Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Immigration-ICE-Congress-Visits
Judge refuses to block new DHS policy limiting Congress members’ access to ICE facilities
SUMMARY: A federal judge has refused to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before they can visit immigration detention facilities. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb concluded that the Department of Homeland Security didn’t violate an earlier court order when it reimposed a seven-day notice requirement for congressional oversight visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. Cobb said she wasn’t ruling on whether the new policy passes legal muster. Rather, she said, plaintiffs’ attorneys representing several Democratic members of Congress used the wrong procedural vehicle to challenge it.
WORDS: 682 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 5:10 p.m. CST
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US–Northern Lights
Parts of the U.S. could see northern lights Monday
SUMMARY: The aurora could be visible across Canada and much of the northern U.S. following a major disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field. That’s according to a Monday forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which says the northern lights may even be visible further south. The center’s service coordinator says this comes amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms.
WORDS: 185 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 5:41 p.m. CST
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US–Immigration-Enforcement-Church
Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers’ rights after protesters interrupt service
SUMMARY: Several faith leaders are urgently calling for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants. That’s after a group of anti-immigration enforcement protesters disrupted Sunday service at a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Trey Turner leads the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention to which Cities Church belong. He says churches should “provide compassionate pastoral care” migrant families affected by immigration enforcement, but “the sanctity of our houses of worship” must be respected too. The U.S. Department of Justice says it opened a civil rights investigation after a group of about three dozen protesters walked into the church during the service, loudly chanting.
WORDS: 1158 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 1:49 p.m. CST
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US–Winter Weather
100 vehicles pile up in Michigan crash as snowstorm moves across the country
SUMMARY: More than 100 vehicles smashed into each other or slid off the interstate in Michigan as snow fueled by the Great Lakes blanketed the state. The massive pileup Monday prompted the Michigan State Police to close both directions of Interstate 196 just southwest of Grand Rapids. The State Police say there were numerous injuries but no deaths reported. The crash is just the latest impact of the major winter storm moving across the country. The National Weather Service issued warnings about either extremely cold temperatures or the potential for winter storms across several states.
WORDS: 416 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 1:51 p.m. CST
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US–Immigration-Enforcement
Trump administration urges judge to reject Minnesota’s attempt to stop its immigration crackdown
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has formally responded to a lawsuit that seeks to stop an immigration enforcement surge that is roiling Minneapolis and St. Paul. The government says, “Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement.” Justice Department lawyers are urging a judge to reject the effort. The government says Operation Metro Surge has made the state safer with the arrests of more than 3,000 people who were in the country illegally. But Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights.
WORDS: 497 – MOVED: 01/20/2026 10:44 a.m. CST
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US–Immigration Enforcement-Video
US citizen says ICE removed him from his Minnesota home in his underwear after warrantless search
SUMMARY: Federal immigration agents have detained a U.S. citizen in Minnesota at gunpoint without a warrant. That’s according to ChongLy “Scott” Thao, who says agents forced open his door, entered with guns drawn and led him outside in his underwear in freezing conditions. The detention is part of a larger surge of federal agents in the Twin Cities, leading to backlash over warrantless arrests and aggressive tactics. The Department of Homeland Security says the operation targeted two sex offenders. Thao disputes this, saying he lives with his family, none of whom are listed as offenders. Thao plans to file a civil rights lawsuit.
WORDS: 911 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 11:59 p.m. CST
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US–Congress-ICE
Trump’s ICE force is sweeping America. Billions in his tax and spending cuts bill are paying for it
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump promised the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, but achieving his goal wouldn’t have been possible without his big tax and spending cuts bill. Passed by Congress, the bill Trump signed into law has fueled an unprecedented buildup of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and beyond. As the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ballooned, the ranks of ICE officers have swelled to 22,000 — larger than most police departments in America. One budget expert says the GOP’s big bill is “supercharging ICE” in ways Americans may not fully realize. There are few restraints on the spending, which lasts through 2029, when Trump’s term ends.
WORDS: 1161 – MOVED: 01/20/2026 6:33 a.m. CST
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–Northern Lights
Parts of the U.S. could see northern lights Monday
SUMMARY: The aurora could be visible across Canada and much of the northern U.S. following a major disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field. That’s according to a Monday forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which says the northern lights may even be visible further south. The center’s service coordinator says this comes amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms.
WORDS: 185 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 5:41 p.m. CST
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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BKW–T25-Women’s Poll
Iowa cracks top 10 in AP women’s basketball poll for 1st time in 2 years. UConn, South Carolina 1-2
SUMMARY: Iowa moved into the top 10 for the first time in two years and UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 choice in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. The Hawkeyes last were ranked this high in the final poll of Caitlin Clark’s senior year. They had been as high as 11th a few times this season and finally were able to crack the first 10. UConn received all 30 first-place ballots from a national media panel as the top six teams in the poll were unchanged from a week earlier. The Huskies have won 34 consecutive games dating back to last season. South Carolina and UCLA were next. Texas remained fourth despite falling at South Carolina 68-65 on Thursday. Vanderbilt and LSU followed the Longhorns.
WORDS: 474 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 10:57 a.m. CST
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BKW–T25-Top 25 This Week
Iowa women face tough schedule after 7-0 start in Big Ten
SUMMARY: Iowa has gotten off to a strong start in Big Ten play, winning its first seven conference games. The 10th-ranked Hawkeyes have the difficult part of their schedule in front of them with contests against Maryland, Ohio State, USC and UCLA in their next four games. The gauntlet starts Thursday at Maryland. A victory would give Iowa its best start in the conference since the 1995-96 team won its first 11 Big Ten games. Iowa moved into the top 10 of the AP women’s basketball poll on Monday for the first time since Caitlin Clark’s senior season two years ago when the team finished No. 2. That was the last time the Hawkeyes started conference play 7-0.
WORDS: 499 – MOVED: 01/20/2026 12:50 a.m. CST
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BKW–Player of the Week
AP women’s basketball player of the week is No. 10 Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke
SUMMARY: The Associated Press national player of the week in women’s basketball for Week 11 is No. 10 Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. The senior forward had 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the Hawkeyes’ win over then-No. 15 Michigan State to keep the team unbeaten in Big Ten play. It was her fourth 20-plus point performance of the season. The runner-up was Dominique Darius of Syracuse. The graduate guard scored 19 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in Syracuse’s triple-overtime victory over California, marking the first triple OT game in the conference since 2019.
WORDS: 265 – MOVED: 01/20/2026 11:43 a.m. CST
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KANSAS
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BKC–T25-Kansas-Self
Coach Bill Self doesn’t travel with No. 19 Kansas after going to the hospital, school says
SUMMARY: Kansas says coach Bill Self did not accompany the Jayhawks to Boulder for their game Tuesday night at Colorado after being taken to a hospital in Lawrence on Monday. The Jayhawks in a statement said Self was feeling under the weather and went out of an abundance of caution. The school says Self felt better after receiving IV fluids. It was not immediately clear if Self would attempt to travel for the game or if an assistant would run the bench for the 19th-ranked Jayhawks.
WORDS: 229 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 7:22 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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HKW–PWHL–Girard-4-Game Suspension
Sirens’ forward Girard issued PWHL-record 4-game suspension for leaving bench to join an altercation
SUMMARY: The Professional Women’s Hockey League issued the harshest suspension in its three-year history by banning New York Sirens forward Taylor Girard for four games after she left the bench to join an altercation. The skirmish happened in front of the Sirens net at the final buzzer of New York’s 2-1 win over Montreal on Sunday. Video shows Girard crashing into Montreal defender Maggie Flaherty from behind and knocking her to the ice. Eight players were issued 10-minute misconducts, with Girard the only player receiving an additional 20-minute penalty for leaving the bench. Under league rules, the first player to leave the bench illegally faces an automatic four-game suspension.
WORDS: 298 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 6:31 p.m. CST
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HKN–Wild-Maple Leafs
Foligno has first NHL hat trick to double season goals total, Wild beat Maple Leafs 6-3
SUMMARY: Marcus Foligno had his first NHL hat trick to double his season goals total, Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Monday night. The 34-year-old Foligno in the second period at even strength and on a power play, then into an empty net in the third. Ryan Hartman added a goal and an assist, and Kirill Kaprizov and defensemen Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber each had two assists. Filip Gustavsson stopped 27 shots. The Wild have won two straight to open a three-game trip after being swept on a three-game homestand. They beat Buffalo 5-4 in overtime Saturday. Auston Matthews scored his 25th goal of the season and had an assist for Toronto.
WORDS: 251 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 9:37 p.m. CST
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NORTH DAKOTA
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HKN–Jets-Toews
Jonathan Toews gets standing ovation in return to Chicago with the Winnipeg Jets
SUMMARY: Jonathan Toews has received a warm reception in his return to Chicago with the Winnipeg Jets. The 37-year-old center spent his first 15 seasons with the Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cup titles. It was his first game at the United Center since he signed with the Jets on July 1. The Blackhawks showed a Toews highlight video during a timeout in the first period, and the crowd of 19,894 responded with a long standing ovation. Toews acknowledged the cheers by waving and patting his heart. Toews says the reception was “pretty special.”
WORDS: 794 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 2:14 p.m. CST
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–Thunder-Williams
Thunder’s Jalen Williams is out with a right hamstring strain
SUMMARY: Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks, a significant loss for the defending NBA champions. The 6-foot-6 Williams was named an All-Star last season for the first time. He was hurt during the second quarter of Saturday’s 122-120 loss at Miami. The team said then that he had right thigh soreness. On Monday, the Thunder said they would “see where Jalen Williams is at with his right hamstring strain in a couple of weeks.” He is averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season.
WORDS: 247 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 1:17 p.m. CST
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BKN–NBA-All-Star Starters
NBA announces All-Star Game starters, with 1st version of U.S. vs. The World format now on its way
SUMMARY: Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Boston’s Jaylen Brown and San San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama were announced as NBA All-Star starters Monday. The game is Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California. LeBron James wasn’t picked as a starter and his record streak of All-Star selections is now in some question. This is the first year the NBA will use a U.S. vs. The World mini-tournament format for the game.
WORDS: 879 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 1:30 p.m. CST
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BKN–Thunder-Cavaliers
NBA-leading Thunder crush Cavaliers 136-104 behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30 points
SUMMARY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 136-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Chet Holmgren added 28 points. The Thunder, now 36-8, tie a season high with 23 3-pointers, shooting 48.9% from beyond the arc. Luguentz Dort contributed 18 points, while Isaiah Joe and Holmgren each made four 3s. This marks Cleveland’s worst regular-season loss in nearly two seasons. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 19 points. Cleveland struggled with 3-pointers, hitting only 22.9%. The Cavaliers have lost eight of their last 14 home games.
WORDS: 368 – MOVED: 01/19/2026 4:32 p.m. CST
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BKN–Around The NBA
The Thunder are winning a ton of games, again. They don’t let wins, or losses, faze them much
SUMMARY: The Oklahoma City Thunder have been handling wins and losses with a calm demeanor. On Saturday night, they lost to the Miami Heat 122-120, but their reaction was surprisingly composed. Despite a controversial foul call and missed violations, the Thunder remain focused on long-term goals. They lead the league with a 36-8 record after a win in Cleveland on Monday. Coach Mark Daigneault emphasizes learning from experiences rather than getting caught up in emotions. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to shine, and the team maintains a strong home and away record, trusting their process and development.
WORDS: 756 – MOVED: 01/20/2026 12:49 a.m. CST
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