMARY: Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens homered and the Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City 5-1 to drop the Royals two games back for the last AL wild card. Buxton led off the game against Michael Lorenzen (with his 30th homer, extending his career high. He was hit by a 91.8 mph sinker in the fifth inning and was replaced for the bottom of the sixth because of what the Twins said was a bruised left knee. Clemens hit his 16th homer in the fourth, a 451-drive that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
WORDS: 291 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 4:29 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Giants-Cardinals
Gray takes no-hit bid into 6th as Cards beat Giants 4-3 Sunday
SUMMARY: Sonny Gray took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat San Francisco 4-3 to leave the Giants four games back for the last NL wild card. Gray (13-8) allowed three runs, two hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He walked his first two batters in the sixth, struck out Heliot Ramos and allowed Rafael Devers’ RBI single to center. Riley O’Brien allowed a ninth-inning single and retired Patrick Bailey on a game-ending, double-play grounder for his third save.
WORDS: 342 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 4:44 p.m. CDT
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GLF–PGA Tour Champions
Thomas Bjorn makes 35-foot birdie putt in playoff to win the Champions event in St. Louis
SUMMARY: Thomas Bjorn made a 35-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff with Cameron Percy on Sunday to win the Stifel Charity Classic for his first individual victory on the PGA Tour Champions. Bjorn closed with a 4-under 67 to match Percy — who birdied three of the last four holes in regulation for a 64 — at 12-under 201 at Norwood Hills Country Club. In the playoff, Bjorn ran in the long putt, and Percy’s birdie try from slightly closer sped by the left edge. The 54-year-old Bjorn won for the second time this year on the 50-and-over tour after teaming with Darren Clarke to take the American Family Insurance Championship in June. The Dane won 15 times on the European Tour.
WORDS: 198 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 5:49 p.m. CDT
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TEN–US Open-Shamet
Basketball player Landry Shamet takes his shots as a photographer working at the US Open
SUMMARY: Basketball player Landry Shamet has been busy taking shots. This weekend, they were with a camera. He worked as a photographer at the U.S. Open. The guard who spent last season with the New York Knicks had a job with the U.S. Tennis Association and was in Arthur Ashe Stadium snapping pictures during the women’s and men’s final matches. It was Shamet’s second year with an unpaid position with the USTA. In 2024, he was on the grounds during the first week of the tournament. This time, the NBA player since 2018 performed well enough that he was asked to come on the final weekend.
WORDS: 561 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 6:53 p.m. CDT
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CAR–NASCAR-Gateway
Denny Hamlin advances in NASCAR playoffs at Gateway with 200th Cup win for Toyota
SUMMARY: Denny Hamlin won from the pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway, playing the strategy perfectly to lead the final 25 laps in his series-high fifth victory this season. With his 59th career win, Hamlin advanced to the second round of the Cup Series playoffs and joined Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, who finished second. Hamlin made his final stop with 44 laps remaining, and he cycled to the front on a caution 15 laps later. The Virginia native seized the lead from Brad Keselowski on the restart, delivering the 200th win in NASCAR’s premier series for Toyota.
WORDS: 924 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 5:33 p.m. CDT
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CAR–NASCAR-Toyota On Top
Toyotas turning heads with speed in NASCAR playoffs. ‘They’re ridiculously fast,’ Joey Logano says
SUMMARY: Punctuated by its 200th victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, Toyota is proving to have strong contenders for the 2025 championship. Camrys have swept the top two spots in the first two races of the Cup Series playoffs and left defending series champion Joey Logano marveling at their speed. With Gateway similar in size and shape to the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin’s win at the track near St. Louis is fostering hope that Toyota can end a six-year title drought this season.
WORDS: 950 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 11:45 a.m. CDT
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FBN–Chiefs-Worthy
Chiefs may be without WRs Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals against Eagles in Super Bowl rematch
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs may face the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch without wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals on Sunday. Worthy injured his shoulder in a collision during the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil. Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Worthy’s recovery is ongoing. Royals, a rookie, missed last week’s practice and Friday’s game because of a knee injury. If both players are absent, the Chiefs will be without three key receivers, as Rashee Rice is serving a suspension. Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton led the way for the Chiefs in their game against Los Angeles.
WORDS: 625 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 12:36 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–NBC-NBA Promo
NBC releases promo for NBA opening night during Sunday Night Football broadcast
SUMMARY: The NBA returns to NBC and Peacock next month. And during the NFL’s first Sunday Night Football game of the season, NBC unveiled a 45-second reminder. During the airing of the Buffalo-Baltimore NFL matchup, NBC released a new promo — one featuring the lineup of some of its announcers and analysts, done in the same way that NBA teams announce their starters pregame. It promoted NBC’s opening night doubleheader on Oct. 21.
WORDS: 403 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 8:11 p.m. CDT
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GLF–Walker Cup
Americans roll in sunshine and fog to win the Walker Cup for 5th straight time
SUMMARY: The Americans have won the Walker Cup for the fifth straight time. U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell was unbeaten in his three matches. Stewart Hagestad made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th that assured the U.S. would keep the cup, and then Preston Stout delivered the winner with a wedge to tap-in range that ended his match on the 17th hole. The final score was 17-9, with the Americans’ 8-1-1 Sunday singles record the best since it went to 10 matches in 2009. It was the first Walker Cup at iconic Cypress Point since 1981. The Americans kept a one-point lead after the morning foursomes and quickly filled the scoreboard with red scores even as the fog began to roll in.
WORDS: 893 – MOVED: 09/07/2025 3:08 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Player of the Week
AP Player of the Week: Sawyer Robertson throws for 400 yards again to lead Baylor’s comeback vs. SMU
SUMMARY: Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson is The Associated Press national college football player of the week. The fifth-year player from Lubbock, Texas, brought the Bears back from a 14-point deficit with two of his four touchdown passes coming in the last six minutes of regulation against SMU. The Bears went on to win 48-45 in two overtimes. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was runner-up in voting for the honor. The Washington State transfer passed for 270 yards and a touchdown and had team highs of 19 carries for 74 yards and two TDs in a 24-13 win over Michigan.
WORDS: 666 – MOVED: 09/08/2025 9:42 a.m. CDT
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