Great Plains News Digest
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IOWA
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US–Immigration-Des Moines-Schools-Superintendent
Iowa schools leader held by ICE steps down as he fights deportation
SUMMARY: The public schools superintendent of Des Moines, Iowa, has resigned while challenging his deportation after being detained by immigration authorities. According to his lawyer, Ian Roberts believed his case was resolved. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained him last week, saying the Guyana native was living and working in the U.S. illegally. The school board had voted to put him on unpaid leave. Roberts said he submitted his resignation Tuesday to avoid causing a distraction for the school district. His lawyer cautioned that the “very complex case” will take time to investigate.
WORDS: 792 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:11 a.m. CDT
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US–Immigration-Des Moines-Schools Superintendent
Iowa district hired superintendent despite false Morgan State doctorate claim on his resume
SUMMARY: The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, who was detained last week by immigration agents, falsely claimed a doctoral degree when applying for the job two years ago but was hired even after the school board learned about the misrepresentation. Ian Roberts, who immigration authorities say was living and working in the U.S. illegally and who resigned this week as Des Moines’ superintendent of schools, claimed in his 2023 application that he received a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University in 2007, according to documents The Associated Press obtained through a public records request. Although Roberts was enrolled in that doctorate program from 2002 to 2007, the school confirmed that he didn’t receive that degree.
WORDS: 1205 – MOVED: 10/01/2025 12:53 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–Immigration Lawsuit-Minnesota
Trump administration targets Minnesota in latest sanctuary policy lawsuit
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, its two largest cities, and a county over sanctuary policies. The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims these policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and result in the release of dangerous criminals. The lawsuit targets the state, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison calls the lawsuit baseless and politically motivated. The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration against sanctuary jurisdictions. Separately, federal authorities said Tuesday they found widespread immigration fraud in a first-of-its-kind surge operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area this month
WORDS: 841 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 11:01 a.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Immigration-Des Moines-Schools-Superintendent
Iowa schools leader held by ICE steps down as he fights deportation
SUMMARY: The public schools superintendent of Des Moines, Iowa, has resigned while challenging his deportation after being detained by immigration authorities. According to his lawyer, Ian Roberts believed his case was resolved. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained him last week, saying the Guyana native was living and working in the U.S. illegally. The school board had voted to put him on unpaid leave. Roberts said he submitted his resignation Tuesday to avoid causing a distraction for the school district. His lawyer cautioned that the “very complex case” will take time to investigate.
WORDS: 792 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:11 a.m. CDT
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–Hegseth-Wounded Knee-Native Reaction
Hegseth’s decision on Wounded Knee medals sparks outrage in Native American communities
SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dashed the hopes of Native American communities that long sought the removal of military honors for the soldiers involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre. Hegseth announced last week that the soldiers will keep their Medals of Honor. Indigenous leaders on Tuesday called the move part of a culture war against racial and ethnic minorities and women’s rights. U.S. soldiers killed an estimated 250 men, women and children in the 1890 massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Many were fleeing the violence. Native leaders, historians, and lawmakers called Hegseth’s decision not to strip the medals an act of violence against their people.
WORDS: 916 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 5:27 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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FBC–T25-Iowa St-Cornerback Injuries
Iowa State cornerbacks Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper out for season with knee injuries
SUMMARY: Iowa State’s football team faces a setback as starters Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper are out for the season with knee injuries. Coach Matt Campbell announced Williams injured his ACL during their win over Arizona on Saturday. Cooper tore his ACL in practice last week. The two have a combined 55 starts. Williams was an AP All-Big 12 second-team pick in 2024, while Cooper was a first-team pick in 2023. Tre Bell and Quinten Taylor Jr. are expected to step up as replacements as the Cyclones prepare to visit Cincinnati.
WORDS: 291 – MOVED: 10/01/2025 9:36 a.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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BBO–Royals Future
Royals’ Salvador Perez expected to return in 2026, team eyes playoff comeback following 82-80 finish
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals expect nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez to return next season. They aim to make the playoffs again after missing out this year. The Royals were in contention until last week, but injuries and an inconsistent offense held them back. Manager Matt Quatraro expressed pride in the team’s efforts but acknowledged the need for improvement. General manager J.J. Picollo said most of the coaching staff and roster would return, but changes in the hitting department are possible. Picollo says “it’s safe to say, one way or another, Salvy will be here in ’26.”
WORDS: 772 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 1:34 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12-Wembley Stadium
London’s Wembley Stadium will host Big 12 teams Arizona State and Kansas for its 1st college game
SUMMARY: Arizona State and Kansas will play in the first college football game at London’s Wembley Stadium next year. The Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday that the Wildcats and Jayhawks will meet in the first Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19. It will be the league’s third game in Europe over two seasons. Iowa State opened this season with a 24-21 win over Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. TCU will face North Carolina in the same event to open next season. Kansas will be the designated home team for the game at Wembley Stadium.
WORDS: 224 – MOVED: 10/01/2025 11:38 a.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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HKN–Wild-Kaprizov
Minnesota Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to richest deal in NHL history: $136 million over 8 years
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Wild have signed Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in NHL history at $136 million over eight years. The record-setting deal was done on Tuesday. Kaprizov will count $17 million against the Wild’s salary cap beginning next season. That’s the highest annual average salary since the league’s cap era began in 2005. Kaprizov’s contract surpassed Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million annual average with Edmonton. Alex Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124 million contract signed with Washington in 2008 was previously the highest total value. Only Ovechkin and Auston Matthews among current NHL players had more goals through 300 career games than Kaprizov.
WORDS: 954 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:24 a.m. CDT
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US–Transgender Athletes-Minnesota
Trump administration says Minnesota violates Title IX by allowing trans athletes in girls sports
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s administration has accused Minnesota of violating federal law by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports. The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services claim this breaches Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination. The agencies found that transgender athletes have participated in various girls sports, including skiing and lacrosse. The administration initiated this investigation after Trump issued an executive order in February. The Minnesota State High School League has stated it will follow state law, not the executive order. The federal agencies have given the state 10 days to comply or face enforcement action.
WORDS: 392 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 5:33 p.m. CDT
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FBN–NFL-International Expansion
The Vikings take a 10-day, 2-game trip to Dublin and London, an NFL first. How did they pull it off?
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a 10-day road trip to Europe that’s the first time an NFL team will have played consecutive international games in different countries. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin last Sunday. They face the Cleveland Browns in London this week. The organization welcomed the assignment from the league for the opportunity to move two road games from difficult-to-play-in stadiums to neutral sites. The football side of the operation also embraced the challenge with full confidence in the support staff around them to ensure everything from nutrition to equipment could be transported.
WORDS: 998 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 6:11 p.m. CDT
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BKL–Lynx-Collier
Napheesa Collier tells of private chat with Engelbert that she said exposed a problematic leader
SUMMARY: Napheesa Collier delivered a blistering assessment of the WNBA and its commissioner as she sat in front of the media with a prepared statement and disclosed private conversations she said she had with Cathy Engelbert that portrayed her as a leader who lacks accountability. The Minnesota Lynx star spoke Tuesday for more than four minutes on topics ranging from Caitlin Clark — and her value to the league — to inconsistent officiating, which she feels Engelbert and the WNBA haven’t addressed. Engelbert responded to Collier in a statement not long after the media session, saying she was disheartened by it.
WORDS: 964 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 1:48 p.m. CDT
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FBN–NFL-London 40th Game-By The Numbers
By the Numbers: After mudfest in 2007, NFL’s game count in London hits 40
SUMMARY: The NFL will reach a milestone Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings face the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It will be the 40th regular-season game in London. The first one was in the 2007 season when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium. Wembley has hosted 26 of the 39 games so far. Tottenham’s stadium opened in 2019 and has staged 10. Twickenham Stadium, the home of English rugby, has held three games.
WORDS: 834 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 6:50 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Browns-Gabriel
Rookie Dillon Gabriel named Browns starting QB after Joe Flacco is benched
SUMMARY: Rookie Dillon Gabriel will get his first NFL start on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns face the Minnesota Vikings in London. The Browns are benching Joe Flacco after he struggled to lead the offense in the first four games. Cleveland is 1-3 and ranked next-to-last in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. The team has scored 17 points or fewer in nine straight games. Gabriel will be the fifth different starting QB in 10 games. Gabriel was selected in the third round of April’s draft. He has seen action in two games and has completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
WORDS: 411 – MOVED: 10/01/2025 8:17 a.m. CDT
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HKW–PWHL Schedule
With 2 new teams, PWHL announces 120-game schedule and opportunities for more neutral site stops
SUMMARY: With the addition of two teams in the Pacific Northwest, the PWHL released an expanded 120-game coast-to-coast schedule, which also includes as many as 20 options for yet-to-be-announced neutral site outings. The puck drops on the PWHL’s third season with two games on Nov. 21, including Seattle traveling to play Vancouver in a showdown of the league’s two expansion franchises. All teams will meet a minimum of four times with the season ending with four games on April 25. And the schedule features the league’s first Olympic break, a 28-day stretch starting on Jan. 29.
WORDS: 622 – MOVED: 10/01/2025 9:00 a.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Royals Future
Royals’ Salvador Perez expected to return in 2026, team eyes playoff comeback following 82-80 finish
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals expect nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez to return next season. They aim to make the playoffs again after missing out this year. The Royals were in contention until last week, but injuries and an inconsistent offense held them back. Manager Matt Quatraro expressed pride in the team’s efforts but acknowledged the need for improvement. General manager J.J. Picollo said most of the coaching staff and roster would return, but changes in the hitting department are possible. Picollo says “it’s safe to say, one way or another, Salvy will be here in ’26.”
WORDS: 772 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 1:34 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cardinals-Bloom
Chaim Bloom takes over as president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals
SUMMARY: Chaim Bloom says the St. Louis Cardinals will be sticking to their roots to get back to October baseball. Bloom has been in line since last year to become the organization’s president of baseball operations. He spoke to the media Tuesday as he takes over a team that finished the season 78-84, fourth in the NL Central and missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Bloom served as an advisor to the organization this season. He is taking over for John Mozeliak.
WORDS: 566 – MOVED: 09/30/2025 12:46 p.m. CDT
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