Great Plains News Digest
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KANSAS
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US–Abortion-Missouri
Missouri court orders new wording for ballot measure seeking to restrict abortion rights
SUMMARY: A Missouri appeals court panel has ordered new wording for a ballot measure seeking to roll back abortion rights in the state. The court ruled Thursday that Missouri voters must be informed the amendment would repeal “reproductive healthcare rights” that they approved just one year ago. The decision marks another twist in Missouri’s ongoing battle over abortion laws, which have shifted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Republican-led Legislature placed a new amendment on a 2026 ballot that would allow abortions only in specific cases. The appeals court found the previous ballot summary misleading and imposed new wording.
WORDS: 467 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 4:59 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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US–Federal Enforcement-Minnesota
Gov. Walz denounces Trump for calling Minnesota’s Somali community ‘garbage’
SUMMARY: Democratic Governor Tim Walz has denounced former President Donald Trump for his comments about Minnesota’s Somali community. Trump has called the community “garbage” and labeled the state a “hellhole.” Walz said Thursday these remarks slandered all Minnesotans and were unprecedented for a U.S. president. Republican legislative leaders stopped short of condemning Trump, instead criticizing Walz for not preventing fraud in social service programs. Trump’s comments followed a conservative news outlet’s misleading claims about fraud involving Somali Americans. Federal authorities have prepared an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota targeting a small fraction of Somalis living unlawfully in the U.S. Most foreign-born Somalis in the state are naturalized U.S. citizens.
WORDS: 926 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 5:55 p.m. CST
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Somalia-Trump-What to Know
What to know about Somalia as Trump wants Somalis in the US to leave
SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump has called Somali immigrants living in the United States “garbage” and wants them to leave. He has claimed without offering evidence that “they contribute nothing.” The crude language came Tuesday after a person familiar with the planning said federal authorities were preparing an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota primarily focusing on Somali immigrants. Somalia is also one of the countries where the Trump administration this week paused all immigration applications. The Horn of Africa nation remains fragile after three decades of civil war and ongoing threats by al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabab. Climate change makes the country even more vulnerable.
WORDS: 655 – MOVED: 12/03/2025 11:37 a.m. CST
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US–Trump-Dehumanizing Discourse
Trump ventures deeper into anti-immigrant language by calling people from Somalia ‘garbage’
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants in the U.S. “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. This marks a continuation of his inflammatory language, which began with his campaign announcement a decade ago. Trump’s remarks have drawn condemnation from various quarters, including Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar. Critics argue that Trump’s language legitimizes xenophobia and has a significant impact on public perception. Despite backlash, Trump maintains strong support among Republicans and continues to push his immigration agenda. His rhetoric contrasts with global leaders who have softened their language to broaden appeal.
WORDS: 1230 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 11:00 p.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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US–Abortion-Missouri
Missouri court orders new wording for ballot measure seeking to restrict abortion rights
SUMMARY: A Missouri appeals court panel has ordered new wording for a ballot measure seeking to roll back abortion rights in the state. The court ruled Thursday that Missouri voters must be informed the amendment would repeal “reproductive healthcare rights” that they approved just one year ago. The decision marks another twist in Missouri’s ongoing battle over abortion laws, which have shifted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Republican-led Legislature placed a new amendment on a 2026 ballot that would allow abortions only in specific cases. The appeals court found the previous ballot summary misleading and imposed new wording.
WORDS: 467 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 4:59 p.m. CST
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US–Election 2025-Tennessee-Divided Cities
Tennessee special election shows the power of partisan gerrymandering as Trump pushes for more of it
SUMMARY: A special congressional election in Tennessee this week highlights the power and consequences of partisan gerrymandering. Tennessee Republican Matt Van Epps won the election Tuesday in a district drawn to favor the GOP despite an aggressive effort by Democrats. His district is one of three Nashville area seats created several years ago when the Republican-led General Assembly redrew voting districts to split up the city’s Democratic-held seat. Republicans have pursued similar strategies this year in states such as Texas, Missouri and Indiana as President Donald Trump pushes for mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Voters whose districts will be redrawn have expressed concern that they may not be adequately represented.
WORDS: 1239 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 3:00 p.m. CST
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US–US-Steel-Granite-City
US Steel to resume steel production at Illinois plant shut 3 years ago
SUMMARY: U.S. Steel says it’ll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand. The company made the announcement Thursday. It shut down the last blast furnace there in 2023. However, U.S. Steel says it can profitably operate the blast furnace to meet 2026 demand. The American Iron and Steel Institute reports that shipments from domestic steel mills are up this year. The move by Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel comes months after Japan-based Nippon Steel sealed a deal with President Donald Trump to buy the American steelmaker for $14.9 billion. Granite City Works makes rolls of sheet steel for the construction, container, pipe and automotive industries.
WORDS: 433 – MOVED: 12/05/2025 10:46 a.m. CST
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NEBRASKA
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US–Transportation Boards Firings-Discrimination
Black men who were fired from key transportation boards accuse Trump of a pattern of discrimination
SUMMARY: Two Black men who were fired by President Donald Trump from the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board accused the administration Thursday of discriminating against them as part of a pattern of dismissing Black leaders. Robert Primus on the STB and Alvin Brown on the NTSB were the only Black board members of their officially independent agencies when they were fired. The White House didn’t immediately respond to the new legal filing, but it has said that Trump was well within his legal rights to fire Primus and Brown because the president should be able to pick his team at every executive agency.
WORDS: 640 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 10:36 a.m. CST
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SPORTS
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KANSAS
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FBC–Kansas St-Klein
Collin Klein hired as Kansas State coach after Chris Klieman’s retirement
SUMMARY: Kansas State has hired former quarterback and current Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein as its football coach. The move Thursday night comes one day after Chris Klieman’s abrupt retirement following seven seasons leading the Wildcats. Klein will continue working with the Aggies during the College Football Playoff if they are selected. At the same time, he’ll be building out his staff and laying the groundwork at Kansas State. Texas A&M was seventh in the CFP rankings released Tuesday night. Klein has never been a head coach, but Kansas State fans have been eager for him to return. He agreed to a five-year deal with an average salary of $4.3 million.
WORDS: 801 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 8:32 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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FBN–Vikings-McCarthy
McCarthy welcomes his latest return at QB for the Vikings, this time with a clearer mind
SUMMARY: J.J. McCarthy has returned to the lineup for the Minnesota Vikings refreshed after an injury absence with a better perspective on his development. That’s a repeated scenario from earlier this season for the struggling Vikings and their 22-year-old quarterback. McCarthy is back from a concussion this week. Coach Kevin O’Connell has decided the weekly game plan needs to include fewer plays for now. The passing mechanics they’ve worked with McCarthy so exhaustively on can be shelved until spring. The Vikings just want McCarthy to play with “a clear head and a clear mind” over the rest of the season.
WORDS: 656 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 6:36 p.m. CST
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HKN–Wild-Flames
Dustin Wolf makes 26 saves, Flames slow surging Wild with 4-1 victory
SUMMARY: Dustin Wolf made 26 saves, Jonathan Huberdeau ended a scoring drought and the Calgary Flames beat the surging Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Thursday night. The Flames handed the Wild their first regulation loss since Nov. 6. Minnesota was 10-0-2 during the run. After 14 games without a goal, Huberdeau struck first for Calgary in the second period. Matt Coronato, Connor Zary and Rasmus Andersson scored in the third, with Andersson icing it with an empty-netter. Wolf was back in goal after three straight starts for Devin Cooley, although Wolf played the last period Tuesday night in a 5-1 loss in Nashville. Yakov Trenin scored for Minnesota, and Filip Gustavsson made 26 saves.
WORDS: 170 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 10:56 p.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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SOC–MLS-Relegation
Garber doesn’t rule out relegation in MLS but makes clear it’s years or decades away
SUMMARY: Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has not ruled out adopting relegation and promotion. However, he emphasizes that such a decision is years or decades away. MLS launched in 1996 with 10 teams and currently has 30 in a closed system. Garber says relegation doesn’t work for MLS due to the significant investments owners have made. The United Soccer League plans to start a top-tier league in 2027-28 with a promotion/relegation system. Garber, who turned 68 in October, has been commissioner since 1999. He agreed to a contract through the 2027 season and says he hasn’t thought about staying beyond that.
WORDS: 775 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 7:56 p.m. CST
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HKN–Blues-Bruins
Zacha scores twice, Korpisalo makes 37 saves in Bruins’ 5-2 win over Blues
SUMMARY: Paval Zacha scored twice, Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves and the Boston Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Thursday night. Morgan Geekie had goal and two assists. Viktor Arvidsson and Alex Steeves also scored, and Elias Lindholm assisted on Boston’s first two goals. Pavel Buchnevich and Dylan Holloway scored for St. Louis. The Blues have dropped eight of their past 11 games. Jordan Binnington made 22 saves in the building where he backstopped St. Louis to a Game 7 win over Boston in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.
WORDS: 338 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 8:47 p.m. CST
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SOC–WCup Draw
World Cup draw ceremony underway as FIFA awards peace prize to Trump
SUMMARY: FIFA took time during its World Cup draw to issue its first peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been frustrated by failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize. FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise. “This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said. There was a wintry feel as snow fell outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
WORDS: 337 – MOVED: 12/05/2025 9:42 a.m. CST
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OKLAHOMA
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FBN–Cowboys-Lamb
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb leaves Lions game with concussion, George Pickens doesn’t pick up the slack
SUMMARY: Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb sustained a concussion against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Lamb leaped for a pass in the third quarter and he landed hard on the turf. He had six catches for 121 yards, giving him 57 receptions for 865 yards and three touchdowns this season.
WORDS: 142 – MOVED: 12/04/2025 9:28 p.m. CST
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