Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Education-Somali Child Care Providers
Right-wing influencers target Somali child care centers after viral Minneapolis video
SUMMARY: A video alleging fraud in Somali-run child care centers in Minneapolis has drawn attention throughout the United States. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine held a news conference to debunk fraud claims about a Columbus center. In San Diego, a provider was alarmed by suspicious activity outside her day care. In Washington, police were called on right-leaning journalists investigating Somali centers. Providers say these incidents disrupt safe learning environments. The controversy began after a right-wing influencer posted a video accusing Minneapolis Somali centers of fraud. Although inspectors disproved the claims, the video intensified scrutiny and harassment of these centers.
WORDS: 1149 – MOVED: 01/31/2026 11:15 p.m. CST
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US–Immigration-Enforcement-Boy-Detained
5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father return to Minnesota from ICE facility in Texas
SUMMARY: Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have returned to Minnesota after being released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The father and young son were detained Jan. 20 in a Minneapolis suburb. Images of the boy wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack surrounded by immigration officers stirred outrage over the Trump administration immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. A judge on Saturday ordered the two released. The government said the boy’s father entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in 2024. But the family’s lawyer says the man has an asylum claim pending that lets him remain in the U.S.
WORDS: 912 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 10:20 a.m. CST
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ENT–Grammys-Protest-Pins
Music’s biggest stars use the Grammys stage to protest Trump’s immigration crackdown
SUMMARY: Artists this awards season are having to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolt against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns. Those questions will again surface Sunday when music’s biggest stars walk the red carpet at the Grammys. Activists are circulating anti-ICE pins after debuting them at the Golden Globes. But they’re hoping for a better showing of support tonight than they got last month. Public backlash continues to grow after a Border Patrol officer fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Plus, Jess Morales Rocketto, one of the organizers, says the music industry tends to be less risk-averse than Hollywood.
WORDS: 965 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:29 p.m. CST
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US–Immigration-Enforcement-Church Charge
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announces 2 more arrests in the St. Paul church protest
SUMMARY: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced two more arrests in the protest at a church in Minnesota against the immigration enforcement crackdown. Bondi announced the latest arrests Monday. A grand jury in Minnesota has indicted nine people on federal charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where an ICE official is a pastor. The protest generated strong objections from the Trump administration. Those facing federal civil rights charges include independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who were among four people arrested Friday.
WORDS: 363 – MOVED: 02/02/2026 10:00 a.m. CST
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US–Immigration Enforcement-Minnesota
Father of 5-year-old detained in Minnesota disputes government assertion he abandoned the boy
SUMMARY: The father of a 5-year-old boy detained by immigration officers in Texas denies abandoning his son. Adrian Conejo Arias is originally from Ecuador. He tells ABC News he loves his son, Liam, and disputes claims from the Department of Homeland Security that he left his child in a vehicle. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Arias fled on foot, leaving his son behind. Arias claims he was unjustly arrested and is in the U.S. legally with a pending asylum hearing. A federal judge ordered their release over the weekend, and they returned to Minnesota.
WORDS: 678 – MOVED: 02/02/2026 11:54 a.m. CST
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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BKC–T25-Iowa St-Kansas St
No. 8 Iowa State trounces Kansas State 95-61 behind Joshua Jefferson’s 19 points
SUMMARY: Joshua Jefferson scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as No. 8 Iowa beat Kansas State 95-61. The Cyclones got 18 points from Milan Momcilovic, 16 from Tamin Lipsey, 13 from Killyan Toure and 11 from Nate Heise en route to their fourth consecutive win. They handed the Wildcats their worst loss under coach Jerome Tang, who was hired ahead of the 2023 season. P.J. Haggerty led Kansas State with 23 points and nine rebounds.
WORDS: 265 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 3:45 p.m. CST
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BKW–T25-Iowa-UCLA
Angela Dugalic shines as No. 2 UCLA cruises past No. 8 Iowa, extends win streak to 15
SUMMARY: Angela Dugalic scored a season-high 22 points and had a career-high five steals as No. 2 UCLA extended its winning streak to 15 with an 88-65 victory over No. 8 Iowa. Kiki Rice had 17 points and seven assists and Lauren Betts scored 16 points. UCLA remained the only undefeated team in Big Ten play at 10-0 while also improving to 10-0 at home. The Bruins shot 57.8% from the floor, compared to 43.4% for Iowa, and went 6 of 12 from 3-point range. Ava Heiden scored 19 points and Hannah Stuelke added 13 for the Hawkeyes, who went 0-2 on their trip to Los Angeles.
WORDS: 344 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:27 p.m. CST
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KANSAS
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BKC–T25-Iowa St-Kansas St
No. 8 Iowa State trounces Kansas State 95-61 behind Joshua Jefferson’s 19 points
SUMMARY: Joshua Jefferson scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as No. 8 Iowa beat Kansas State 95-61. The Cyclones got 18 points from Milan Momcilovic, 16 from Tamin Lipsey, 13 from Killyan Toure and 11 from Nate Heise en route to their fourth consecutive win. They handed the Wildcats their worst loss under coach Jerome Tang, who was hired ahead of the 2023 season. P.J. Haggerty led Kansas State with 23 points and nine rebounds.
WORDS: 265 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 3:45 p.m. CST
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BKC–Wichita State-Tulsa
Riley scores 30, Tulsa downs Wichita State 93-83
SUMMARY: Led by Tylen Riley’s 30 points, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated the Wichita State Shockers 93-83. Tulsa has won six in a row. The Golden Hurricane and Charlotte share lead in the American Athletic Conference with records of 7-2.
WORDS: 185 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:33 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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OLY–HKW-PWHL Impact
3 seasons in, PWHL set to enjoy international coming-out party during Milan Cortina Games
SUMMARY: Less than three full seasons in, the Professional Women’s Hockey League is gearing up for its international coming-out part at the Milan Cortina Games. This will mark the first time true women’s pro athletes will compete at the Olympics. The PWHL is well represented with 61 players making up the 10-nation team tournament rosters, with a majority of them Americans and Canadians. The eight-team league is placing a major emphasis on marketing the PWHL through advertising spots during the two-plus-week women’s tournament. The objective is to introduce its North American fans to elite competition as well as lure casual viewers.
WORDS: 845 – MOVED: 01/28/2026 5:37 p.m. CST
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NEBRASKA
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BKC–T25-Illinois-Nebraska
Keaton Wagler scores 28, leads No. 9 Illinois to 11th straight win, 78-69 over No. 5 Nebraska
SUMMARY: Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska 78-69 in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted. The Fighting Illini haven’t lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13. They held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half. Nebraska lost its second straight after a 20-0 start. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan. Brendan Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points.
WORDS: 346 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 6:00 p.m. CST
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OKLAHOMA
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BKC–Wichita State-Tulsa
Riley scores 30, Tulsa downs Wichita State 93-83
SUMMARY: Led by Tylen Riley’s 30 points, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated the Wichita State Shockers 93-83. Tulsa has won six in a row. The Golden Hurricane and Charlotte share lead in the American Athletic Conference with records of 7-2.
WORDS: 185 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:33 p.m. CST
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BKW–T25-Oklahoma-Texas
Booker, Carlton score 16 each as No. 4 Texas beats No. 10 Oklahoma 78-70
SUMMARY: Madison Booker and Justice Carlton scored 16 points each to lead No. 4 Texas to a 78-70 victory over No. 10 Oklahoma. Jordan Lee scored 14 and freshman Aaliyah Crump added 12 points off the bench as Texas won its 38th straight home game and improved to 7-2 this season against AP Top 25 opponents. Oklahoma is 2-5 against the top 25. Payton Verhulst led Oklahoma with 18 points, and Zya Vann added 15. But Aaliyah Chavez, the Sooners’ star freshman, was 3-for-13 shooting for 11 points, eight fewer than her average.
WORDS: 349 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:45 p.m. CST
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BKN–All-Star Reserves
LeBron’s All-Star streak at 22 years. Duren, Powell, Johnson, Murray, Holmgren, Avdija 1st-timers
SUMMARY: LeBron James is an All-Star again, marking his 22nd consecutive selection. The NBA announced the reserves on Sunday for the game on Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, including James. He is the All-Star record holder in a number of categories that also include appearances with 20 and points with 434. The reserves from the Eastern Conference are Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Norman Powell and Jalen Johnson. From the Western Conference, the other reserves are Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Deni Avdija. Duren, Powell, Johnson, Murray, Holmgren and Avdija are first-time All-Stars.
WORDS: 969 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 10:25 a.m. CST
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BKN–Thunder-Nuggets
Thunder beat Nuggets 121-111 behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s 34 points
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 121-111. Cason Wallace added a career-best 27 points for the Thunder, including seven 3s. Oklahoma City sank 19 3-pointers and expanded a seven-point halftime lead to 16 in the third quarter. Peyton Watson paced the Nuggets with 29 points, but they never led. Nikola Jokic scored 16 in his second game back from injury. Jamal Murray had 12 assists but struggled with his shooting. Both teams were missing several starters due to injuries.
WORDS: 388 – MOVED: 02/01/2026 11:22 p.m. CST
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