Great Plains News Digest
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IOWA
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US–UA-President
Peter Mohler named new University of Alabama president
SUMMARY: Peter J. Mohler has been named the next president of the University of Alabama. Mohler comes to the role from Ohio State University. He served as Ohio State’s executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge and as chief scientific officer of the university’s Wexner Medical Center. He also served as the university’s acting president in 2023. He will assume the role at the University of Alabama on July 21.
WORDS: 266 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 4:28 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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US–Measles Outbreak-Explainer
US measles count nears 1,200 cases as Ohio officials confirm 3 outbreaks are over
SUMMARY: The U.S. is up to 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year. Arizona declared a new outbreak last week, while the one in Texas, the largest in the nation, continued to slow. Ohio confirmed its outbreaks are over. Other states with active outbreaks include Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Two elementary school-aged children and an adult have died from measles this year. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
WORDS: 1461 – MOVED: 06/09/2025 1:40 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers-Shot-What to Know
What to know about the shootings of 2 Minnesota lawmakers and the arrest of Vance Boelter
SUMMARY: The man suspected of killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another is now charged with murder after police arrested him Sunday near his home after a nearly two-day search. Vance Boelter is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities say he also shot and wounded a state senator and his wife, and his list of targets included officials in at least three other states. The Minneapolis area’s top prosecutor says she plans to charge Boelter with first-degree murder. He is already facing federal murder and stalking charges.
WORDS: 924 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 8:59 a.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot
Suspect in shooting of Minnesota state lawmakers targeted 2 others that night, prosecutors say
SUMMARY: Prosecutors say the man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another went to the homes of two other lawmakers to carry out more carnage on the night of the shootings. But one of the other lawmakers was not home and the suspect left the other house after police arrived. That’s according to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson. The suspect, Vance Boelter surrendered to police Sunday. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday. Federal prosecutors have charged Boelter with murder and stalking. He also says faces state murder charges.
WORDS: 1205 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 6:57 a.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot
Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say
SUMMARY: Prosecutors say the man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson says Vance Boelter made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was not home and the suspect left the other house after police arrived. Boelter surrendered to police Sunday. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home early Saturday. Federal prosecutors have charged Boelter with murder and stalking. He also says faces state murder charges. His attorney declined to comment.
WORDS: 1055 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 11:59 p.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota Lawmakers Shot-Two Days
40 hours of violence and fear as gunman stalks Minnesota politicians
SUMMARY: Early Saturday morning, when a man dressed like a police officer knocked at the home of a Minnesota state legislator, marked the start of nearly 40 hours of violence and fear that swept through towns in an arc around Minneapolis. A man seemingly intent on sowing political devastation across the region killed one Minnesota lawmaker and left another bleeding from nine bullet wounds. The attacks sparked the largest manhunt in Minnesota history, with heavily armed law enforcement officers riding armored vehicles through quiet suburban streets and country roads. The Minnesota attacks rippled across the country as frightened political leaders worried that America’s divides could leave them dead.
WORDS: 1793 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota Shootings-Congress
Threats to lawmakers are on the rise, security officials tell senators
SUMMARY: Threats to members of Congress are on the rise, security officials told senators at an emergency briefing in the wake of the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker in her home over the weekend. U.S. Capitol Police leaders and Senate security officials said that threats against elected officials, including federal lawmakers, has “dramatically increased,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer after the briefing, “and that means we need more protection.” The suspect in the Minnesota attack had dozens of members of Congress listed in his writings, in addition to the state lawmakers and others he’s accused of targeting.
WORDS: 1138 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 11:26 p.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot-Glance
Many lawmakers named in writings of suspected Minnesota shooter vow not to bow down
SUMMARY: From a legislator in downtown Minneapolis to a veteran Ohio congresswoman, many lawmakers included in the suspected Minnesota gunman’s writings and list of targets are vowing not to bow down. An acting U.S. Attorney says the dozens of politicians included in the suspect’s writing were Democrats. While some say the violence has prompted them to double down on their legislative work, at least one lawmaker postponed a town hall after learning she was a potential target.
WORDS: 871 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 10:22 p.m. CDT
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US–Trump-Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot
Trump says he won’t call Minnesota Gov. Walz after lawmaker shootings because it would ‘waste time’
SUMMARY: A spokesperson for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says the governor wishes Donald Trump would be a “president for all Americans.” That statement comes after Trump said that he won’t call Walz after two Democratic lawmakers were shot, one fatally. Trump says doing so would “waste time.” Trump told reporters he could “be nice” and call the governor, “but why waste time?” Walz was the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate and he often branded Trump as “weird.” Walz said on social media that he’s heartened at times of tragedy “when people of different views and even different nations can rally together around our shared humanity,.”
WORDS: 718 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 6:47 a.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot-Glance
Many lawmakers named in writings of suspected Minnesota shooter vow not to bow down
SUMMARY: From a legislator in downtown Minneapolis to a veteran Ohio congresswoman, many lawmakers included in the suspected Minnesota gunman’s writings and list of targets are vowing not to bow down. An acting U.S. Attorney says the dozens of politicians included in the suspect’s writing were Democrats. While some say the violence has prompted them to double down on their legislative work, at least one lawmaker postponed a town hall after learning she was a potential target.
WORDS: 871 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 10:22 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Senator Threats-Georgia
Georgia man charged with leaving threatening messages for 2 Republican senators
SUMMARY: A Georgia man accused of leaving threatening voicemails for two Republican U.S. senators has appeared in federal court to face charges. Records show that 25-year-old Robert Davis Forney was arraigned in Atlanta on two federal counts of communicating threats in interstate commerce. A grand jury indicted him last week. According to prosecutors, Forney called the office of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in January and left voicemails that threatened sexual violence against Cruz and his family. Authorities say Forney left a similar voicemail threatening sexual violence the next day against Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer. A federal public defender assigned to Forney’s case didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
WORDS: 169 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 5:19 p.m. CDT
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–Measles Outbreak-Explainer
US measles count nears 1,200 cases as Ohio officials confirm 3 outbreaks are over
SUMMARY: The U.S. is up to 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year. Arizona declared a new outbreak last week, while the one in Texas, the largest in the nation, continued to slow. Ohio confirmed its outbreaks are over. Other states with active outbreaks include Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Two elementary school-aged children and an adult have died from measles this year. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
WORDS: 1461 – MOVED: 06/09/2025 1:40 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Measles Outbreak-Explainer
US measles count nears 1,200 cases as Ohio officials confirm 3 outbreaks are over
SUMMARY: The U.S. is up to 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year. Arizona declared a new outbreak last week, while the one in Texas, the largest in the nation, continued to slow. Ohio confirmed its outbreaks are over. Other states with active outbreaks include Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Two elementary school-aged children and an adult have died from measles this year. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
WORDS: 1461 – MOVED: 06/09/2025 1:40 p.m. CDT
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US–Juneteenth-Native Tribes-Freedmen
In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants’ fight for recognition and citizenship
SUMMARY: While many across the country recognize Juneteenth as the end to the institution of slavery in America in 1865, some tribal nations in Oklahoma continued to own slaves until the following year, 1866. Today, many of the descendants of those formerly enslaved people are still fighting for full citizenship within those tribal nations. For them, Juneteenth is both a celebration of freedom for people of African descent and a reminder of their struggle to be fully embraced by Indigenous people with whom they share an ancestral heritage.
WORDS: 1355 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 12:17 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–Around the WNBA
Atlanta Dream off to hot start under new coach Karl Smesko and play of Allisha Gray
SUMMARY: The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, hiring Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and bringing in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. So far the moves have paid off as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta at 8-3 is off to one of the franchise’s best marks through 11 games since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team also won eight of its first 11 games but then went on to drop its next six games.
WORDS: 612 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 12:44 p.m. CDT
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HKW–Princeton-Kessel
Courtney Kessel in final discussions to take over as Princeton women’s hockey coach, AP sources say
SUMMARY: Two people familiar with discussions tell The Associated Press that Boston Fleet coach Courtney Kessel is in final discussions to take over as the women’s hockey coach at Princeton. The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because Kessel’s hiring is not complete and the process could take weeks to finalize. Kessell previously served as an assistant at Princeton under Cara Gardner Morey. She would succeed Gardner Morey, who left the Tigers in May upon being hired as general manager of the PWHL’s expansion team in Vancouver. Kessel is set to leave Boston after two seasons.
WORDS: 372 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 12:56 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Obit-Taylor
Dr. Ron Taylor, a 2-time World Series winner and former Blue Jays team physician, dies at 87
SUMMARY: The New York Mets say World Series winner and former Toronto Blue Jays team physician Dr. Ron Taylor has died. He was 87. Taylor was a two-time World Series champion pitcher, once each with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. After baseball he enrolled in medical school and became the Blue Jays’ team physician for about three decades. Taylor, a Toronto native, is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. The right-hander was part of the 1964 Cardinals’ and 1969 Mets’ championship teams. Taylor’s big league career spanned 11 seasons, beginning with Cleveland in 1962 and ending with San Diego in 1972.
WORDS: 283 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 6:45 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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BBC–CWS-Coastal Carolina-Morrison
Coastal Carolina’s unbeaten Jacob Morrison comes back from Tommy John surgery to dominate on mound
SUMMARY: Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall likes to say his baseball team’s mantra is to stay hungry and humble. Jacob Morrison is his poster boy. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound sophomore is uber competitive, not to mention unbeaten. That’s the hungry part. He also is extremely grateful to be pitching again, let alone at the College World Series. That’s the humble part. After undergoing Tommy John surgery following his freshman year and missing the entire 2024 season, the right-hander has been nothing short of sensational since February. He was never better than he was Sunday in the Chanticleers’ 6-2 win over Oregon State.
WORDS: 688 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 1:43 p.m. CDT
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BBC–CWS-Arkansas-Murray St
Arkansas’ Wood pitches third no-hitter in CWS history, gets 19 strikeouts against Murray State
SUMMARY: Arkansas’ Gage Wood pitched the third no-hitter in College World Series history and first in 65 years, striking out a record 19 and never letting Murray State come close to getting a hit in the Razorbacks’ 3-0 victory. Wood joined Jim Ehrler of Texas in 1950 and Jim Wixson of Oklahoma State in 1960 as the only pitchers to throw CWS no-hitters. His defense was never really challenged as he dominated a Racers team that was making its first Omaha appearance. The junior right-hander set the CWS record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.
WORDS: 921 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 3:46 p.m. CDT
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BBC–CWS–Racers’ Run Ends
No-hit loss won’t erase the lifetime memories made by Murray State during its improbable run
SUMMARY: The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program’s first College World Series as long as they could. Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas’ Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them back home to southwestern Kentucky on Tuesday. Some of the players filled jars with infield dirt, a keepsake from their improbable journey to the city where every college baseball team wants to be in June.
WORDS: 615 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 6:19 p.m. CDT
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BBC–CWS-UCLA-LSU, Susp
UCLA-LSU game at CWS suspended due to rain, will resume Tuesday with Tigers leading 5-3
SUMMARY: The College World Series game between UCLA and LSU was suspended Monday night after steady rain and lightning moved into the Omaha area. The game will resume on Tuesday morning. LSU led 5-3 after three innings when the grounds crew rolled out the tarp as storm clouds moved over Charles Schwab Field. Rain had fallen for about three hours when the NCAA announced the game would resume at 11 a.m. EDT. The UCLA-LSU winner will advance to a bracket final Wednesday. The loser will play Arkansas in an elimination game Tuesday night.
WORDS: 226 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 10:32 p.m. CDT
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BBC–CWS-UCLA-LSU
Jared Jones’ early go-ahead homer helps send LSU to CWS bracket final with a 9-5 win over UCLA
SUMMARY: Jared Jones hit a go-ahead three-run homer before rain suspended play Monday night, freshman reliever Casan Evans pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings after play resumed and LSU advanced to its College World Series bracket final with an 9-5 victory over UCLA. The Tigers next play Wednesday night against the winner of Tuesday night’s elimination game between Arkansas and the Bruins. LSU, going for its second national championship in three years, needs one more win to reach the best-of-three finals. LSU was up 5-3 at the end of the third inning Monday night when the game was suspended.
WORDS: 371 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 12:46 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–NBA Finals-Carlisle-WNBA
Rick Carlisle is a WNBA fan, and in the NBA he’s far from alone in that club
SUMMARY: It’s official: Rick Carlisle isn’t just an Indiana Fever fan. He’s a fan of the WNBA game in general. The Indiana Pacers coach — shortly before his team was to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night — was asked to share his thoughts about how the WNBA is getting attention at this time of year. Carlisle didn’t hesitate to tout how he thinks the WNBA is a great basketball product, in just the latest reminder than the W has some big fans all over the NBA.
WORDS: 449 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 6:46 p.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals
Game 5: Williams scores 40 points and Thunder win 120-109 for a 3-2 NBA Finals lead over Pacers
SUMMARY: Jalen Williams had a career playoff-high 40 points, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win from a title by beating the Indiana Pacers 120-109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.It was the 10th — and by far, the biggest — time the Thunder stars combined for more than 70 points in a game. Williams was 14 of 24 from the field, and Gilgeous-Alexander added 10 assists for the Thunder.Pascal Siakam had 28 points for Indiana, which now trails the series 3-2 and will play host to Game 6 on Thursday night.
WORDS: 526 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 7:20 a.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals-Pacers-Haliburton
Pacers’ Haliburton plays through lower leg injury in Game 5 loss to Thunder in NBA Finals
SUMMARY: Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton grabbed at his lower right leg after an awkward fall in the first quarter, briefly leaving Game 5 of the NBA Finals for treatment. He kept playing. He clearly wasn’t right. To his credit, Haliburton gutted his way through 34 minutes — largely playing the role of a facilitating decoy in the second half, hardly ever looking to shoot. He finished with four points, all from the foul line, and the Pacers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-109 on Monday night to fall behind 3-2 in the title series.
WORDS: 551 – MOVED: 06/16/2025 8:37 p.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals-Shai Defers
Gilgeous-Alexander supports Williams with 31 points, 10 assists to put Thunder 1 win from NBA title
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the NBA’s Most Valuable Player primarily by being a dominant scorer. In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, he showed he’s pretty good as a more traditional point guard, too. He had 31 points and 10 assists in a secondary role to Jalen Williams as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-109 on Monday night. The Thunder took a 3-2 lead in the series and now are a win short of their first NBA title. Williams scored a team-high 40 points, so Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t need to force things against Indiana’s constant double teams.
WORDS: 594 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 12:17 a.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals-Scoring Sprees
OKC’s Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enter NBA Finals lore with Game 5 scoring spree
SUMMARY: Jerry West and Elgin Baylor did it often. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James did it a couple of times. Magic Johnson and Jamaal Wilkes were among those who did it once. And now, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have entered NBA lore. Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night marked just the 14th time in league history that a game saw somebody score at least 40 points in a title-round game while one of his teammates scored at least 30. Williams had 40 and Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 in Oklahoma City’s 120-109 win over Indiana, a victory that gave the Thunder a 3-2 lead in the series.
WORDS: 746 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 1:39 a.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals Guide
NBA Finals guide: When the games are, how to watch, what the odds are
SUMMARY: Oklahoma City is one win away from an NBA championship. The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 120-109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, taking a 3-2 lead in the title matchup. Jalen Williams scored 40 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 to lead the Thunder. Game 6 is in Indianapolis on Thursday and, if necessary, the final game of the season will be back at OKC on June 22.
WORDS: 1009 – MOVED: 06/01/2025 8:57 a.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Finals-Rest
The rest that’s built into the NBA Finals can be a good thing, especially now
SUMMARY: Given the way Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton was limping on his way out of the postgame news conference after Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it’s safe to assume he’s a fan of the schedule right about now. Put simply, he could use a couple of days off — at least. Haliburton has a lower leg injury and it seems to be the sort that if this were a back-to-back situation in December, he’d be missing at least one game. But these are the finals. This is June. There no back-to-backs in the playoffs. And when the league gets to the last series, two-day breaks between games aren’t uncommon.
WORDS: 857 – MOVED: 06/17/2025 8:02 a.m. CDT
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