Great Plains News Digest
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KANSAS
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US–Education-Girls in STEM
The gender gap in math widened in the pandemic. Schools are trying to make up lost ground
SUMMARY: Efforts to close the gender gap in STEM education are gaining momentum after setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide, the gap between girls and boys in math test scores had largely closed before the pandemic. But girls lost ground in math test scores during COVID. And the gap has continued to widen. Boys have recovered faster in math since the pandemic, partly due to teaching methods that experts say may favor them. Schools are now working to reintroduce programs that boost girls’ confidence and interest in STEM, aiming to rebuild progress lost during the pandemic.
WORDS: 1250 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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US–School Shooting-Minneapolis
Gun store owner says shooter who killed 2 schoolchildren showed no warning signs before attack
SUMMARY: The shooter who killed two children and injured 21 others at a Minneapolis church was seen on video visiting a suburban gun shop the weekend before the attack. The video shows Robin Westman spent about 40 minutes examining guns and bought a revolver at the store in St. Louis Park. Owner Kory Krause says Westman passed background checks and had a valid permit. The gun Westman purchased wasn’t one of the guns used in the shooting. Westman died by suicide. Krause says his staff is experienced in looking for warning signs but saw none.
WORDS: 634 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 2:34 p.m. CDT
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US–Murder Conviction-Minnesota
A Minnesota man imprisoned for 27 years is free after a key witness says she committed the murder
SUMMARY: A man has been released from a Minnesota prison where he spent 27 years for a murder he did not commit. Bryan Hooper Sr. was reunited on Thursday with his family outside the Stillwater Correctional Facility. In 1998, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak. While reviewing Hooper’s case this year, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office learned that a woman in a Georgia prison had recanted her testimony from Hooper’s trial and confessed instead to killing Prazniak and hiding her body. The office and the Great North Innocence Project asked a court to vacate Hooper’s conviction.
WORDS: 501 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 2:14 p.m. CDT
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US-MED–Medicaid-Immigration
Trump administration investigates Medicaid spending on immigrants in Democratic states
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is investigating Medicaid spending in at least six Democratic-led states that provide comprehensive health coverage to poor and disabled immigrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status. Public records obtained by KFF Health News and The Associated Press show the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking for waste, fraud or abuse. The federal letters to state health agencies in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington say CMS is reviewing federal and state payments for services like prescription drugs and specialty care. California is the biggest target after the state self-reported overcharging the government more than $500 million, spurring the threat of a lawsuit.
WORDS: 1589 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 8:12 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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US–Election 2026 Redistricting
Trump-backed plan to redraw Missouri congressional districts draws opposition at first hearing
SUMMARY: Some Missouri residents are denouncing a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts at the urging of President Donald Trump. Dozens of people attended the first public hearing for the plan on Thursday in the Missouri Legislature, speaking against it. Republicans are pressing ahead with a proposed map that would split up a Kansas City district to give the GOP a shot at winning seven of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. Missouri is the third state to join a national battle over redistricting, following Texas and California. More states could follow. Nationally, Democrats need to gain three seats in next year’s elections to win control of the House.
WORDS: 877 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 3:29 p.m. CDT
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US–Education-Girls in STEM
The gender gap in math widened in the pandemic. Schools are trying to make up lost ground
SUMMARY: Efforts to close the gender gap in STEM education are gaining momentum after setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide, the gap between girls and boys in math test scores had largely closed before the pandemic. But girls lost ground in math test scores during COVID. And the gap has continued to widen. Boys have recovered faster in math since the pandemic, partly due to teaching methods that experts say may favor them. Schools are now working to reintroduce programs that boost girls’ confidence and interest in STEM, aiming to rebuild progress lost during the pandemic.
WORDS: 1250 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–Public Lands-Mining
Republicans move to lift drilling and mining restrictions in Western states
SUMMARY: Republican lawmakers in Congress are moving to eliminate limits on energy development in several Western states. That would clear the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to sharply expand mining and drilling on public lands. House Republicans on Wednesday night voted to repeal development restrictions across large areas of Alaska, Montana and North Dakota. The repeals would reverse land use plans adopted in the closing days of former President Joe Biden’s administration that were meant to curb climate-warming fossil fuel emissions. Republicans want to create more jobs and revenue. Democrats had urged the rejection of the repeals. The Republican-majority Senate must still approve the House action.
WORDS: 717 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 9:56 a.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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REL–Sikh Truckers
A deadly crash, a divided nation: Why Sikh truckers are now in the crossfire
SUMMARY: Members of California’s Sikh trucking community say a deadly crash involving one of its own has led to a spike in anti-Sikh rhetoric. The Aug. 12 crash and its subsequent investigations sparked heated national debates over immigration and stirred arguments between the governors of California and Florida. California is home to about half of U.S. members of the monotheistic religion. Many of them covet high-paying trucking jobs because they allow Sikh men to wear beards, uncut hair and turbans. Sikh advocacy groups say they’re mourning for the victims of the crash. They’re also demanding a fair trial for the driver and condemning anti-Sikh discrimination.
WORDS: 1394 – MOVED: 09/05/2025 6:05 a.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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BKL–Fever-Clark Out For Season
Caitlin Clark to miss the rest of the Fever’s season because of a right groin injury
SUMMARY: Caitlin Clark will miss the rest of the Indiana Fever’s season because of a right groin injury. Said Clark in a statement: “I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark said in a statement. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty.” Clark was injured late in a July 15 game against the Connecticut Sun, and later sustained a bone bruise. She averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 13 games in her second season in the WNBA.
WORDS: 524 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 7:39 p.m. CDT
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KANSAS
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FBN–Chiefs-Brazil-Kelce-Swift
Travis Kelce on what’s changed since his engagement to Taylor Swift: ‘I got one more ring’
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs tight end and three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce was asked in Brazil how his life has changed since he announced his engagement to Taylor Swift. Kelce’s response: “I got one more ring for it.” The Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday in Sao Paulo. Kelce said at a news conference Thursday that he loves “when the lights are bright.” He did not mention whether Swift would attend the game. Several Brazilian media outlets have reported that local TV stations are preparing for that possibility.
WORDS: 594 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 10:29 a.m. CDT
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BBO–Royals-Lugo
Royals place right-hander Seth Lugo on IL because of lower back strain
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Seth Lugo on the 15-day Injured List on Thursday because of a lower back strain. The move is retroactive to Monday. Originally scheduled to start Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels, Lugo (8-7) was was scratched Wednesday because of back discomfort. Right-hander Stephen Kolek took Lugo’s roster spot. He was expected to start Saturday against Minnesota.
WORDS: 110 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 5:20 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Angels-Royals
Bobby Witt Jr.’s eighth inning homer helps KC avoid sweep
SUMMARY: Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 to avoid a sweep in a three-game series. The Royals hit four solo homers in a game where all seven runs came on home runs. Lucas Erceg (7-4) struck out two in one inning and Carlos Estévez picked up his major league-best 37th save. The Angels got on the board in the first on a three-run homer by Luis Rengifo. Adam Frazier, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals to tie it. Ryan Zeferjahn (6-5) took the loss.
WORDS: 352 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 9:05 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–Lynx-Aces
A’ja Wilson scores 31, Aces moves into a second-place tie in WNBA standings with win over Lynx
SUMMARY: A’ja Wilson had 31 points and eight rebounds, Jackie Young added 20 points and the Las Vegas Aces beat the first-place Minnesota Lynx 97-87 to set a franchise record with their 13th straight victory. Natisha Hiedeman scored 22 points off the bench for Minnesota while Courtney Williams added 14 points and Napheesa Collier had 12 points. Wilson scored 30-plus points for 12th time this season to tie a WNBA record. The Aces, who lost by 53 points to Minnesota in their last meeting on Aug. 2, became the seventh team in WNBA history to reach 13 wins in a row in a single season.
WORDS: 251 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 11:32 p.m. CDT
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BBO–White Sox-Twins
White Sox rally again to sweep Twins, win fifth straight
SUMMARY: Kyle Teel hit a three-run home run, Colson Montgomery homered and drove in three, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 11-8. Chase Meidroth had four hits, as the White Sox came back from three runs down for the second consecutive night against Minnesota to win their season-high fifth straight game. Wikelman González (1-0) struck out two and allowed no hits in 1 1/3 innings to earn his first career win in relief. Luke Keaschall had four hits and two runs scored for the Twins. Mickey Gasper had three RBIs, and Matt Wallner and Kody Clemens homered.
WORDS: 308 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 11:51 p.m. CDT
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BKO–Hall of Fame-Lynx
Lynx quartet: Moore and Fowles joining former Lynx teammates Whalen, Augustus in the Hall of Fame
SUMMARY: Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles helped lead Minnesota to WNBA greatness as part of the Lynx dynasty that won four titles in seven years. Now the two will enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend when they are enshrined as part of the 2025 class, along with Sue Bird. Moore and Fowles will join former teammates Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, who are already in the Hall of Fame. It’s the first time that four players from the same WNBA team will be in the Hall of Fame. The Boston Celtics hold the record with nine players from their 1962-63 NBA championship team in the Hall.
WORDS: 754 – MOVED: 09/05/2025 12:38 a.m. CDT
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BKL–Aces Turnaround
From worst home loss to 13-game win streak: The Aces are WNBA title contenders
SUMMARY: The Las Vegas Aces extended their winning streak to a franchise-record 13 games with a 97-87 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. This win highlights their strong postseason intentions, challenging the top-seeded Lynx. Coach Becky Hammon emphasizes the team’s resilience, especially after a tough loss to Minnesota on August 2. The Aces are now tied with Atlanta and Phoenix but hold the tiebreaker. Star forward A’ja Wilson, a three-time MVP, is making a strong case for the award again. The Aces, past champions, are determined to be contenders in the championship conversation.
WORDS: 604 – MOVED: 09/05/2025 1:02 a.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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FBN–Chiefs-Brazil-Kelce-Swift
Travis Kelce on what’s changed since his engagement to Taylor Swift: ‘I got one more ring’
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs tight end and three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce was asked in Brazil how his life has changed since he announced his engagement to Taylor Swift. Kelce’s response: “I got one more ring for it.” The Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday in Sao Paulo. Kelce said at a news conference Thursday that he loves “when the lights are bright.” He did not mention whether Swift would attend the game. Several Brazilian media outlets have reported that local TV stations are preparing for that possibility.
WORDS: 594 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 10:29 a.m. CDT
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BBO–Royals-Lugo
Royals place right-hander Seth Lugo on IL because of lower back strain
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Seth Lugo on the 15-day Injured List on Thursday because of a lower back strain. The move is retroactive to Monday. Originally scheduled to start Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels, Lugo (8-7) was was scratched Wednesday because of back discomfort. Right-hander Stephen Kolek took Lugo’s roster spot. He was expected to start Saturday against Minnesota.
WORDS: 110 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 5:20 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Angels-Royals
Bobby Witt Jr.’s eighth inning homer helps KC avoid sweep
SUMMARY: Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 to avoid a sweep in a three-game series. The Royals hit four solo homers in a game where all seven runs came on home runs. Lucas Erceg (7-4) struck out two in one inning and Carlos Estévez picked up his major league-best 37th save. The Angels got on the board in the first on a three-run homer by Luis Rengifo. Adam Frazier, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals to tie it. Ryan Zeferjahn (6-5) took the loss.
WORDS: 352 – MOVED: 09/04/2025 9:05 p.m. CDT
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