Great Plains News Digest
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KANSAS
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US–Election 2026-Redistricting-Kansas
Kansas Republicans drop push to enter nation’s widening redistricting battle
SUMMARY: The Kansas House’s top Republican has given up for now on forcing a special session of the Legislature to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts to give the GOP an additional seat. The effort abandoned Tuesday by House Speaker Dan Hawkins would have convened a special session Friday in response to President Donald Trump’s call for states to enact new maps to help Republicans keep their slim House majority in the 2026 midterms. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly opposed a special session, and GOP leaders were trying to bypass her by gathering the signatures of two-thirds of each chamber on a petition. However, there were a few holdouts in the House.
WORDS: 659 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 6:38 p.m. CST
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US–Election 2025-Redistricting-What’s Next
What’s next in the national redistricting fight after California approved a new US House map
SUMMARY: The new congressional map approved by California voters marked a victory for Democrats in the national redistricting battle playing out ahead of the 2026 midterm election. But Republicans are still ahead in the fight. President Donald Trump began the unusual mid-decade redistricting this summer by urging Republican-led states to redraw House districts to try to win more seats in next year’s election. Texas responded first, with a new map aimed at gaining five seats for Republicans. California’s new map could counter that with five additional seats for Democrats. Redistricting in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio leaves Republicans still ahead. But more states soon could take up redistricting.
WORDS: 1088 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 7:09 a.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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US–Election 2025-MN-Mayor-Minneapolis
AP Race Call: Minneapolis mayor’s race advances to ranked choice voting
SUMMARY: The Minneapolis mayor’s race will advance to ranked choice voting after none of the candidates received at least 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s election. Minneapolis allows voters to rank up to three candidates in its municipal races. The field for mayor included more than a dozen candidates. As of 10:41 p.m. EST, Jacob Frey and Omar Fateh had received the most first-choice results.
WORDS: 71 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 9:50 p.m. CST
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US–Election 2025-Mayor-Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey leads challenger Omar Fateh as crowded race moves to 2nd round tally
SUMMARY: No candidate has cleared the required 50%-plus-one threshold required to win the Minneapolis mayor’s race after the first round of counting. But incumbent Jacob Frey leads challenger Omar Fateh heading into Wednesday’s second round of tabulation using ranked-choice voting. It’s race that highlights different visions of how to govern in a liberal city that faces persistent problems with policing, crime and homelessness. Fateh hopes to become the city’s first Muslim and Somali American mayor. He has drawn comparisons to Zohran Mamdani in New York due to their backgrounds and ideologies. There were 15 candidates on the ballot.
WORDS: 785 – MOVED: 11/03/2025 11:08 p.m. CST
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US–Election 2025-Mayor-Minneapolis
Jacob Frey fends off democratic socialist’s challenge to win 3rd term as Minneapolis mayor
SUMMARY: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has won a third term, defeating challenger Omar Fateh in the city’s ranked-choice voting election. Frey, a mainstream Democrat, led Fateh, a democratic socialist, by about 10 percentage points after the first round of counting. The election featured 15 candidates, with Fateh, the Rev. DeWayne Davis, and businessman Jazz Hampton forming an alliance to challenge Frey. In neighboring St. Paul, Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, and will become the first woman and Hmong American mayor of the city. Minneapolis set a record for the most votes cast in a municipal election.
WORDS: 442 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 11:42 a.m. CST
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US-Election-2025-MN-Mayor-Minneapolis
AP Race Call: Jacob Frey wins re-election as mayor of Minneapolis
SUMMARY: Jacob Frey won reelection as mayor of Minneapolis on Wednesday, earning his third term.Minneapolis uses ranked choice voting to select its mayor,. The way ranked choice voting works in Minneapolis, if no candidate clears the threshold in the first round, candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated for the next round of counting. The process is repeated until one candidate has enough. Frey won during the final round. The election was officially nonpartisan, though Frey chose to include the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party label on his ballot line. He defeated a large field that included state Sen. Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist. The Associated Press declared Frey the winner at 12:38 p.m. EST.
WORDS: 118 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 11:43 a.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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US–Election 2025-Redistricting-What’s Next
What’s next in the national redistricting fight after California approved a new US House map
SUMMARY: The new congressional map approved by California voters marked a victory for Democrats in the national redistricting battle playing out ahead of the 2026 midterm election. But Republicans are still ahead in the fight. President Donald Trump began the unusual mid-decade redistricting this summer by urging Republican-led states to redraw House districts to try to win more seats in next year’s election. Texas responded first, with a new map aimed at gaining five seats for Republicans. California’s new map could counter that with five additional seats for Democrats. Redistricting in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio leaves Republicans still ahead. But more states soon could take up redistricting.
WORDS: 1088 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 7:09 a.m. CST
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NEBRASKA
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US–Obit-Cheney
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84
SUMMARY: In Dick Cheney’s hands, the vice presidency became a nexus of influence and manipulation — no longer the timid office where its occupants had tended their boss’s ambitions. For George W. Bush’s vice president, bunkering in secure undisclosed locations after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was less an inconvenience than a metaphor for a life of power that he exercised to maximum effect from the shadows. Cheney died Monday at age 84. Cheney defended until his death the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed after the 9/11 attacks. The Republican also became a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, branding him a “coward” who tried to steal the 2020 election.
WORDS: 1818 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 5:35 a.m. CST
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US–Obit-Cheney-ABRIDGED
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84
SUMMARY: Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. Cheney’s family says he died Monday of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Former President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Cheney was a “decent, honorable man” whose death is “a loss to the nation.” The hard-charging conservative became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq. Cheney led the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under the younger Bush.
WORDS: 832 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 11:40 a.m. CST
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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FBC–Big 12-Playoff Push
The Big 12 is in the hunt for multiple CFP berths with No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech set to battle
SUMMARY: BYU and Texas Tech are leading the Big 12’s charge for multiple berths in the College Football Playoff for the first time. The first CFP rankings are being released Tuesday night. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire says he hopes the league gets the respect it deserves. Ninth-ranked Texas Tech hosts No. 8 BYU on Saturday. It’s the first matchup of AP top 10 teams from the league since 2021. Unbeaten BYU is alone in first place at 5-0. Texas Tech (8-1) and No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2) are 5-1. BYU also has a showdown at Cincinnati later this month. The Bearcats don’t play Texas Tech during the regular season.
WORDS: 826 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 12:53 p.m. CST
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FBC–Iowa-Gronowski
Iowa QB Mark Gronowski’s running ability concerns No. 6 Oregon as much as his passing skills
SUMMARY: Mark Gronowski needed Iowa’s second off week of the season. The quarterback was in need of some rest, not because of the beating he had taken as a passer, but as a runner. Gronowski, expected to put some life in Iowa’s passing game after throwing for more than 10,000 yards in his career at South Dakota State. He has become one of the best rushers for the Hawkeyes. His 76 carries and 313 rushing yards rank second on the Hawkeyes, and his 11 rushing touchdowns are tied for the Iowa quarterback single-season record.
WORDS: 691 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 11:09 a.m. CST
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KANSAS
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FBC–Big 12-Playoff Push
The Big 12 is in the hunt for multiple CFP berths with No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech set to battle
SUMMARY: BYU and Texas Tech are leading the Big 12’s charge for multiple berths in the College Football Playoff for the first time. The first CFP rankings are being released Tuesday night. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire says he hopes the league gets the respect it deserves. Ninth-ranked Texas Tech hosts No. 8 BYU on Saturday. It’s the first matchup of AP top 10 teams from the league since 2021. Unbeaten BYU is alone in first place at 5-0. Texas Tech (8-1) and No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2) are 5-1. BYU also has a showdown at Cincinnati later this month. The Bearcats don’t play Texas Tech during the regular season.
WORDS: 826 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 12:53 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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BBO–Twins-Shelton
Derek Shelton used his time off after the Pirates fired him to present the Twins a better candidate
SUMMARY: Derek Shelton took full advantage of the unexpected time off he had earlier this year after being fired early in his sixth season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shelton deeply assessed the approach he used, the adjustments he made and the lessons he learned and used the candid reflection to persuade the Minnesota Twins to hire him as their next manager. Twins president Derek Falvey said the club was harder on Shelton during the interview process because of their pre-existing relationship. Shelton said he doesn’t believe he would’ve gotten the job had he not taken the time to reflect.
WORDS: 739 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 5:59 p.m. CST
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HKN–Predators-Wild
Johansson scores in OT with goal off its moorings in Wild’s 3-2 victory over Predators
SUMMARY: Marcus Johansson scored at 3:38 of overtime with the goal off its moorings and the Minnesota Wild overcame a last-second tying goal to beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Tuesday night. Predators goalie Justus Annunen knocked the goal out of place as he backed up on a rush. Johansson’s first shot hit the moving net and he got the puck back and slid it across the line. After a review, the goal was ruled good. Steven Stamkos tied it for Nashville with 0.3 seconds left in regulation and Annunen off for an extra attacker, beating the clock and goalie Filip Gustavsson with a one-timer from the left side. Minnesota closed a six-game homestand with consecutive victories after dropping the first four.
WORDS: 332 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 10:02 p.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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FBN–Steelers-Valdes-Scantling
Steelers sign two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to practice squad
SUMMARY: The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad, reuniting him with former teammate Aaron Rodgers. Valdes-Scantling played with Rodgers in Green Bay from 2018 to 2021. The 31-year-old receiver won two Super Bowls with Kansas City in 2022 and 2023. He was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers, catching four passes for 40 yards before being released last month. The Steelers lead the AFC North at 5-3 but have struggled with consistent production from their wide receivers outside of star DK Metcalf.
WORDS: 303 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 10:35 a.m. CST
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BKC–T25-Lindenwood-Texas Tech
Christian Anderson scores 34 as No. 10 Texas Tech routs Lindenwood 98-60 in opener
SUMMARY: Christian Anderson had career highs with 34 points and 11 assists, leading No. 10 Texas Tech to a 98-60 victory over Lindenwood. The Red Raiders extended their nonconference home winning streak to 39 games. Texas Tech has the highest preseason ranking in school history coming off the program’s third Elite Eight appearance. The Red Raiders were without preseason Big 12 player of the year JT Toppin and LeJuan Watts. The Washington State transfer is the conference preseason newcomer of the year. Both were listed with lower-body injuries. Donovan Atwell scored 22 points. Mekhi Cooper scored 15 points for Lindenwood.
WORDS: 335 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 9:24 p.m. CST
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BBO–Royals-Perez
Salvador Perez agrees to $25 million, 2-year contact to remain with the Royals
SUMMARY: Catcher Salvador Perez will remain with the Kansas City Royals rather than become a free agent, agreeing to a $25 million, two-year contract that won’t be fully paid until 2034. Perez’s deal includes $23 million in new money because it specifies he will not be paid the $2 million buyout of the $13.5 million club option for 2026 in his previous $82 million, four-year contract. A nine-time All-Star, the 36-year-old gets a $7 million signing bonus payable in five $1.4 million installments each May 10 from 2030-34 and salaries of $9 million in both 2026 and 2027, with $2.5 million a year deferred.
WORDS: 309 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 7:27 p.m. CST
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OKLAHOMA
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FBC–Big 12-Playoff Push
The Big 12 is in the hunt for multiple CFP berths with No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech set to battle
SUMMARY: BYU and Texas Tech are leading the Big 12’s charge for multiple berths in the College Football Playoff for the first time. The first CFP rankings are being released Tuesday night. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire says he hopes the league gets the respect it deserves. Ninth-ranked Texas Tech hosts No. 8 BYU on Saturday. It’s the first matchup of AP top 10 teams from the league since 2021. Unbeaten BYU is alone in first place at 5-0. Texas Tech (8-1) and No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2) are 5-1. BYU also has a showdown at Cincinnati later this month. The Bearcats don’t play Texas Tech during the regular season.
WORDS: 826 – MOVED: 11/04/2025 12:53 p.m. CST
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BKN–Thunder-Clippers
Thunder surge past Clippers 126-107 to extend season-opening winning streak to 8
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 12 assists and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder extended their season-opening winning streak to eight games with a 126-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Isaiah Joe added 22 points to help the Thunder overcame an early surge by the Clippers to set a franchise record for consecutive victories to start a season. Gilgeous-Alexander, who played for the Clippers in his rookie season before he was traded to the Thunder, was 9 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3-point range. James Harden scored 25 points and John Collins added 17 for the Clippers. They were without Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee) on the second night of a home back-to-back.
WORDS: 285 – MOVED: 11/05/2025 12:41 a.m. CST
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