Great Plains Lookahead Digest
AP News Digest – Great Plains
To see stories that have already moved, please visit AP Newsroom. For text, photos, video, live and audio plans beyond the next 24 hours, please visit Coverage Plan.
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IOWA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–DEI BAN-GEORGIA-EXPLAINER
A Georgia bill to ban DEI in schools and colleges nears passage, even as potential effects stay hazy
SUMMARY: Georgia lawmakers could pass a bill banning a sweepingly broad range of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in Georgia’s public schools, colleges and universities on the last day of their 2025 session. Republicans in Martin Luther King Jr’s home state muscled House Bill 127 through the Senate early Thursday morning on a party-line 33-21 vote. That means the House must vote only once on Friday to give final passage. The measure has advanced even as Senate Republicans repeatedly shut down debate and testimony on the proposed law. Its actual effects remain unclear. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration escalates its efforts against DEI.
WORDS: 815 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 4:57 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f248796b9e1e23c252bd6f76fd68a618&mediaType=text
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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KANSAS – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–PRIEST SHOT-KANSAS
A man has shot and killed a Catholic priest at his parish rectory in northeast Kansas
SUMMARY: Church officials say a Catholic priest has been shot and killed in the northeastern Kansas town of Seneca. Archbishop Joseph Naumann says the Rev. Arul Carasala was fatally shot Thursday in a “senseless act of violence.” In a social media post, he called Carasala “a beloved priest, leader, and friend.” Carasala had been pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca since 2011. The parish said in a Facebook post that the suspected shooter was reportedly in custody. Carasala was ordained a priest in 1994 in his native India and had served in Kansas since 2004.
WORDS: 383 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 7:45 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5bbb08bcd8c685ca88f3a45117d99df3&mediaType=text
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-EXPLAINER
Measles spreads to central Texas; 5 states have active outbreaks
SUMMARY: Texas has reached 422 cases of measles in an outbreak that started two months ago. Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma all have active measles outbreaks. Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
WORDS: 1192 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 3:26 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33&mediaType=text
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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MINNESOTA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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HKN–WILD-ISLANDERS
DESCRIPTION: The Minnesota Wild visit the New York Islanders. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 10:00 p.m. CDT, Photo, Text
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MINNESOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–TRUMP-ELECTIONS
States sue to block Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution
SUMMARY: Democratic officials in 19 states are suing over President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections across the U.S., calling it an unconstitutional invasion of states’ clear authority to run their own elections. The lawsuit filed Thursday is the fourth against the executive order issued just a week ago. It seeks to block key aspects of it, including new requirements that people provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a demand that all mail ballots be received by Election Day. The lawsuit says forcing such changes on the states violates the broad authority the Constitution gives states to set their own election rules.
WORDS: 831 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 7:38 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5790caa7d4d801c4053e73dfa50622e9&mediaType=text
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US–HHS LAYOFFS-ENERGY ASSISTANCE
Trump administration fires staff of program that helps low-income households pay for heat
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has laid off the entire staff of a $4.1 billion program that helps low-income households nationwide pay for heat. That has stunned state officials who’ve been waiting to receive millions of dollars in outstanding federal payments and now fear the program is in jeopardy. The workers who ran the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program were among roughly 10,000 people fired as part of a dramatic restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services. A spokesperson for the agency said it would continue to meet its legal obligations and the reorganization would leave it better positioned to “to execute on Congress’s statutory intent.”
WORDS: 602 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 7:13 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:91e466c458ac804b098be00867a92106&mediaType=text
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MISSOURI – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BBO–CARDINALS-RED SOX
DESCRIPTION: St. Louis plays Boston at Fenway Park. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 1:10 p.m. CDT, Text
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BBO–ORIOLES-ROYALS
DESCRIPTION: Baltimore plays Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 6:40 p.m. CDT, Text
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MISSOURI – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–SEVERE WEATHER-WHAT TO KNOW
What to know about the severe storms and flash flooding hitting parts of the US
SUMMARY: At least seven people have been killed in a wide swath of violent storms and tornadoes that hit the South and Midwest. And officials are bracing for more severe weather and flooding in the coming days. The destruction is the result of a potent storm system that forecasters expect to bring life-threatening flash flooding each day through Saturday. More than 90 million people are at risk across an area stretching from Texas to Minnesota and Maine.
WORDS: 461 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 7:50 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9ba2f5f1dcc3f2f9a50de67d52d4c30d&mediaType=text
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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NEBRASKA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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NORTH DAKOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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OKLAHOMA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BKN–THUNDER-ROCKETS
DESCRIPTION: HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets host the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder in a meeting of the top two teams in the Western Conference. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 300 words. Photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 7:00 p.m. CDT, Photo, Text
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OKLAHOMA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-EXPLAINER
Measles spreads to central Texas; 5 states have active outbreaks
SUMMARY: Texas has reached 422 cases of measles in an outbreak that started two months ago. Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma all have active measles outbreaks. Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
WORDS: 1192 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 3:26 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33&mediaType=text
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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SOUTH DAKOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US-SEVERE-WEATHER-TORNADO-SAFETY
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
SUMMARY: Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.
WORDS: 869 – MOVED: 04/03/2025 2:03 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8d7457120f6205e21915f513b76dee10&mediaType=text
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