Great Plains News Digest
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
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US–Election 2026-Iowa-Senate
Sen. Ernst of Iowa is expected to announce next month that she won’t run for reelection in 2026
SUMMARY: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is expected to announce next month she won’t seek reelection, leaving another vacancy in an Iowa seat that could have ripple effects down the ballot as Democrats look to the state for pickup opportunities. As Senate Republicans work to maintain their majority in the chamber, Ernst is joining a wave of her peers making headaches for the party. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina turned down a reelection bid after clashing with President Donald Trump. Ernst plans to announce in September she’ll opt out of the race for a third term. That’s according to four people familiar with her plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity Friday to preview the announcement.
WORDS: 954 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 11:47 a.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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US–Election-2026-Redistricting-Other States
What states are doing in the battle for partisan advantage in US House redistricting maps
SUMMARY: A redistricting battle for partisan advantage in Congress could spread from Texas and California to other states. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed legislation creating a new U.S. House map that gives Republicans a chance to win as many as five more seats in next year’s elections. In response to Texas, California Democrats are asking voters there to approved revised House districts that give Democrats at chance at winning five more seats. Officials in other states — including Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New York and Maryland — also are considering redrawing congressional districts to try to gain a partisan advantage.
WORDS: 1214 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 7:01 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis-Shooter
What we know about the shooter who killed 2 and wounded 18 in Minneapolis
SUMMARY: The shooter who fired into a Minneapolis Catholic school’s church was quiet, often alone and seemed to resent school as an eighth grader there seven years ago. That is what a former classmate told The Associated Press. Officials identified the shooter who killed two children and injured 18 worshippers during Wednesday’s Mass as Robin Westman, aged 23. Officials said Thursday that Westman was a former student at Annunciation Catholic School. One classmate recalled Westman once hid in the bathroom to avoid going to the all-school Mass. YouTube videos allegedly posted by the shooter suggest Westman experienced depression and admired other acts of mass violence but didn’t spell out any specific ideology.
WORDS: 1215 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 7:54 p.m. CDT
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis-What To Know
What to know about the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school
SUMMARY: A shooter opened fire during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school, killing two children and injuring 18 other people. Authorities say the 23-year-old shooter fired more than 100 rifle rounds through the windows of the church at Annunciation Catholic School before dying by suicide. The children who were killed have been identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Thursday that the shooter was a former Annunciation student and had previously been a member of the church. Investigators say the shooter left behind extensive writings, but authorities are still working to determine why he targeted the church on Wednesday.
WORDS: 767 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 12:04 p.m. CDT
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis
Police say Minneapolis church shooter was filled with hatred and admired mass killers
SUMMARY: Investigators in Minneapolis say the shooter who killed two Catholic school students and wounded 18 other people inside a church was obsessed with the idea of killing defenseless children. Police said Thursday that the shooter idolized mass killers and wanted to terrorize innocent children. The police chief in Minneapolis says the shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, fired 116 rifle rounds through stained-glass windows Wednesday morning. The children were celebrating Mass during the first week of classes at the Annunciation Catholic School. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson says videos and writings the shooter left behind show Westman expressed hatred towards almost every group imaginable.
WORDS: 1334 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:42 p.m. CDT
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US–Minneapolis Shooting Victims
Parents of students killed in Minneapolis church shooting share emotional pleas
SUMMARY: The parents of two schoolchildren fatally shot in a Minneapolis church have spoken out, urging the community to address the root causes of school shootings. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, were killed on Wednesday morning when a shooter opened fire at a Mass attended by students at Annunciation Catholic School. Fifteen other students and three adults were also shot. Only one person – a child – was in critical condition. Moyski’s parents hope her memory fuels action against gun violence and mental health issues. Merkel’s father expressed gratitude for the heroic actions that prevented further tragedy.
WORDS: 777 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 5:10 p.m. CDT
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis-Mood
Minneapolis, a series of shootings and the grim realities of a tough summer
SUMMARY: Most categories of crime have continued to fall in Minneapolis after a surge that followed the 2020 killing of George Floyd. But the summer of 2025 has seen a spike in violence that has repeatedly led to armored vehicles rolling through the streets carrying police in full combat gear. There was the deadly attack on state politicians in the Minneapolis suburbs. Deadly gunfire that erupted at a popular city picnic spot, and then on a sidewalk behind a Catholic high school. And on Wednesday a shooter fired into a church where some 200 children from Annunciation Catholic School were at Mass. Two of them were killed, and 18 people were wounded.
WORDS: 847 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 7:39 a.m. CDT
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis- Legislation
After Minneapolis shooting, there are new calls for gun restrictions, and familiar divisions
SUMMARY: A shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis has sparked calls for action from Minnesota officials. Mayor Jacob Frey is urging a statewide and federal ban on certain semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines following the shooting that left two children dead and 18 people injured. Police have said the shooter used a legally purchased rifle, shotgun and pistol. Minnesota already has some gun regulations. But the state faces challenges in passing more restrictions because neither the Democrats nor the Republicans dominate the state Legislature. Eleven states and Washington D.C. have some form of semiautomatic weapon restrictions.
WORDS: 1042 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 9:06 a.m. CDT
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis
Father of 8-year-old boy killed in Minneapolis church shooting wants him remembered for his love
SUMMARY: The families of the two Catholic school students fatally shot while celebrating Mass at a Minneapolis church are continuing to wrestle with their grief. The father of the 8-year-old boy killed wants his son remembered “for the person he was and not the act that ended his life.” Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were killed Wednesday, and more than a dozen of their schoolmates were wounded when a shooter fired 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows. Police said Thursday that the shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, idolized mass killers and wanted to terrorize innocent children. The children were celebrating Mass during the first week of classes at the Annunciation Catholic School.
WORDS: 967 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 12:05 a.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US–Election-2026-Redistricting-Other States
What states are doing in the battle for partisan advantage in US House redistricting maps
SUMMARY: A redistricting battle for partisan advantage in Congress could spread from Texas and California to other states. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed legislation creating a new U.S. House map that gives Republicans a chance to win as many as five more seats in next year’s elections. In response to Texas, California Democrats are asking voters there to approved revised House districts that give Democrats at chance at winning five more seats. Officials in other states — including Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New York and Maryland — also are considering redrawing congressional districts to try to gain a partisan advantage.
WORDS: 1214 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 7:01 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Tracking Immigrants-By the Numbers
What is E-Verify, which is used to vet employment eligibility? A look at the system by the numbers
SUMMARY: Some U.S. businesses verify applicants’ eligibility to work using an online government system called E-Verify. When individuals present their documents showing they’re authorized to work, employers can check the validity of that information by using the free tool to compare it with records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The system has come into question in recent weeks after federal officials criticized a Maine police department for relying on it to confirm the eligibility of a Jamaica national to work in the U.S. The officer was later detained by immigration authorities and agreed voluntarily to leave the country.
WORDS: 441 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 11:09 a.m. CDT
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US–Tracking Immigrants
Employers have used E-Verify for years. ICE’s arrest of a Maine police officer raises new questions
SUMMARY: The case of a Maine police officer arrested by immigration authorities even though he was vetted by a government system called E-Verify is raising questions about what employers can do to make sure they’re employing people who can legally work. E-Verify is an online system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee’s documents with records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused Old Orchard Beach, Maine, of showing “reckless reliance” on the E-Verify program when it hired Jamaica national Jon Luke Evans, who has since agreed to leave the country. But experts say there are few other options.
WORDS: 1230 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 6:17 a.m. CDT
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–Bomber Near Misses-North Dakota
NTSB focused on controllers after B-52 bomber and two planes nearly collided over North Dakota
SUMMARY: The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that shortly after an airliner made an aggressive maneuver to avoid colliding with a B-52 last month over North Dakota, the bomber nearly collided with a small private plane as it flew past the Minot airport. The preliminary report on the July 18 incident described the close calls that happened after the bomber completed a flyover at the State Fair in Minot. The close call with Delta Flight 3788 is well known because of a video a passenger shot of the pilot’s announcement after avoiding the bomber. But the fact that the B-52 subsequently came within one-third of a mile of a small Piper airplane hadn’t been previously reported.
WORDS: 844 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 4:53 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–FEMA-Review-Council
Trump proposed getting rid of FEMA, but his review council seems focused on reforming the agency
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has floated the idea of “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages federal disaster response. But at a Thursday meeting, the 12-person review council he appointed to propose changes to FEMA seemed more focused on reforms than total dismantlement. The meeting in Oklahoma City offered hints of what types of reforms the council might present to Trump in its final report. Members mainly focused on conventional and oft-cited opportunities for change, such as getting money faster to states and survivors and enhancing the capacity of local emergency managers.
WORDS: 907 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 4:57 p.m. CDT
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–Bomber Near Misses-North Dakota
NTSB focused on controllers after B-52 bomber and two planes nearly collided over North Dakota
SUMMARY: The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that shortly after an airliner made an aggressive maneuver to avoid colliding with a B-52 last month over North Dakota, the bomber nearly collided with a small private plane as it flew past the Minot airport. The preliminary report on the July 18 incident described the close calls that happened after the bomber completed a flyover at the State Fair in Minot. The close call with Delta Flight 3788 is well known because of a video a passenger shot of the pilot’s announcement after avoiding the bomber. But the fact that the B-52 subsequently came within one-third of a mile of a small Piper airplane hadn’t been previously reported.
WORDS: 844 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 4:53 p.m. CDT
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MT–Indian Health Service-Abuse Settlement
Government reaches $18M settlement with MT, SD people abused by Indian Health Service doctor
SUMMARY: The federal government recently finalized an $18 million settlement with 12 people who were sexually abused by an Indian Health Service doctor in Montana and South Dakota. IHS is responsible for providing health care to members of federally recognized tribes. Dr. Stanley Patrick Weber worked on the Blackfeet and Pine Ridge reservations. He is serving life in prison for sexually abusing young boys. An investigation found several IHS leaders were aware of Weber’s suspicious behaviors, but failed to take action. The recent settlement is the latest in a string of lawsuits related to Weber. An attorney says at least $32.5 million has been recovered for 20 total people who brought claims against Weber.
WORDS: 641 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 12:44 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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FBC–Upper Iowa-Drake
Chase Spellman’s 4 total TDs power Drake to 41-7 win over Division II opponent
SUMMARY: Chase Spellman accounted for four touchdowns — two passing and two running — to lead Drake to a 41-7 victory over Division II-member Upper Iowa in the debut of Joe Woodley as coach of the Bulldogs. Spellman completed 14 of 16 passes for 233 yards with an interception. Hank Foley caught five passes for 127 yards with two TDs. Spellman accounted for three long touchdowns in the first 18 minutes of play. His 27-yard pass to Foley provided the first score of the game and he added a 28-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead through the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Foley and Spellman connected on a 48-yard scoring pass.
WORDS: 249 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 10:53 p.m. CDT
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GYM–USA-Gymnastics-Abuse-Takeaways
Takeaways from AP’s reporting on concerns about gymnastics coach before arrest in sex abuse case
SUMMARY: Concerns about a banned gymnastics coach arrested amid allegations he abused girls he coached surfaced years before police or sports authorities took action. The Associated Press has learned that a former boss of Sean Gardner brought concerns in 2018 about “grooming” behavior to the agency overseeing U.S. gymnastics. Athletes he coached and their parents told AP they sounded alarms about Gardner’s inappropriate behavior to coaches at the renowned academy where he worked after that. The parents spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their daughters. Gym’s owner Liang “Chow” Qiao kept Gardner on and promoted him. Not until 2022 was Gardner banned from gymnastics. Shortly after, Qiao and others at the gym were sanctioned for failing to report sexual misconduct reports against Gardner.
WORDS: 1035 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 10:35 a.m. CDT
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GYM–USA-Gymnastics-Abuse-Inquiry
Gym owner says she reported grooming concerns about coach years before arrest in sex abuse case
SUMMARY: Concerns about a banned gymnastics coach arrested amid allegations he abused girls he coached surfaced years before police or sports authorities took action. The Associated Press has learned that a former boss of Sean Gardner brought concerns in 2018 about “grooming” behavior to the agency overseeing U.S. gymnastics. Girls he coached and their parents told AP they sounded alarms about Gardner’s inappropriate behavior to coaches at the renowned academy where he worked after that. The parents spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their daughters. Gym’s owner Liang “Chow” Qiao kept Gardner on and promoted him. Not until 2022 was Gardner banned from gymnastics. Shortly after, Qiao and others at the gym were sanctioned for failing to report sexual misconduct reports against Gardner.
WORDS: 1432 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 9:32 a.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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US–Trump-Education-Restroom Investigation
US Education Department says Denver school’s all-gender bathrooms violate Title IX
SUMMARY: The U.S. Education Department says Denver Public Schools violated Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination in education by creating all-gender bathrooms and allowing students to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. The finding announced Thursday followed an unprecedented probe of Denver’s East High School. It marks a sharp departure from the department’s investigations under former President Joe Biden. The investigation began after the school district converted a girl’s restroom into an all-gender restroom while leaving another bathroom on the same floor exclusive to boys in January. The school district later added a second all-gender restroom on the same floor after concerns of unfairness were raised.
WORDS: 527 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 4:17 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati-Kelce-Swift
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift attend Nebraska-Cincinnati game after engagement
SUMMARY: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have made their first public appearance since announcing their engagement. They attended the Nebraska-Cincinnati game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. Kelce, a former Bearcats player, spent time on the field before joining Swift in a suite for the game. On Tuesday, the couple revealed their engagement on Instagram after dating for about two years. Swift’s publicist confirmed the engagement ring is an old mine brilliant-cut diamond. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce’s brother, Jason, were also present at the game. The Chiefs are gearing up for their season-opener against the Chargers next Friday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
WORDS: 322 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:08 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati
Nebraska holds off Cincinnati with late interception for 20-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium
SUMMARY: Dylan Raiola throws for 243 yards and two touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. secures the win by intercepting a pass in the end zone with 34 seconds left. Emmett Johnson rushes for 108 yards, while Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter catch touchdowns for the Huskers. Brendan Sorsby struggles with passing but rushes for 96 yards and two scores for the Bearcats. Cincinnati fights back in the second half but falls short. Nebraska plays Akron next, while Cincinnati faces Bowling Green.
WORDS: 657 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 11:37 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Winning The Close One
Huskers are hoping they’ve kicked their habit of being on the wrong end of one-score games
SUMMARY: Nebraska hopes its problem with finishing close games is over. The Cornhuskers came into the season having lost 35 of 45 one-score games and the tens of thousands of fans who filled Arrowhead Stadium must have had that familiar here-we-go-again feeling as Cincinnati drove the field in the final minutes. Crisis was averted when Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted Brendan Sorsby’s pass to the end zone to secure a 20-17 win. It’s the second straight one-score game the Huskers have won. They had been 2-10 in one-score games under coach Matt Rhule before they held off Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl last December.
WORDS: 671 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 11:44 a.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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FBN–Vikings-Smith
Vikings’ Smith recovering from personal health matter that’s not a long-term absence, AP source says
SUMMARY: Minnesota Vikings veteran safety Harrison Smith has been recovering from a personal health matter. He hasn’t practiced with the team for the past 2½ weeks, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Thursday because the Vikings were not releasing details about Smith’s status, said that Smith’s absence isn’t expected to be long term. The 36-year-old will be evaluated weekly. Smith is starting his 14th NFL season. He was elected as one of the Vikings’ team captains this year. He wasn’t placed on injured reserve when the initial 53-man roster was set on Tuesday. Smith has missed only seven games over the past eight seasons.
WORDS: 278 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 1:31 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Bengals-Risner
Bengals bolster offensive line depth by signing free-agent guard Dalton Risner
SUMMARY: The Bengals signed veteran offensive guard Dalton Risner, and coach Zac Taylor said that there’s “absolutely” a chance that Risner will be active when the Bengals face the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 7. Risner, a six-year veteran, has made 81 starts and played for the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. Risner was on the free agent market all summer and did not spend training camp with a team. The Bengals still haven’t announced their right guard for Week 1. Cordell Volson was expected to be the starter, but is out for the season due to a shoulder injury. The competition has included veterans Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford, who have both been backups for significant portions of their careers, and fifth-round rookie Jalen Rivers.
WORDS: 612 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 6:59 p.m. CDT
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FBN–Vikings-Thielen
Adam Thielen relishes his return home to the Vikings after a two-year family adventure with Panthers
SUMMARY: Adam Thielen has returned to the Minnesota Vikings after a trade with the Carolina Panthers. Thielen kept Minnesota as his offseason home and had previously joined informal throwing sessions with new Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. These workouts helped build their chemistry. Thielen expressed surprise at rejoining the Vikings and figured he’d only return to them in retirement. He praised his time with the Panthers but expressed deep excitement to be back with the Vikings. Thielen could join Justin Jefferson in the starting lineup for the regular season opener on Sept. 8 considering the team’s lack of depth at wide receiver.
WORDS: 674 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 7:52 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Lindenwood-St Thomas-Minnesota
St. Thomas avenges 2024 blowout, breezes by Lindenwood 35-13
SUMMARY: St. Thomas combined for 447 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Tommies beat Lindenwood 35-13 on Thursday night. The Lions missed three field goals and lost a fumble. Nate Glantz completed 18 of 29 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. Andy Peters tied the game for the Tommies on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Wagner. Stefano Giovannelli found the end zone on a fake field goal. St. Thomas ran for 275 yards on the night, with Joseph Koch rushing for 154 yards and a score on 18 carries. The Tommies reversed a 64-0 loss to the Lions last season and earned their first win over a non-PFL FCS team. Peters finished the night 11 of 18 with two passing touchdowns.
WORDS: 215 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:27 p.m. CDT
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BKL–Storm-Lynx
Skylar Diggins scores 19 of her 23 points after halftime and the Storm rally past the Lynx 93-79
SUMMARY: Skylar Diggins scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half, Nneka Ogwumike had 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Seattle Storm rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Lynx 93-79. Seattle, which trailed 39-18 midway through the second quarter, tied its second-largest comeback win in franchise history. Kayla McBride led Minnesota (30-8) with 20 points and five 3-pointers. Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams each scored 18 points. Minnesota lost for just the second time in 20 home games this season.
WORDS: 307 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:41 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Buffalo-Minnesota
Minnesota beats Buffalo 23-10 in opener as Drake Lindsey passes for 290 yards, 2 TDs in debut
SUMMARY: Drake Lindsey passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns in his debut, helping Minnesota beat Buffalo 23-10 in their season opener. Darius Taylor rushed for 141 yards on 30 carries. Jameson Geers caught four passes for 38 yards and a score. Jalen Smith had a wide-open 60-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to break the game open. New defensive coordinator Danny Collins’ group limited Al-Jay Henderson to 25 yards on 11 rushes. Ta’Quan Roberson, in his first start at quarterback after transferring from Kansas State, was 12 for 20 for 107 yards with a 40-yard touchdown pass for Buffalo.
WORDS: 616 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 10:42 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Pirates-Cardinals
Jordan Walker homers in 3-run 7th inning to help Cardinals beat Pirates 4-1
SUMMARY: Thomas Saggese hit a go-ahead RBI double and Jordan Walker homered in a three-run seventh inning to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1. Miles Mikolas allowed one run on four hits and a walk and struck out five in five innings. Kyle Leahy recorded four strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief, Riley O’Brien pitched a scoreless eighth and JoJo Romero pitched the ninth for his fifth save. Pirates rookie Braxton Ashcraft allowed one run on four hits and recorded five strikeouts in a career-best 5 2/3 innings before being replaced by Yohan Ramírez.
WORDS: 319 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 4:01 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati-Kelce-Swift
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift attend Nebraska-Cincinnati game after engagement
SUMMARY: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have made their first public appearance since announcing their engagement. They attended the Nebraska-Cincinnati game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. Kelce, a former Bearcats player, spent time on the field before joining Swift in a suite for the game. On Tuesday, the couple revealed their engagement on Instagram after dating for about two years. Swift’s publicist confirmed the engagement ring is an old mine brilliant-cut diamond. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce’s brother, Jason, were also present at the game. The Chiefs are gearing up for their season-opener against the Chargers next Friday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
WORDS: 322 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:08 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Lindenwood-St Thomas-Minnesota
St. Thomas avenges 2024 blowout, breezes by Lindenwood 35-13
SUMMARY: St. Thomas combined for 447 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Tommies beat Lindenwood 35-13 on Thursday night. The Lions missed three field goals and lost a fumble. Nate Glantz completed 18 of 29 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. Andy Peters tied the game for the Tommies on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Wagner. Stefano Giovannelli found the end zone on a fake field goal. St. Thomas ran for 275 yards on the night, with Joseph Koch rushing for 154 yards and a score on 18 carries. The Tommies reversed a 64-0 loss to the Lions last season and earned their first win over a non-PFL FCS team. Peters finished the night 11 of 18 with two passing touchdowns.
WORDS: 215 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:27 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati
Nebraska holds off Cincinnati with late interception for 20-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium
SUMMARY: Dylan Raiola throws for 243 yards and two touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. secures the win by intercepting a pass in the end zone with 34 seconds left. Emmett Johnson rushes for 108 yards, while Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter catch touchdowns for the Huskers. Brendan Sorsby struggles with passing but rushes for 96 yards and two scores for the Bearcats. Cincinnati fights back in the second half but falls short. Nebraska plays Akron next, while Cincinnati faces Bowling Green.
WORDS: 657 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 11:37 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Winning The Close One
Huskers are hoping they’ve kicked their habit of being on the wrong end of one-score games
SUMMARY: Nebraska hopes its problem with finishing close games is over. The Cornhuskers came into the season having lost 35 of 45 one-score games and the tens of thousands of fans who filled Arrowhead Stadium must have had that familiar here-we-go-again feeling as Cincinnati drove the field in the final minutes. Crisis was averted when Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted Brendan Sorsby’s pass to the end zone to secure a 20-17 win. It’s the second straight one-score game the Huskers have won. They had been 2-10 in one-score games under coach Matt Rhule before they held off Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl last December.
WORDS: 671 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 11:44 a.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati
Nebraska holds off Cincinnati with late interception for 20-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium
SUMMARY: Dylan Raiola throws for 243 yards and two touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. secures the win by intercepting a pass in the end zone with 34 seconds left. Emmett Johnson rushes for 108 yards, while Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter catch touchdowns for the Huskers. Brendan Sorsby struggles with passing but rushes for 96 yards and two scores for the Bearcats. Cincinnati fights back in the second half but falls short. Nebraska plays Akron next, while Cincinnati faces Bowling Green.
WORDS: 657 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 11:37 p.m. CDT
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FBC–Nebraska-Winning The Close One
Huskers are hoping they’ve kicked their habit of being on the wrong end of one-score games
SUMMARY: Nebraska hopes its problem with finishing close games is over. The Cornhuskers came into the season having lost 35 of 45 one-score games and the tens of thousands of fans who filled Arrowhead Stadium must have had that familiar here-we-go-again feeling as Cincinnati drove the field in the final minutes. Crisis was averted when Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted Brendan Sorsby’s pass to the end zone to secure a 20-17 win. It’s the second straight one-score game the Huskers have won. They had been 2-10 in one-score games under coach Matt Rhule before they held off Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl last December.
WORDS: 671 – MOVED: 08/29/2025 11:44 a.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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FBC–UT Martin-Oklahoma St.
Oklahoma State’s Hejny shines before injury in 27-7 win over UT Martin
SUMMARY: Hauss Hejny threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in one quarter before getting injured as Oklahoma State defeated UT Martin 27-7. Hejny passed for 96 yards and a touchdown and ran for 27 yards and another score before leaving the game late in the opening period with a lower body injury. Zane Flores passed for 136 yards for Oklahoma State. UT Martin running back John Gentry ran for 51 yards and had two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
WORDS: 640 – MOVED: 08/28/2025 9:58 p.m. CDT
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