Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Minnesota Lawmakers Shot-Dog Honored
A slain Minnesota lawmaker’s beloved dog, Gilbert, stays with her as she and her spouse lie in state
SUMMARY: Minnesota is honoring a murdered Minnesota legislator’s golden retriever named Gilbert along with her and her husband by having him lie in state with them at the state Capitol. The honor Friday for Gilbert made him the first known dog or non-human to lie in state there. The murdered legislator, state Rep. Melissa Hortman, is the first woman to lie in state, joined by her husband, Mark. They were gunned down June 14 in their home in Brooklyn Park by a man posing as a police officer. Gilbert was badly injured and later put down. Hortman was the Minnesota House’s Democratic leader and a former speaker.
WORDS: 373 – MOVED: 06/27/2025 12:23 p.m. CDT
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US–Minnesota-Lawmakers Shot
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman lies in state as shooting suspect appears in court
SUMMARY: Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman is laying in state at the Minnesota Capitol rotunda. Hortman, her husband, and their dog were killed in a June 14 attack. A private funeral is set for Saturday. Former Vice President Kamala Harris plans to attend. The suspect, Vance Boelter, who is charged with murder and attempted murder, appeared in federal court Friday in a suicide prevention suit, but denied being suicidal. His hearing was continued until next Thursday at his attorney’s request. Prosecutors allege Boelter targeted multiple Democrats in what they call a political assassination. He could face the federal death penalty.
WORDS: 1045 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 11:06 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Florida-Alcatraz-Protest
Native leaders blast construction of Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ on land they call sacred
SUMMARY: Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is racing ahead with construction of a makeshift immigration detention facility at an airstrip in the Everglades over the opposition of Native American leaders who consider the area their sacred ancestral homelands. A string of portable generators and dump trucks loaded with fill dirt streamed into the site on Thursday, a witness told The Associated Press. The state plans to build a compound of heavy-duty tents, trailers and other temporary buildings at the county-owned airfield located in the Big Cypress National Preserve, about 45 miles west of downtown Miami.
WORDS: 625 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 2:51 p.m. CDT
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US–Kennedy-Oklahoma
Oklahoma seeks to exclude soda, candy from food stamp purchases
SUMMARY: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says the state is seeking federal permission to exclude soft drinks and candy from the list of items that can be purchased with food stamps. Stitt made the announcement Thursday at the state Capitol with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Oklahoma would join several other states that already have sought federal waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of items like soda and energy drinks. Stitt also signed an executive order calling into question the appropriateness of mandatory fluoridation of public drinking water and the use of commonly used artificial food coloring
WORDS: 324 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 3:48 p.m. CDT
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ENT–Obit–Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91
SUMMARY: Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television’s most honored journalists, has died at 91. His career ranged from President Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary to newspaper publisher and senior news analyst at CBS News. But it was for public television that Moyers produced some of TV’s most intelligent and provocative programs. During hundreds of hours on PBS, he proved at home with subjects ranging from government corruption to modern dance, from drug addiction to media consolidation, from religion to environmental abuse. He called himself a “citizen journalist.”
WORDS: 1265 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 3:08 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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KANSAS
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BBO–Royals-Witt-WBC
Team USA’s Bobby Witt Jr. ready for bigger role in 2026 World Baseball Classic
SUMMARY: Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is going to again play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He certainly will have a bigger role than last time. Witt announced Thursday that he’s committed to playing for the United States in the 2026 WBC. When part of Team USA in 2023, he was 22, coming off a standout rookie MLB season and the youngest player on the team. He was was a bench player who went 1 for 2 at the plate. Witt was the runner-up to Yankees slugger and Team USA captain Aaron Judge in the American League MVP voting last season.
WORDS: 281 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 1:28 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Rays-Royals
Shane Baz goes 8 scoreless in longest start of career as Rays blank Royals 4-0 for 3-game sweep
SUMMARY: Shane Baz allowed three hits over a career-best eight innings, Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero hit back-to-back homers in the sixth, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 on Thursday for a three-game sweep. Baz struck out nine and walked one. Jacob Lowe had three hits for the Rays, and Jake Mangum hit a run-scoring triple. Tampa Bay has won five of six to move a season-high 11 games above .500 and a half-game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who were off Thursday. Tampa Bay starters have thrown 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
WORDS: 335 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 3:57 p.m. CDT
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US-Stadiums-Royals-Chiefs
Chiefs seek extension for Kansas stadium financing, raising possibility of move across state line
SUMMARY: The Chiefs have requested an extension to the end-of-June deadline for a stadium financing package from the state of Kansas in a letter to the Kansas Senate president. The request Thursday is an indication that the NFL franchise’s potential move across the state line from Missouri is a legitimate possibility. Many believed that once Missouri lawmakers approved a financing package earlier this month, the Chiefs would ultimately renovate Arrowhead Stadium. But the deal from Kansas lawmakers may prove too lucrative to pass up. Donovan says there has been “significant progress” on plans for a new domed stadium, team headquarters, practice facility and mixed-use entertainment district.
WORDS: 789 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 5:25 p.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Draft-2026 Lookahead
Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer headline list of top lottery candidates for 2026 NBA draft
SUMMARY: BYU signee AJ Dybantsa and Kansas recruit Darryn Peterson are the headliners when it comes to looking at potential NBA lottery candidates for the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa has been a favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick as the top-ranked recruit for ESPN, On3 and Rivals. Peterson is a 6-5 combo guard who headlines 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. Duke signee Cameron Boozer, Tennessee’s Nate Ament and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson are all potential one-and-done picks with high-end pro potential. Other names to watch include Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintaince and Alabama’s Labaron Philon as sophomores returning to the college ranks.
WORDS: 1064 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 11:32 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BBO–Twins-Lewis
Twins’ Royce Lewis to begin rehab assignment for hamstring strain
SUMMARY: Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul two weeks after he strained his left hamstring. Lewis will be the designated hitter for the Saints on Friday. He was hurt while running out a grounder on June 13 in a game at Houston. This was a milder recurrence of the injury he suffered during spring training that cost him the first 35 games of the season and required a six-week recovery. Lewis has played in only 182 regular-season games since making his major league debut in 2022.
WORDS: 235 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 1:31 p.m. CDT
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HKN–Trades Rdp
Panthers get goalie Daniil Tarasov from Blue Jackets, Wild trade center Freddy Gaudreau to Kraken
SUMMARY: The back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round draft pick. The deal gives them a young backup for fellow Russian Sergei Bobrovsky who could potentially become his successor. Tarasov’s father was Bobrovsky’s mentor and they come from the same town in Siberia. In other moves around the NHL, the Minnesota Wild traded center Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth-rounder. Gaudreau has three years left on his contract at an annual salary cap hit of $2.1 million.
WORDS: 506 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 11:47 a.m. CDT
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BBO–Mariners-Garver
Mariners’ Garver leaves game after foul ball off mask, forcing Raleigh to catch and forfeit DH
SUMMARY: Seattle catcher Mitch Garver was removed from the game at Minnesota after a foul ball hit his mask in the fifth inning. That forced star Cal Raleigh to finish behind the plate and the Mariners to forfeit their designated hitter. Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock threw a 94 mph fastball to start against Twins right fielder Matt Wallner. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound slugger knocked Garver’s mask off when he sharply fouled it off. The Mariners carefully examined Garver before deciding to pull him out. Garver missed time with a concussion after being hit by a foul ball in 2018 with the Twins.
WORDS: 208 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 6:40 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Mariners-Twins
Twins top Mariners 10-1 after spark from Woods Richardson’s strong start and Larnach’s homer
SUMMARY: Trevor Larnach homered with three RBIs after Simeon Woods Richardson started with five scoreless innings, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 10-1 after a rain delay of 4 hours and 22 minutes. Brooks Lee led off an eight-run sixth against reliever Zach Pop with a home run. Then came RBI doubles from Byron Buxton and Willi Castro, a two-run single by Carlos Correa and a two-run homer from Matt Wallner in the highest-scoring inning for the Twins since a nine-run first in 2023. The Twins won consecutive games for the first time since taking three straight from June 3-5.
WORDS: 355 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 7:18 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Twins-Ryan
Joe Ryan is pitching like the ace the struggling Twins badly need
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Twins recently held a special meeting for their pitching staff to address the failures, frustrations and path forward. Joe Ryan followed it up with a stellar start they badly needed. Ryan has unquestionably become the staff ace with Pablo López shelved because of a shoulder injury until perhaps September. The 29-year-old right-hander is well on track for his first All-Star selection. He has a career-best 2.86 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 91 innings. The Twins had the worst ERA in baseball over an 18-game stretch before Ryan beat the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
WORDS: 556 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 4:46 p.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Draft
NBA draft resumes with trades, early selections of All-Americans Broome and Kalkbrenner
SUMMARY: The NBA draft resumed with a trade and the deals appeared likely to continue throughout the second round. The Phoenix Suns opened it by taking Rasheer Fleming after agreeing to acquire the pick earlier Thursday from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves still made the No. 31 pick, but Phoenix and Minnesota had worked out the swap a few hours earlier, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not officially announced. Among the familiar names going early in the second round were Auburn All-American Johni Broome to Philadelphia at No. 35, one pick after Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner.
WORDS: 756 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 12:58 p.m. CDT
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BKN–NBA Draft-Northwest Division
T-wolves trade down twice in quiet 2nd round for Northwest, after getting French big Beringer in 1st
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Timberwolves had the first pick in the second round of the NBA draft and were fully prepared to field multiple offers for the 31st overall selection. They kept their first-rounder at No. 17 for 6-foot-11 project Joan Beringer from France before yielding to the trade calls during the second round. The Wolves moved down twice and wound up with another international big man in the 7-foot-2 Rocco Zikarsky from Australia at the 45th overall spot. Defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder took Northwestern wing Brooks Barnhizer at No. 44.
WORDS: 1100 – MOVED: 06/25/2025 10:27 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Royals-Witt-WBC
Team USA’s Bobby Witt Jr. ready for bigger role in 2026 World Baseball Classic
SUMMARY: Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is going to again play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He certainly will have a bigger role than last time. Witt announced Thursday that he’s committed to playing for the United States in the 2026 WBC. When part of Team USA in 2023, he was 22, coming off a standout rookie MLB season and the youngest player on the team. He was was a bench player who went 1 for 2 at the plate. Witt was the runner-up to Yankees slugger and Team USA captain Aaron Judge in the American League MVP voting last season.
WORDS: 281 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 1:28 p.m. CDT
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US–Super-Bowl-Flag-Protest
Super Bowl halftime performer arrested after police say he held flag stating ‘Sudan and Free Gaza.’
SUMMARY: Louisiana State police say a performer at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance in February has been arrested. He’s accused of holding up a Sudanese flag with the message “Sudan and Free Gaza.” The arrest comes after New Orleans police said shortly after the football game at Caesars Superdome that the cast member would not face charges. A Louisiana State Police spokeswoman did not immediately return a message Thursday. The performer, 41-year-old Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu of New Orleans was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. He faces charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly.
WORDS: 486 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 3:03 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Rays-Royals
Shane Baz goes 8 scoreless in longest start of career as Rays blank Royals 4-0 for 3-game sweep
SUMMARY: Shane Baz allowed three hits over a career-best eight innings, Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero hit back-to-back homers in the sixth, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 on Thursday for a three-game sweep. Baz struck out nine and walked one. Jacob Lowe had three hits for the Rays, and Jake Mangum hit a run-scoring triple. Tampa Bay has won five of six to move a season-high 11 games above .500 and a half-game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who were off Thursday. Tampa Bay starters have thrown 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
WORDS: 335 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 3:57 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cubs-Cardinals
Shota Imanaga throws 5 sharp innings in return from injury as Cubs beat Cardinals 3-0
SUMMARY: Shota Imanaga returned from the injured list to throw five innings of one-hit ball, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals for a split of a four-game series. Michael Busch homered and singled and Carson Kelly also had two hits for the NL Central-leading Cubs. St. Louis was shut out in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Five Chicago pitchers combined on a three-hitter. A left hamstring strain cost Imanaga nearly two months. In his Busch Stadium debut, Imanaga gave up a first-inning single to Masyn Winn and then retired 10 batters before issuing his lone walk.
WORDS: 352 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 4:25 p.m. CDT
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US-Stadiums-Royals-Chiefs
Chiefs seek extension for Kansas stadium financing, raising possibility of move across state line
SUMMARY: The Chiefs have requested an extension to the end-of-June deadline for a stadium financing package from the state of Kansas in a letter to the Kansas Senate president. The request Thursday is an indication that the NFL franchise’s potential move across the state line from Missouri is a legitimate possibility. Many believed that once Missouri lawmakers approved a financing package earlier this month, the Chiefs would ultimately renovate Arrowhead Stadium. But the deal from Kansas lawmakers may prove too lucrative to pass up. Donovan says there has been “significant progress” on plans for a new domed stadium, team headquarters, practice facility and mixed-use entertainment district.
WORDS: 789 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 5:25 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cubs-Imanaga
Cubs’ Shota Imanaga pitches 5 scoreless innings vs. Cardinals in return from left hamstring strain
SUMMARY: Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings against St. Louis in his return from a strained left hamstring that had sidelined him since May 4. The Cubs went on to win 3-0. Imanaga, a 31-year-old from Japan in his second season with Chicago, was activated from the 15-day injured list to pitch against the Cardinals on Thursday. He threw 77 pitches, 49 for strikes, and allowed one hit — a first-inning single to Masyn Winn. After that, he retired 10 straight batters before issuing his lone walk. Imanaga struck out three. He left with a 2-0 lead, dropping his ERA to 2.54.
WORDS: 641 – MOVED: 06/26/2025 12:47 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–NBA Draft-Northwest Division
T-wolves trade down twice in quiet 2nd round for Northwest, after getting French big Beringer in 1st
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Timberwolves had the first pick in the second round of the NBA draft and were fully prepared to field multiple offers for the 31st overall selection. They kept their first-rounder at No. 17 for 6-foot-11 project Joan Beringer from France before yielding to the trade calls during the second round. The Wolves moved down twice and wound up with another international big man in the 7-foot-2 Rocco Zikarsky from Australia at the 45th overall spot. Defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder took Northwestern wing Brooks Barnhizer at No. 44.
WORDS: 1100 – MOVED: 06/25/2025 10:27 p.m. CDT
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