Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Minnesota Lawmakers Shot
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, shot 9 times by a man posing as an officer, leaves the hospital
SUMMARY: A Minnesota state senator who was shot nine times during an attack in June has been moved to a rehabilitation facility. John Hoffman’s family issued a statement Monday night that saying he was out of the hospital but has a long road to recovery. Hoffman and his wife were attacked in their home by a man posing as a police officer. Authorities allege the gunman was Vance Boelter. They say he also killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Prosecutors have called it an assassination. Boelter is charged with murder and attempted murder. Federal authorities may pursue the death penalty.
WORDS: 433 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 11:56 a.m. CDT
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US–Vote Fraud-Minnesota
Second defendant pleads guilty in Minnesota voter fraud case
SUMMARY: The second of two defendants from Nevada who were charged in Minnesota with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud pleaded guilty. Ronnie Williams, 58, entered his plea before a federal judge Tuesday. His co-defendant, Lorraine Lee Combs, 57, pleaded guilty in June. They allegedly generated fake names and other data to fill out voter registration forms in 2021 and 2022. Sentencing dates are not yet set. Court documents say Combs and Williams were longtime romantic partners, and they indicate that others were involved in the alleged conspiracy. Officials say Minnesota’s safeguards flagged the fraud, ensuring that no ineligible votes were cast.
WORDS: 399 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 3:59 p.m. CDT
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US–Public Defenders-Pay Dispute
Defendants released in Massachusetts as pay dispute with public defenders remains unresolved
SUMMARY: Defendants including some charged with serious crimes have begun being released in Massachusetts amid a dispute over pay for the state’s public defenders. The first four defendants who didn’t have legal representation were released Monday. Their release follows a ruling by the state’s highest court to implement a requirement that defendants without attorneys be let go after a week. The protocol also requires that a defendant without an attorney have charges dropped after 45 days. Massachusetts public defenders have refused to take on additional cases until the legislature addresses their demands for a pay increase they say would put them on par with neighboring states.
WORDS: 1052 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 2:57 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US-REL–New Adventist Leader
Newly elected Seventh-day Adventist Church leader reflects on challenges and faith’s healthy living
SUMMARY: Erton Köhler, a pastor from Brazil, has been elected president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church General Conference. He is the first South American to hold the position, leading a global denomination with 23 million members. Köhler emphasizes unity as a key challenge, given the church’s diverse membership. He plans to focus on involving young people, increasing women’s leadership roles, and using technology to connect with new generations. Köhler also highlights the church’s emphasis on healthy living and religious freedom. He invites others to engage directly with Adventists to better understand their mission and values.
WORDS: 1047 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 6:04 a.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Tiger King-Sentencing
Latest ‘Tiger King’ twist finds ‘Doc’ Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking
SUMMARY: “Tiger King” star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for illegally buying endangered animals. Prosecutors say Antle bought animals like chimpanzees and tigers on the black market, fueling illegal poaching. The 65-year-old Antle used the animals for his Myrtle Beach Safari, which charged $200 for a five-minute photo session with a chimpanzee. Federal guidelines and prosecutors asked for around a two-year sentence, but the judge says he was swayed by Antle’s love for animals. Antle’s friends and family say he is generous and caring and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight poaching and preserve wild habitats for tigers, lions and chimpanzees.
WORDS: 819 – MOVED: 07/07/2025 10:52 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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FBC–Big 12-Yormark
Big 12 commissioner doubles down on preference for 5-11 playoff model if CFP expands
SUMMARY: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference for staying with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand to 16 teams as many expect after this season. He favors that over having guaranteed multiple bids for all the power conferences. Yormark says at Big 12 football media days that there is a responsibility to do what’s right for college football, not just what’s right for one or two leagues. The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026.
WORDS: 603 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 2:35 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12 Media Days
Big 12 making no official predictions, so no last-to-first narrative this year like Arizona State
SUMMARY: There are no official Big 12 predictions going into this season. So there can be no last-to-first narrative like what Arizona State had in its league debut. Going into its 30th football season, the Big 12 didn’t conduct a preseason media poll predicting the order of finish for the 16-team conference. Arizona State won the Big 12 championship game last season after being picked to finish at the bottom of the 16-team league, and made the College Football Playoff. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says there’s no value to such preseason football polls, especially with the ever-changing landscape in the game.
WORDS: 871 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:22 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12-UCF-Frost’s Return
UCF’s Scott Frost tries to skip talk of failed Nebraska tenure, but falls a bit short
SUMMARY: Scott Frost’s celebrated return as coach at UCF comes with the backdrop of a failed tenure at Nebraska, the alma mater he said he didn’t want to talk about at Big 12 football media days. Even though he did. Frost couldn’t help himself on revisiting the Nebraska days with a reporter from The Athletic. He stuck to his script in group settings with reporters. Frost led the Knights to a 13-0 season in 2017, before a poor record in four-plus seasons with the Cornhuskers.
WORDS: 636 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:27 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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FBC–Big 12-Yormark
Big 12 commissioner doubles down on preference for 5-11 playoff model if CFP expands
SUMMARY: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference for staying with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand to 16 teams as many expect after this season. He favors that over having guaranteed multiple bids for all the power conferences. Yormark says at Big 12 football media days that there is a responsibility to do what’s right for college football, not just what’s right for one or two leagues. The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026.
WORDS: 603 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 2:35 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Royals Moves
Royals outfielder Mark Canha placed on 10-day IL with left elbow injury
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals placed outfielder Mark Canha on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow injury. Canha is in his first season with the Royals after being acquired in a trade during spring training. He’s hitting .212 with a .537 OPS in 46 games this season. In a corresponding move, infielder Cam Devanney was selected from Triple-A Omaha. He will make his MLB debut in his first appearance with the club, though he was not in the starting lineup Tuesday. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans was transferred to the 60-day IL.
WORDS: 564 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 6:28 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12 Media Days
Big 12 making no official predictions, so no last-to-first narrative this year like Arizona State
SUMMARY: There are no official Big 12 predictions going into this season. So there can be no last-to-first narrative like what Arizona State had in its league debut. Going into its 30th football season, the Big 12 didn’t conduct a preseason media poll predicting the order of finish for the 16-team conference. Arizona State won the Big 12 championship game last season after being picked to finish at the bottom of the 16-team league, and made the College Football Playoff. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says there’s no value to such preseason football polls, especially with the ever-changing landscape in the game.
WORDS: 871 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:22 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12-UCF-Frost’s Return
UCF’s Scott Frost tries to skip talk of failed Nebraska tenure, but falls a bit short
SUMMARY: Scott Frost’s celebrated return as coach at UCF comes with the backdrop of a failed tenure at Nebraska, the alma mater he said he didn’t want to talk about at Big 12 football media days. Even though he did. Frost couldn’t help himself on revisiting the Nebraska days with a reporter from The Athletic. He stuck to his script in group settings with reporters. Frost led the Knights to a 13-0 season in 2017, before a poor record in four-plus seasons with the Cornhuskers.
WORDS: 636 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:27 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Pirates-Royals
Nick Loftin hits 2-run homer in 7th, walk-off single in 9th as Royals beat Pirates 4-3
SUMMARY: Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then won it in the ninth with a one-out RBI single as the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. Rookie Jac Caglianone homered for the Royals, a 421-foot drive leading off the second inning that was his first extra-base hit in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium. He had been 5 for 46 at home before Tuesday. Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz tied it in the fourth with a 458-foot shot over the fountains in right field on the day he was announced as a participant in next-week’s Home Run Derby.
WORDS: 350 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 9:18 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–Around the WNBA
Seattle uses solid defense to disrupt teams and climbs up WNBA standings
SUMMARY: The Seattle Storm have been disruptive on defense this season behind stars Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike. They have the versatility to switch who they are guarding on screens which makes them more difficult to score against. The group also is great at being active in passing lines that has created more steals and turnovers. Diggins, who is averaging 1.3 steals, joked that she might be the worst of the group defensively. Seattle has won three of its past four games and has a home-and-home with lowly Connecticut in its next two. The team is 12-7, one game behind Phoenix for second place in the standings.
WORDS: 527 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 1:55 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Falcons-Cousins
Cousins says on Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ he played through arm injury to keep Falcons’ starting job
SUMMARY: Kirk Cousins said on the Netflix series “Quarterback” that he played through pain in his right, throwing arm last season in part to keep from losing his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons to rookie backup Michael Penix Jr. Cousins said he felt something was wrong right away after taking a hit in Week 10 but did not want to be “Wally Pipped.” Cousins threw one touchdown pass and eight interceptions over the next four games before Penix replaced him. Cousins remains on Atlanta’s roster with the beginning of training camp two weeks away.
WORDS: 700 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 5:16 p.m. CDT
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BKL–WNBA All-Star Draft
Clark takes Indiana teammate Boston No. 1 in WNBA All-Star Game draft. Collier picks Stewart
SUMMARY: Caitlin Clark has picked Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston No. 1 while Napheesa Collier took her Unrivaled business partner Breanna Stewart first in the WNBA All-Star Game draft. Clark had the first overall pick by being No. 1 in the fan vote. She had said there was “a high chance” that Boston and Kelsey Mitchell of the Fever would be on her team. Collier and Stewart started the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled this past winter. They were college teammates at UConn. Clark’s other starters were Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson and Satou Sabally. Collier took Allisha Gray, Nneka Ogwumike and Paige Bueckers.
WORDS: 401 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 9:07 a.m. CDT
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BBO–Cubs-Twins
Twins top Cubs 8-1 behind strong start from Simeon Woods Richardson and late power surge
SUMMARY: Simeon Woods Richardson pitched five scoreless innings for the Minnesota Twins in an 8-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs before the bullpen took over against a tough lineup. Ryan Jeffers drove in three runs with a homer in a six-run eighth inning when Willi Castro and Harrison Bader also went deep. Royce Lewis added two RBIs. Chicago’s Shota Imanaga went six innings in his longest start since April 4. He was greeted by back-to-back doubles in a two-run first inning by Byron Buxton and Jeffers. Woods Richardson has a 1.38 ERA over his last five starts.
WORDS: 335 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 9:19 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Minnesota-Fleck
Minnesota extends P.J. Fleck’s contract by 1 year through 2030 with retention bonus bump
SUMMARY: Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck has agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2030 season. The university’s board of regents approved the deal. His $6 million annual salary remains unchanged, but retention bonuses have increased. Fleck will earn $1 million for staying through 2025. That annual bonus rises to $1.6 million for 2030. This adds $2.3 million to his previous agreement. Fleck is tied for 11th in compensation among Big Ten coaches. The Gophers are 58-39 over his eight seasons, 6-0 in bowl games and 34-36 in Big Ten play. Fleck has the program’s third-best winning percentage among long-term coaches.
WORDS: 184 – MOVED: 07/09/2025 12:16 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Royals Moves
Royals outfielder Mark Canha placed on 10-day IL with left elbow injury
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals placed outfielder Mark Canha on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow injury. Canha is in his first season with the Royals after being acquired in a trade during spring training. He’s hitting .212 with a .537 OPS in 46 games this season. In a corresponding move, infielder Cam Devanney was selected from Triple-A Omaha. He will make his MLB debut in his first appearance with the club, though he was not in the starting lineup Tuesday. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans was transferred to the 60-day IL.
WORDS: 564 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 6:28 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Home Run Derby
Pirates’ Oneil Cruz will bring his record-breaking power to the Home Run Derby
SUMMARY: Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has been added to Monday’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta. He joins Cal Raleigh, Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton and James Wood. Cruz is known for his powerful homers, and he hit his 16th of the season Tuesday night at Kansas City. On May 25, he hit a homer with a record-breaking 122.9 mph exit velocity. That was the fastest since Statcast started tracking in 2015. The 26-year-old Cruz hit a career-best 21 homers last season.
WORDS: 354 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 4:44 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Pirates-Royals
Nick Loftin hits 2-run homer in 7th, walk-off single in 9th as Royals beat Pirates 4-3
SUMMARY: Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then won it in the ninth with a one-out RBI single as the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. Rookie Jac Caglianone homered for the Royals, a 421-foot drive leading off the second inning that was his first extra-base hit in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium. He had been 5 for 46 at home before Tuesday. Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz tied it in the fourth with a 458-foot shot over the fountains in right field on the day he was announced as a participant in next-week’s Home Run Derby.
WORDS: 350 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 9:18 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Nationals-Cardinals
Nootbaar and Donovan homer to help the Cardinals beat the Nationals 4-2
SUMMARY: Brendan Donovan homered in a three-run third inning, Lars Nootbaar hit a solo homer in the sixth, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-2. Sonny Gray (9-3) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk and struck out six in five innings.Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 23 chances. Jake Irvin (7-4) allowed four runs on six hits and surrendered a season high-tying four walks in six innings as Washington lost its fourth straight game in Miguel Cairo’s debut as interim manager.
WORDS: 336 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 11:38 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Nationals-Cairo
Interim Nationals GM pledges a ‘fresh voice’ and manager Cairo says ‘it’s hard’ to replace Martinez
SUMMARY: Washington Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo and interim manager Miguel Cairo are ready to try to turn around an organization that’s had the second-worst record in the majors since 2020. The Nationals fired manager Dave Martinez and longtime president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo after Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Boston, which dropped Washington to 37-53 on the season and 9-23 since June 1. DeBartolo says he wants to bring a “fresh voice” and integrate more data into the team’s decison-making. Cairo was close with Martinez and says “it’s hard” to be talking to reporters as his replacement.
WORDS: 870 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 6:57 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–NBA 2K26-Cover Athlete
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA 2K26 cover athlete after MVP, title-winning season
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is featured on the cover of NBA 2K26 following his MVP and title-winning season. The video game’s developer announced the cover athlete on Tuesday. Last season’s scoring champ and finals MVP averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists and five rebounds per game, leading the Thunder to a 68-14 record. The Thunder outscored teams by 12.9 points per game. That was the biggest margin in league history. They beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win the NBA title. Gilgeous-Alexander will be featured on the standard edition. A release date for NBA 2K26 has yet to be announced. The game is expected to launch in September.
WORDS: 248 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 2:22 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12-Yormark
Big 12 commissioner doubles down on preference for 5-11 playoff model if CFP expands
SUMMARY: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference for staying with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand to 16 teams as many expect after this season. He favors that over having guaranteed multiple bids for all the power conferences. Yormark says at Big 12 football media days that there is a responsibility to do what’s right for college football, not just what’s right for one or two leagues. The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026.
WORDS: 603 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 2:35 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12 Media Days
Big 12 making no official predictions, so no last-to-first narrative this year like Arizona State
SUMMARY: There are no official Big 12 predictions going into this season. So there can be no last-to-first narrative like what Arizona State had in its league debut. Going into its 30th football season, the Big 12 didn’t conduct a preseason media poll predicting the order of finish for the 16-team conference. Arizona State won the Big 12 championship game last season after being picked to finish at the bottom of the 16-team league, and made the College Football Playoff. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says there’s no value to such preseason football polls, especially with the ever-changing landscape in the game.
WORDS: 871 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:22 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Big 12-UCF-Frost’s Return
UCF’s Scott Frost tries to skip talk of failed Nebraska tenure, but falls a bit short
SUMMARY: Scott Frost’s celebrated return as coach at UCF comes with the backdrop of a failed tenure at Nebraska, the alma mater he said he didn’t want to talk about at Big 12 football media days. Even though he did. Frost couldn’t help himself on revisiting the Nebraska days with a reporter from The Athletic. He stuck to his script in group settings with reporters. Frost led the Knights to a 13-0 season in 2017, before a poor record in four-plus seasons with the Cornhuskers.
WORDS: 636 – MOVED: 07/08/2025 7:27 p.m. CDT
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BKN–Thunder-Holmgren
Chet Holmgren and Oklahoma City Thunder agree on a 5-year contract extension, AP source says
SUMMARY: Chet Holmgren has agreed on a five-year contract extension worth nearly $240 million to remain with the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the signing hasn’t been announced. ESPN, which first reported the deal, citing agent Bill Duffy, said it could eventually be worth $250 million because of various contract escalators. It is the second major extension for the Thunder since winning the NBA title last month. The other went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who got a four-year, $285 million extension.
WORDS: 405 – MOVED: 07/09/2025 9:36 a.m. CDT
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