Great Plains News Digest
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IOWA
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US–Priest Killed-Plea
Man pleads guilty to killing Catholic priest who was stabbed in his rectory in Nebraska
SUMMARY: A man accused of fatally stabbing a Catholic priest at his home beside a church in a small Nebraska town has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Kierre Williams changed his plea at a hearing Tuesday to guilty to murder, burglary and weapons charges. He will be sentence Nov. 12 for the December 2023 killing of the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell. The 65-year-old priest was stabbed during a break-in at the rectory beside St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun where he served. The first-degree murder charge Williams pled guilty to calls for a sentence of life in prison without parole.
WORDS: 328 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 2:19 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–Government-Shutdown-Food-Aid-What-to-Know
What to know as federal food help and preschool aid will run dry Saturday if shutdown persists
SUMMARY: A new lawsuit by Democratic state officials seeks to uncork emergency money to help tens of millions of Americans keep buying food for their families after federal SNAP funding is expected run dry Saturday due to the U.S. government shutdown. The lawsuit involves a $5 billion pot of federal money that President Donald Trump’s administration says can’t be used to fund SNAP benefits. Additionally, funding for a group of Head Start preschool programs is set to run out Saturday. Aid for mothers to care for their newborns through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, could run out the following week.
WORDS: 1205 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 12:21 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Priest Killed-Plea
Man pleads guilty to killing Catholic priest who was stabbed in his rectory in Nebraska
SUMMARY: A man accused of fatally stabbing a Catholic priest at his home beside a church in a small Nebraska town has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Kierre Williams changed his plea at a hearing Tuesday to guilty to murder, burglary and weapons charges. He will be sentence Nov. 12 for the December 2023 killing of the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell. The 65-year-old priest was stabbed during a break-in at the rectory beside St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun where he served. The first-degree murder charge Williams pled guilty to calls for a sentence of life in prison without parole.
WORDS: 328 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 2:19 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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KANSAS
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FBN–Bills-Moves
Bills sign DT Jordan Phillips and S Jordan Poyer off practice squad, and place DT Oliver on IR
SUMMARY: The Buffalo Bills addressed their injury-depleted depth by signing practice squad veterans, safety Jordan Poyer and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, to the active roster. Also, the team placed starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver on injured reserve. Oliver is out indefinitely and requires surgery after tearing his left bicep in a 40-9 win over Carolina on Sunday. Phillips fills Oliver’s roster spot as the Bills prepare to host Kansas City on Sunday. The Bills are thin at defensive tackle with starter DaQuan Jones’ status uncertain after missing two games with a calf injury.
WORDS: 229 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 4:09 p.m. CDT
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BKC–Tipoff-Impact Freshmen
Duke’s Cameron Boozer headlines a slate of talented freshmen to watch this season
SUMMARY: Cameron Boozer’s extraordinary potential is evident from the way Tennessee coach Rick Barnes described him before the Duke freshman had ever played a college game that counts. Barnes called Boozer “one of the best players in the country” after hte 6-9 forward collected 24 points and 23 rebounds in an No. 6 Duke’s exhibition victory over the Volunteers on Sunday. Boozer is one of the most prominent players in a freshman class that has plenty of star power at the top. Other noteworthy freshmen include Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
WORDS: 827 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 2:57 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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HKN–Jets-Wild
Kyle Connor gets the winner for the Jets just 46 seconds into OT for 4-3 win over Wild
SUMMARY: Kyle Connor’s wrist shot 46 seconds into overtime gave the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, their ninth straight win against their Central Division rival. Nino Niederreiter scored the tying goal midway through the third period for the Jets, who took a 2-0 lead in the first when Gabriel Vilardi and Vladislav Namestnikov scored on deflected shots 22 seconds apart. Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber scored in the second period, and Marcus Johansson got the go-ahead goal on a power play early in the third for the Wild, who outshot the Jets 38-22.
WORDS: 340 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 10:11 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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FBN–Bills-Moves
Bills sign DT Jordan Phillips and S Jordan Poyer off practice squad, and place DT Oliver on IR
SUMMARY: The Buffalo Bills addressed their injury-depleted depth by signing practice squad veterans, safety Jordan Poyer and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, to the active roster. Also, the team placed starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver on injured reserve. Oliver is out indefinitely and requires surgery after tearing his left bicep in a 40-9 win over Carolina on Sunday. Phillips fills Oliver’s roster spot as the Bills prepare to host Kansas City on Sunday. The Bills are thin at defensive tackle with starter DaQuan Jones’ status uncertain after missing two games with a calf injury.
WORDS: 229 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 4:09 p.m. CDT
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HKN–Red Wings-Blues
Dylan Larkin scores twice to help Red Wings beat Blues 5-2
SUMMARY: Dylan Larkin scored twice and Alex DeBrincat also scored to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Tuesday night. Ben Chiarot and Elmer Soderblom also scored, and John Gibson made 20 saves for the Red Wings. Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou scored, and Jordan Binnington made 15 saves for the Blues, who have lost their last five.
WORDS: 337 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 10:02 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–Singler Arrest-Oklahoma
Former Duke player Kyle Singler charged with assaulting girlfriend in Oklahoma
SUMMARY: Former Duke and Oklahoma City Thunder player Kyle Singler has been charged for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in Oklahoma. The 37-year-old Singler was arrested last week in the eastern Oklahoma town of Whitefield after someone called 911 to report Singler was chasing a woman. Singler was charged Tuesday in Haskell County with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery in the presence of a child. According to an arrest affidavit, Singler’s girlfriend told a sheriff’s deputy that Singler grabbed her head and forced her to the ground. Court and jail records don’t indicate whether Singler has an attorney.
WORDS: 329 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 3:38 p.m. CDT
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BKN–Kings-Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points lead Thunder to comeback win over Kings, help OKC improve to 5-0
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 107-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Despite a tough third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back in the fourth, helping the Thunder remain unbeaten this season. Aaron Wiggins and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder, short-handed due to injuries, managed to overcome a halftime deficit. The Kings, led by Zach LaVine with 23 points, fell short despite strong performances from DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis. Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook scored 16 points for Sacramento.
WORDS: 329 – MOVED: 10/28/2025 9:40 p.m. CDT
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BKN–Thunder-Mitchell
Ajay Mitchell shines as Thunder’s latest successful project, helping team to 5-0 start
SUMMARY: Ajay Mitchell is emerging as a standout player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 6-foot-4 guard from Belgium played just 36 regular season games in his rookie year due to a turf toe injury. Now, he’s making waves as a second-round pick from 2024. In five games this season, Mitchell is averaging 18.2 points on 47% shooting. He has been crucial in Oklahoma City’s 5-0 start while Jalen Williams recovers from surgery. On Tuesday, Mitchell scored 18 points in 24 minutes to help the Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 107-101. Coach Mark Daigneault praised his competitiveness and confidence.
WORDS: 424 – MOVED: 10/29/2025 12:34 a.m. CDT
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SOF–Athletes Unlimited-ESPN
ESPN secures 3-year deal to broadcast Athletes Unlimited women’s sports leagues
SUMMARY: ESPN and Athletes Unlimited have announced a three-year rights extension that makes ESPN the official broadcast partner for the women’s professional sports company’s softball, basketball and volleyball leagues. ESPN platforms will broadcast more than 50 exclusive Athletes Unlimited Softball League games each year during the deal announced on Wednesday. ABC will broadcast at least one AUSL championship series game in 2026. It will be the first time women’s pro softball will be shown on network television in the United States. ESPN also will show all 24 games of Athletes Unlimited’s basketball and volleyball leagues on ESPNU and ESPN+.
WORDS: 298 – MOVED: 10/29/2025 11:00 a.m. CDT
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