Great Plains News Digest
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IOWA
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US–Trump-Iowa
Trump kicks off a yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in Iowa
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has gone to Iowa to kick off a year of patriotic festivities leading up to next year’s 250th anniversary of American independence. The event Thursday night became a celebration of his second term, and Trump took the stage just hours after Congress approved tax cut legislation that he championed. Organizers see the coming year of festivities as a way to help unite a polarized nation and bridge political divides. But Trump left no doubt during his speech that he views patriotism as inseparable from his own agenda, saying Democrats who voted against his legislation “hate our country.”
WORDS: 919 – MOVED: 07/02/2025 11:14 p.m. CDT
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US–Democrats-Trump
Democrats see Trump’s big bill as key to their comeback. It may not be so easy
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says his bill is big and beautiful. But Democratic leaders see the package as the key to their party’s resurgence. Democratic officials are finalizing plans for dozens of rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours and even a multiday vigil. They intend to highlight the deep cuts that will leave nearly 12 million more low-income people without health coverage and millions without food assistance. Democrats say the bill will be the defining issue of every major election between now and next fall’s midterms. But it’s not certain it’ll be the political winner Democrats hope.
WORDS: 1173 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT
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US–Trump-Antisemitic Term
Trump says he didn’t know an offensive term he used in a speech is considered antisemitic
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he didn’t know that the term “shylock” is considered antisemitic when he used it in a speech to describe unscrupulous moneylenders. Trump told reporters early Friday after returning from an event in Iowa that he’d “never heard it that way” and “never heard that” the term was considered an offensive stereotype about Jews. Shylock refers to the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor. The Anti-Defamation League says Trump’s use of the term “is very troubling and irresponsible.”
WORDS: 470 – MOVED: 07/04/2025 8:27 a.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–Minnesota Lawmakers Shot
Man charged with killing former Minnesota House speaker says he looks forward to ‘truth’ coming out
SUMMARY: A man charged with killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband on June 14 says he’s looking forward to the facts coming out. Vance Boelter made a brief appearance in federal court Thursday. His next court date has not been set. The acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, told reporters the next step is for a grand jury to return an indictment. Boelter would then return to court for an arraignment when he would enter a plea. The prosecutor called the killings a “political assassination,” but said no decision has been made about the death penalty.
WORDS: 731 – MOVED: 07/02/2025 11:08 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US–Safety Net Cuts States Reactions
Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump
SUMMARY: The nation’s social safety net would face massive changes under a bill headed to President Donald Trump’s desk. There would be a work requirement for many people to get or keep Medicaid health insurance, and a similar requirement for older adults to receive food assistance. Paperwork requirements would also increase. Planned Parenthood could no longer get federal funding for its non-abortion health services. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that by 2034, the bill would result in nearly 12 million more uninsured people in the U.S. Supporters say the measures will save taxpayers money, enhance personal responsibility and block fraud.
WORDS: 1162 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 1:42 p.m. CDT
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US–Abortion-Missouri
Missouri judge again blocks many of the state’s anti-abortion laws
SUMMARY: A Missouri judge has blocked many of the state’s anti-abortion laws. The order Thursday by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang reimposes a preliminary injunction against the abortion restrictions. It comes a little over a month after the state Supreme Court had lifted a prior injunction and ordered the judge to reconsider the case. Missouri’s abortion laws have been seesawing back and forth. Voters last fall approved a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. That overturned a state ban on most abortions enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to abortion in 2022.
WORDS: 507 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 7:18 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Medicaid Cuts-Rural Hospitals
Rural hospitals brace for financial hits or even closure under Republicans’ $1 trillion Medicaid cut
SUMMARY: States and rural health advocacy groups are sounding the alarm that Congress’ slashing of Medicaid will devastate already financially fragile rural hospitals. One analysis estimates more than 300 hospitals could be at risk of closing under the Republican measure to slash about $1 trillion in Medicaid funding over ten years. Rural hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements and are already financially strained. While the measure includes $50 billion to help make up the loss to rural hospitals, advocates worry it won’t offset the funding shortfall. No state stands to lose more than Kentucky. One report estimates the state would lose a whopping $12.3 billion over 10 years.
WORDS: 1025 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:06 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Swimming Pool Death
Oklahoma doctor accused of killing young daughter and faking a drowning at Florida rental home
SUMMARY: Authorities accuse an Oklahoma pediatrician of staging her 4-year-old daughter’s death to look like a drowning in Florida. Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, was arrested Tuesday in Oklahoma and faces a first-degree murder charge in Miami-Dade County. Investigators say Gupta claimed her daughter, Aria, drowned at a vacation rental. However, an autopsy found no water in the child’s lungs and revealed injuries consistent with asphyxiation by smothering, a detective said. Police say Gupta fled to Oklahoma but was arrested there as Florida seeks her extradition. Her lawyer, Richard Cooper, says the woman is herself the victim of a terrible accident.
WORDS: 910 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 1:17 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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GLF–John Deere
Doug Ghim sets pace at John Deere Classic with a 62 and a 1-shot lead
SUMMARY: Doug Ghim has set the pace on a day of low scoring in the John Deere Classic. Ghim holed out from the fairway for eagle on his way to a 62. That gives him a one-shot lead over Max Homa and Austin Eckroat at the TPC Deere Run. The tournament is renowned for producing first-time winners on the PGA Tour. Ghim is in his sixth year on the PGA Tour and has played 160 times as a pro without winning. He’s been around long enough to know Thursday is little more than a good start. Aldrich Potgieter opened with 67.
WORDS: 637 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 3:06 p.m. CDT
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US–Trump-Iowa-America250
Trump wants to celebrate 250 years of independence with a UFC fight at the White House
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump wants to celebrate 250 years of American independence with a UFC match at the White House. Trump announced the plan Thursday in Iowa during the kickoff event for a year of festivities leading up to that milestone birthday on July 4, 2026. The White House UFC fight would be one of many events held across the country. Trump is a UFC enthusiast who has attended several matches in recent months. The Republican president also announced an athletic competition for high school students and a tour of fairgrounds across the country.
WORDS: 259 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 9:08 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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US-Ex-NBA Player-Rape Conviction
Oregon jury convicts former NBA player Ben McLemore of raping incapacitated woman at team party
SUMMARY: A jury in Oregon has found former NBA player Ben McLemore guilty of raping a 21-year-old incapacitated woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers. The jury found 32-year-old McLemore guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse. Sentencing was scheduled for Wednesday. The charges stemmed from a party on Oct. 3, 2021, at a home owned by Robert Covington, McLemore’s then-teammate. Prosecutors claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was rape, while McLemore’s attorney countered it was consensual sex.
WORDS: 572 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 3:44 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BBO–Twins-Marlins
Agustín Ramírez’s two-run homer leads Marlins past Twins 4-1
SUMMARY: Agustín Ramírez hit a two-run home run, Xavier Edwards singled twice and the Miami Marlins won their fourth straight series with a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Eury Pérez struck out a season-high seven and walked one in six innings of one-hit ball for his first win since June 25, 2023, against Pittsburgh. The Marlins have won 10 of their past 12. Ronny Henriquez earned his fifth save.
WORDS: 329 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 1:45 p.m. CDT
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HKN–Avalanche-Burns
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns signs with Avs for what could be last chance at elusive Stanley Cup
SUMMARY: Brent Burns has the impressive Ironman streak — 925 games and counting — the majestic beard and the individual accolades. What he’s missing from his potential Hall of Fame career is that Stanley Cup title. This could be his last chance. The 40-year-old agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche that includes up to $3 million more in performance bonus. He’s trying to follow the script of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who spent most of his career with Boston only to join the Avalanche late in his career and hoist the Cup in 2001 before skating off into retirement.
WORDS: 736 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 2:44 p.m. CDT
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BKL–Mystics-Lynx
Napheesa Collier scores 28 and the Lynx dominate the third quarter in a 92-75 win over Mystics
SUMMARY: Napheesa Collier scored 28 points, Courtney Williams had 10 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Washington Mystics 92-75 for their third straight regular-season victory. Minnesota rebounded from its 74-59 loss to Indiana on Tuesday in the Commissioner’s Cup final that did not count in the standings. Collier, who was scoreless in the first quarter, scored the last seven points of a 12-2 run to begin the second half for a 55-40 lead. The Lynx scored 28 points off 20 Washington turnovers. Rookie Lucy Olsen came off the bench and scored a season-high 19 points for Washington.
WORDS: 278 – MOVED: 07/03/2025 9:18 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Royals-Mariners
Pasquantino hits two-run single in 7th inning as Royals beat Mariners 3-2
SUMMARY: Vinnie Pasquantino had a two-run single in the seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2. Bobby Witt Jr. tied the score 1-1 with a single to center field with one out and then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Pasquantino grounded a single to right field drive in both runners, with Witt scoring after making an elusive move to avoid the tag from catcher Cal Raleigh to give the Royals a two-run lead. Seth Lugo (6-5) allowed just one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven. Lucas Erceg and Taylor Clarke got two outs each, and Carlos Estévez pitched 1 1/3 innings to get his 24th save. Dominic Canzone and Jorge Polanco homered for Seattle.
WORDS: 365 – MOVED: 07/04/2025 12:34 a.m. CDT
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BBO–Cubs-Taillon
Cubs starter Jameson Taillon goes on injured list, will miss more than a month with calf strain
SUMMARY: The Chicago Cubs say starter Jameson Taillon may miss more than a month with a right calf strain. The team placed the veteran right-hander on the injured list in a move retroactive to Tuesday. Taillon is 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA and a mainstay in the NL Central leader’s rotation despite some ups and down in his ninth major league season. Taillon had been scheduled to start Saturday. He sustained the injury while running after a bullpen session on Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled lefty Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa before Friday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
WORDS: 308 – MOVED: 07/04/2025 12:34 p.m. CDT
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