Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Commercial Driver’s Licenses-Immigrants
Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses
SUMMARY: The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is calling out Colorado for its slow response to what he describes as major violations of federal commercial driver’s license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened Monday to pull $24 million in federal funding for the western state if it does not revoke truck and bus licenses that were issued improperly. The federal government has been identifying states where commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants have remained valid long after they should have. In other cases, states didn’t check the immigration status of drivers before issuing a license. Duffy says the driving public is at risk.
WORDS: 539 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 5:51 p.m. CST
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NEBRASKA
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US–Meatpacking Town
An American Dream at risk: What happens to a small Nebraska town when 3,200 workers lose their jobs
SUMMARY: Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, laying off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000. Nearly a third of the town’s population will be out of work, causing spinoff layoffs in local businesses and threatening to unravel the small town. Workers who bought homes and sent their children to college will be stuck with bills they won’t be able to pay. Hundreds of families may be forced to pack up and leave. Local businesses struggling without enough customers may have to join them. State agencies are responding with the urgency of a natural disaster, but the workers still have no clear plan for what comes next.
WORDS: 1519 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 9:45 a.m. CST
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US–Meatpacking Town-Takeaways
Takeaways from AP’s report on a beef plant closure that threatens to unravel a small Nebraska town
SUMMARY: Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, laying off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000. Nearly a third of the town’s population will be out of work, causing spinoff layoffs in local businesses and threatening to unravel the small town. Workers who bought homes and sent their children to college will be stuck with bills they won’t be able to pay. Hundreds of families may be forced to pack up and leave. Local businesses struggling without enough customers may have to join them. State agencies are responding with the urgency of a natural disaster, but the workers still have no clear plan for what comes next.
WORDS: 932 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 11:57 a.m. CST
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US–Former Senator-Cancer
Former Nebraska US Sen. Ben Sasse reveals advanced pancreatic cancer diagnosis
SUMMARY: Former Nebraska U.S. Senator Ben Sasse has announced his diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer. He shared the news on social media, revealing he learned of the disease last week. The 53-year-old Sasse resigned from the Senate in January 2023 to become the president of theUniversity of Florida. He was a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and one of seven Republican senators to vote for Trump’s conviction after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Sasse expressed determination to fight the disease, highlighting advancements in immunotherapy and other treatments as part of his hope.
WORDS: 280 – MOVED: 12/23/2025 10:42 a.m. CST
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–Commercial Driver’s Licenses-Immigrants
Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses
SUMMARY: The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is calling out Colorado for its slow response to what he describes as major violations of federal commercial driver’s license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened Monday to pull $24 million in federal funding for the western state if it does not revoke truck and bus licenses that were issued improperly. The federal government has been identifying states where commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants have remained valid long after they should have. In other cases, states didn’t check the immigration status of drivers before issuing a license. Duffy says the driving public is at risk.
WORDS: 539 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 5:51 p.m. CST
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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BKW–Player of the Week
AP women’s basketball player of the week is No. 10 Iowa State’s Audi Crooks
SUMMARY: The Associated Press national player of the week in women’s basketball for Week 7 is No. 10 Iowa State’s Audi Crooks. The junior center finished with 41 points, tying Lindsey Wilson for the most points scored by a Cyclone in a regular-season Big 12 game, in a win over Kansas. It was her fourth straight game with at least 30 points, becoming just the fifth player in the last 15 years to do so in women’s college basketball. Crooks is now the only player with multiple 40 point games this season. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo was runner-up.
WORDS: 251 – MOVED: 12/23/2025 11:41 a.m. CST
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KANSAS
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FBN–Chiefs-Stadium
Kansas City Chiefs announce they will leave Arrowhead and relocate across the Kansas-Missouri border
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have announced they will leave their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium for a new, domed stadium that will be built across the Kansas-Missouri state line and be ready for the start of the 2031 season. The announcement Monday came shortly after a council of top Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously inside a packed room at the state Capitol to allow for STAR bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and accompanying mixed-use district. The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead in Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.
WORDS: 1341 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 12:51 a.m. CST
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FBN–Chiefs-Jilted Missouri
Chiefs’ move to Kansas leaves Missouri fans heartbroken over another NFL franchise leaving
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in Kansas. This decision follows Kansas lawmakers approving a bond package to cover up to 70% of the new stadium’s costs. Missouri lawmakers had tried to keep the Chiefs with their own funding package but were outbid. The move marks the second time in a decade that Missouri has lost an NFL team. The Chiefs’ relocation has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with concerns about ticket prices and the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium. It is also a big blow to Missouri lawmakers and Gov. Mike Kehoe.
WORDS: 1117 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 4:27 p.m. CST
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BKC–T25-Davidson-Kansas
No. 17 Kansas uses balanced scoring to defeat Davidson 90-61
SUMMARY: Tre White and Flory Bidunga each had 18 points and eight rebounds as No. 17 Kansas used balanced scoring to beat Davidson 90-61. Six players finished in double figures for the Jayhawks, including all five starters. Bryson Tiller added 11 points and Jamari McDowell scored 10. Melvin Council Jr. had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Kohl Rosario provided 13 points off the bench as Kansas shot 58% from the field, including 11 for 21 on 3-pointers. The Jayhawks had 27 assists on 37 baskets and outrebounded Davidson 42-31. White nabbed four of the team’s 13 steals. Roberts Blums was the only player in double figures for the Wildcats with 13 points off the bench.
WORDS: 413 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 9:20 p.m. CST
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BBO–Royals-Stadium
Royals face tough stadium decision of their own as Chiefs move to Kansas
SUMMARY: The Chiefs are moving to a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas, leaving their Missouri home. Now, attention is on the Royals, who face a similar decision. Their lease at Kauffman Stadium ends in January 2031. Royals owner John Sherman prefers a downtown ballpark, but plans have faced political and community hurdles. Last year, Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension to fund the new stadium. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe wants to keep the Royals in Missouri. However, Kansas offers a bond package covering up to 70% of construction costs. The Royals are considering multiple sites, including Overland Park, Kansas.
WORDS: 862 – MOVED: 12/23/2025 11:20 a.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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FBN–Vikings Analysis
McCarthy’s hand injury leaves Vikings in lurch again with latest setback raising long-term questions
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Vikings must ask themselves this offseason how patient they can afford to be with quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He has shown his share of winning traits and athletic talents but just as many alarming tendencies during this up-and-down debut. How quickly the Vikings believe his mechanics can be improved and his consistency can increase might not matter as much as whether they feel he can be counted on to regularly take the field. McCarthy hurt his throwing hand against the New York Giants and couldn’t play in the second half. This is his fourth significant injury in two years.
WORDS: 974 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 4:30 p.m. CST
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FBN–Lions-Analysis
Lions facing long playoff odds after losing 2 straight games for 1st time since 2022
SUMMARY: The Detroit Lions were not expected to match the success they had last year when they won a franchise-record 15 games to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs and claimed consecutive division championships for the first time since they were an NFL powerhouse in the early 1950s. Detroit lost two veterans on one of the league’s best offensive lines and two coordinators and did not address its desperate need for pash-rushing help. The schedule also was tougher than it was a year ago. However, no one envisioned the Lions sputtering as they have since starting 4-1.
WORDS: 633 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 6:55 p.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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FBN–Broncos-Analysis
Broncos try to look at the bright side after their long winning streak is ended by Jaguars
SUMMARY: The Denver Broncos say they’re glad their first loss in three months came in December and not January. Their 34-20 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday ended their 11-game winning streak and 12-game home winning streak. Wins by New England and the Los Angeles Chargers have tightened the AFC playoff race. The Broncos are now tied with the Patriots for the No. 1 seed. The Chargers are just a game behind in the AFC West. Denver had breakdowns in all three phases against the Jaguars. Their remaining games are crucial, starting Thursday against Kansas City, where they haven’t won in a decade.
WORDS: 835 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 2:38 p.m. CST
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BBO–Red Sox-Cardinals Trade
Red Sox acquire All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras from Cardinals for three young righties
SUMMARY: The Boston Red Sox have acquired three-time All-Star Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals will receive right-hander Hunter Dobbins and two pitching prospects. The 33-year-old Contreras is a .258 hitter with 172 homers and 548 RBIs over 10 seasons. He played most of his career as a catcher before moving to first base last year. The 26-year-old Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA as a rookie in Boston last year. The Cardinals will also receive Single-A right-handers Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.
WORDS: 147 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 2:39 p.m. CST
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FBN–Chiefs-Stadium
Kansas City Chiefs announce they will leave Arrowhead and relocate across the Kansas-Missouri border
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have announced they will leave their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium for a new, domed stadium that will be built across the Kansas-Missouri state line and be ready for the start of the 2031 season. The announcement Monday came shortly after a council of top Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously inside a packed room at the state Capitol to allow for STAR bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and accompanying mixed-use district. The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead in Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.
WORDS: 1341 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 12:51 a.m. CST
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FBN–Chiefs-Jilted Missouri
Chiefs’ move to Kansas leaves Missouri fans heartbroken over another NFL franchise leaving
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in Kansas. This decision follows Kansas lawmakers approving a bond package to cover up to 70% of the new stadium’s costs. Missouri lawmakers had tried to keep the Chiefs with their own funding package but were outbid. The move marks the second time in a decade that Missouri has lost an NFL team. The Chiefs’ relocation has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with concerns about ticket prices and the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium. It is also a big blow to Missouri lawmakers and Gov. Mike Kehoe.
WORDS: 1117 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 4:27 p.m. CST
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HKN–Blues-Lightning
Raddysh has goal, 2 assists to reach 100 career points as Lightning beat Blues 4-1
SUMMARY: Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists to reach 100 career points, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Oliver Bjorkstrand had a power-play goal for his 400th point, and Pontus Holmberg and Anthony Cirelli also scored for Tampa Bay. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel each had two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves as the Lightning have won back-to-back games for the second time since the start of December. Justin Faulk scored for St. Louis while Jordan Binnington finished with 13 saves. The Blues were held to two-or-fewer goals for the 21st time in 38 games this season.
WORDS: 284 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 8:49 p.m. CST
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BKC–T25-Missouri-Illinois
Wagler powers No. 20 Illinois past Missouri 91-48 for biggest blowout in Braggin’ Rights rivalry
SUMMARY: Freshman guard Keaton Wagler made a career-best five 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead No. 20 Illinois to a 91-48 rout of Missouri. Andrej Stojakovic returned from a first-half injury to score 17 points, and Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points as the Fighting Illini rolled to the most lopsided victory in the history of the Braggin’ Rights rivalry. Sebastian Mack had 15 points to lead Missouri as coach Dennis Gates left his reserves in for much of the second half with the game out of hand. The largest previous margin of victory in the series, which has been played 45 times since 1980, was Illinois’ 82-50 blowout in 2005, when it was coming off a Final Four run.
WORDS: 406 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 9:32 p.m. CST
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BBO–Royals-Stadium
Royals face tough stadium decision of their own as Chiefs move to Kansas
SUMMARY: The Chiefs are moving to a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas, leaving their Missouri home. Now, attention is on the Royals, who face a similar decision. Their lease at Kauffman Stadium ends in January 2031. Royals owner John Sherman prefers a downtown ballpark, but plans have faced political and community hurdles. Last year, Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension to fund the new stadium. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe wants to keep the Royals in Missouri. However, Kansas offers a bond package covering up to 70% of construction costs. The Royals are considering multiple sites, including Overland Park, Kansas.
WORDS: 862 – MOVED: 12/23/2025 11:20 a.m. CST
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OKLAHOMA
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BKW–T25-North Carolina Central-Oklahoma
No. 8 Oklahoma women score program-record 126 points in win over North Carolina Central
SUMMARY: Zya Vann had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 8 Oklahoma set a record for points with a 126-54 win over North Carolina Central in it final nonconference game of the regular season. Aaliyah Chavez had 20 points, Sahara Williams scored 16 and Raegan Beers had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma, which won its 11th straight game and reached the 100-point mark for the sixth time during that streak. Aniya Finger scored 17 points to lead the Eagles, who made 15 of 64 shots and got out rebounded 60-35.
WORDS: 263 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 2:47 p.m. CST
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BKN–Grizzlies-Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31, Thunder rebound from 2 losses in 3 games to beat Grizzlies 119-103
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back after two losses in three games to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-103 on Monday night in a matchup of teams missing several key contributors. Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 20 shots and had eight assists and four steals. It was his 100th consecutive game with at least 20 points, adding to the second-longest streak in NBA history. Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Ajay Mitchell added 16 off the bench before leaving midway through the fourth quarter for Oklahoma City (26-3), which played without starters Chet Holmgren (illness) and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf soreness).
WORDS: 371 – MOVED: 12/22/2025 11:20 p.m. CST
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BKN–Around The NBA
Spurs-Thunder game in Vegas showed a rivalry is here. Now they’ll meet twice on Christmas week
SUMMARY: The NBA is buzzing with a potential new rivalry between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last week, San Antonio ousted Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals, marking the Thunder’s second loss of the season. This week, the teams face off twice, including a Christmas Day game. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes this could become the league’s best rivalry. The Thunder are reigning champs, while the Spurs are resurging with star Victor Wembanyama. Both teams are top attractions in their cities, adding fuel to the rivalry’s fire.
WORDS: 808 – MOVED: 12/23/2025 1:43 a.m. CST
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