Great Plains News Digest
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MINNESOTA
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US–Pride Parades
NYC, San Francisco and other US cities cap LGBTQ+ Pride month with a mix of party and protest
SUMMARY: The monthlong celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride has reached its crescendo as New York and other major cities around the world hosted major parades and marches. Sunday’s festivities in Manhattan, home to the nation’s oldest and largest Pride celebration, featured a march that passed the landmark Stonewall Inn. In San Francisco, marchers headed down the city’s central Market Street. Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis and Toronto, Canada, were among the other major North American cities that hosted Pride parades Sunday. Organizers said this year’s events took a more defiant stance than previous years in the face of rollbacks of LGBTQ+ friendly policies.
WORDS: 805 – MOVED: 06/28/2025 10:57 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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US–Congress-Nebraska-Bacon
Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon cites political dysfunction in deciding not to seek reelection
SUMMARY: Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has announced he will not seek reelection next year. The 61-year-old Bacon announced Monday that he would not seek a sixth term in the U.S. House. Bacon recently indicated he was considering retiring from public service, saying he wanted to spend more time with family. But when pressed, he acknowledged that divisions within his own party contributed to his decision. The political climate is rapidly changing in Bacon’s district. It’s centered in Omaha and voters there recently rejected a fourth term for their Republican mayor in favor of her Democratic opponent.
WORDS: 764 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 10:07 a.m. CDT
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–State Budget Uncertainty
States brace for impact as Trump’s big bill nears completion in Congress
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s tax cut bill could have large implications for states. The legislation nearing completion in Congress could reduce federal funding to states for Medicaid and food assistance programs. But in many states, it’s too late to do much about it this year. Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though a few are still working, many state legislatures already have adjourned and had to craft a budget without knowing whether their federal funding would be cut. Some states have set aside money as a precaution. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions.
WORDS: 978 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 8:50 a.m. CDT
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–Election 2026-South Dakota-Governor
US Rep. Dusty Johnson announces he’s entering race to become South Dakota governor
SUMMARY: South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House, Dusty Johnson, has announced that he is entering the race to become South Dakota governor in the 2026 election. Johnson was sharing his plans Monday at a Sioux Falls hotel. He has served in the House of Representatives since 2019, succeeding Kristi Noem’s congressional tenure. Johnson will fight in a crowded primary next June against a state representative and a businessman. He may also be challenged by current governor Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem in January after she joined Trump’s cabinet. Johnson first entered elected office in 2004 when he became the youngest public utilities commissioner in the country.
WORDS: 380 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 12:05 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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KANSAS
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BBO–Guardians-Arias Injured
Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias taken off the field on cart with left ankle sprain
SUMMARY: Cleveland Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias was taken off the field on a cart after sustaining a left ankle sprain in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Arias went deep into the hole to field a grounder hit by Masyn Winn with one out, but caught his left spike on the grass and awkwardly rolled his ankle. The ball wound up in left field for a single. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder immediately grabbed his lower leg and remained prone on the field for several minutes.
WORDS: 163 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 12:15 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cardinals-Guardians
Cards complete 3-game sweep of Guardians with 7-0 victory
SUMMARY: Nolan Gorman belted a three-run homer, Victor Scott II had a two-run shot and Matthew Liberatore won his career-high third straight start and the St. Louis Cardinals rolled to a 7-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians. St. Louis has won six straight on the road, its longest run under fourth-year manager Oliver Marmol. The Cardinals completed their initial series sweep of Cleveland by a 21-6 margin in the three games. Liberatore tossed six innings, striking out five while allowing three hits and five walks. Cleveland went 1-5 on its homestand and fell two games below .500 for the first time since April 8.
WORDS: 375 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 2:17 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Dodgers-Royals
Dodgers’ Hernández and Smith homer, Wrobleski pitches 6 innings of 3-hit ball in 5-1 win over Royals
SUMMARY: Kiké Hernández hit a two-run homer and Will Smith also went deep to send the Dodgers to a rain-delayed 5-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday. Justin Wrobleski tossed six innings of three-hit ball in place of opener Lou Trivino, and Kirby Yates and Jack Dreyer finished off the dominant performance by the Los Angeles bullpen. Kris Bubic allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings for Kansas City. Both teams paid homage to the Negro Leagues, whose museum sits less than 10 miles from Kauffman Stadium. The Dodgers wore hats from their Brooklyn days out of respect for Jackie Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs. The Royals wore the Monarchs’ hats.
WORDS: 384 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 4:43 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–WNBA All-Star Captains
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier chosen as captains of WNBA All-Star Game by fan vote
SUMMARY: Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will captain the WNBA All-Star Game next month the league announced Sunday. Clark received 1,293,526 votes from fans while Collier had about 100,000 fewer. The pair will draft their fellow starters from a group that will be revealed on Monday. The Indiana Fever star, who is sidelined with a groin strain, is averaging 18.2 points and a career-high 8.9 assists per game. She also led the fan voting last season, her rookie year, but the All-Star format was the U.S. Olympic team playing against a select group of WNBA stars so no captains were chosen.
WORDS: 502 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 3:12 p.m. CDT
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BKN–Timberwolves-Randle
Julius Randle, Timberwolves finalizing 3-year contract that could reach $100 million, AP source says
SUMMARY: Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a new deal that could keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Sunday. The final year of the deal will be at Randle’s option and, if it is exercised, could push the total value of the contract to $100 million, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side announced the agreement. ESPN and The Athletic first reported the agreement.
WORDS: 311 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 12:49 p.m. CDT
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SOC–Gold Cup-Guatemala-Canada
Guatemala upsets Canada on penalty kicks in Gold Cup quarterfinal thriller
SUMMARY: José Morales sent Guatemala to the semifinals of the Gold Cup with the clincher over Canada in a 6-5 penalty-kick decision after a 1-1 regulation draw. Rubio Rubín scored the tying goal in the 69th minute for Guatemala. Jonathan David scored on a penalty kick in the 30th minute for Canada. Guatemala went second during the seven-round shootout and nearly blew it when José Pinto sailed his shot over the net after Kenderson Navarro made a save to start the sixth round. Morales won it going straight as Dayne St. Clair dived left after Canada’s Luc Rollet hit the crossbar.
WORDS: 440 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 6:13 p.m. CDT
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BKL–Sun-Lynx
Collier has 23 points, McBride 20 as Lynx dominate Sun 102-63
SUMMARY: Napheesa Collier scored 23 points, Kayla McBride added 20 and the Minnesota Lynx rolled to a 102-63 win over Connecticut on Sunday, the Sun’s ninth straight loss. Ahead by 10 after one quarter, the Lynx scored the first 21 points of the second to lead 50-26 at halftime. Collier had 15 points in the third quarter, when Minnesota outscored the Sun 27-15. Courtney Williams had 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Lynx (14-2), who are 8-0 at home. Minnesota had 11 of 12 players score on the way to a season-high total. Only Karlie Samuelson, who sustained an ankle injury after playing three minutes in the first half, did not score.
WORDS: 240 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 8:23 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Twins-Tigers
Skubal strikes out 13, wins 10th straight decision as Tigers beat Twins 3-0
SUMMARY: Tarik Skubal struck out 13 hitters in seven innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0. Skubal (10-2) only allowed one hit — a clean single to right by Ty France in the fifth inning — as he improved to 10-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last 15 starts. The last double-digit streak in one season by a Detroit lefty was Earl Whitehill’s 11-start stretch in 1930. The strikeouts matched Skubal’s career high, last done on May 25 in his 94-pitch shutout against the Guardians. Will Vest pitched the ninth to pick up his 13th save. Chris Paddack (3-7) gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings for the Twins.
WORDS: 327 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 8:43 p.m. CDT
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SOC–Gold Cup-Costa Rica-US
US gets past Costa Rica in Gold Cup quarterfinals on penalty kicks
SUMMARY: Damion Downs scored in the sixth round of a shootout after three saves by Matt Freese, sending the U.S. to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 4-3 penalty-kicks win over Costa Rica after a a 2-2 tie. The U.S. advanced to a Wednesday matchup in St. Louis against Guatemala, which upset Canada on penalty kicks in the opener of the quarterfinal doubleheader. Mexico plays Honduras in the other semifinal on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California. The championship is in Houston on July 6. The U.S. has reached the semifinals in 17 of 18 Gold Cups, including 13 straight since losing a quarterfinal to Colombia on penalty kicks in 2000.
WORDS: 559 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 8:33 p.m. CDT
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SOC–Gold Cup-US-Freese
Matt Freese shined in his shootout moment, and the Americans are moving onto the Gold Cup semifinals
SUMMARY: Matt Freese made three saves in six shootout attempts to lead the U.S. to victory over Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. He used a college research project on penalty kicks to help him prepare for this match. The 26-year-old native of Pennsylvania has displaced for now 2022 World Cup and 2023 Gold Cup starter Matt Turner. Freese knocked away shootout attempts by Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo and Andy Rojas as the Americans won 4-3 after a 2-2 tie in regulation. The U.S. plays Guatamela in the semifinals.
WORDS: 705 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 11:23 p.m. CDT
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HKN–Wild-Arena Name
Wild now play at Grand Casino Arena after new naming rights deal succeeds Xcel Energy Center
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Wild will play the upcoming season at Grand Casino Arena after a naming rights deal with the tribal gaming and hospitality company that succeeds the venue’s original name, Xcel Energy Center. The Wild on Monday announced the 14-year agreement with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe that takes effect in September. The tribe operates two casino-resort complexes north of the Twin Cities. The arena has about 18,000 seats for hockey. It opened in 2000 for the Wild’s inaugural season in the NHL on a 25-year naming rights deal with Xcel Energy that expired this summer.
WORDS: 184 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 10:55 a.m. CDT
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HKN–Free Agency
Wild trade for Tarasenko and Mammoth send Maccelli to Maple Leafs on eve of NHL free agency
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Wild got two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko for nothing on the eve of NHL free agency. The Wild acquired Tarasenko from Detroit for future considerations. The Utah Mammoth also traded young forward Matias Maccelli to Toronto for a conditional 2027 third-round pick. The moves came with the league awaiting what happens with Maple Leafs pending free agent Mitch Marner and who the back-to-back defending champion Florida Panthers are able to bring back between Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad.
WORDS: 205 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 12:42 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Guardians-Arias Injured
Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias taken off the field on cart with left ankle sprain
SUMMARY: Cleveland Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias was taken off the field on a cart after sustaining a left ankle sprain in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Arias went deep into the hole to field a grounder hit by Masyn Winn with one out, but caught his left spike on the grass and awkwardly rolled his ankle. The ball wound up in left field for a single. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder immediately grabbed his lower leg and remained prone on the field for several minutes.
WORDS: 163 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 12:15 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Cardinals-Guardians
Cards complete 3-game sweep of Guardians with 7-0 victory
SUMMARY: Nolan Gorman belted a three-run homer, Victor Scott II had a two-run shot and Matthew Liberatore won his career-high third straight start and the St. Louis Cardinals rolled to a 7-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians. St. Louis has won six straight on the road, its longest run under fourth-year manager Oliver Marmol. The Cardinals completed their initial series sweep of Cleveland by a 21-6 margin in the three games. Liberatore tossed six innings, striking out five while allowing three hits and five walks. Cleveland went 1-5 on its homestand and fell two games below .500 for the first time since April 8.
WORDS: 375 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 2:17 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Dodgers-Royals
Dodgers’ Hernández and Smith homer, Wrobleski pitches 6 innings of 3-hit ball in 5-1 win over Royals
SUMMARY: Kiké Hernández hit a two-run homer and Will Smith also went deep to send the Dodgers to a rain-delayed 5-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday. Justin Wrobleski tossed six innings of three-hit ball in place of opener Lou Trivino, and Kirby Yates and Jack Dreyer finished off the dominant performance by the Los Angeles bullpen. Kris Bubic allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings for Kansas City. Both teams paid homage to the Negro Leagues, whose museum sits less than 10 miles from Kauffman Stadium. The Dodgers wore hats from their Brooklyn days out of respect for Jackie Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs. The Royals wore the Monarchs’ hats.
WORDS: 384 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 4:43 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKN–Thunder-Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder sign Jaylin Williams to multi-year extension after championship season
SUMMARY: The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed reserve big man Jaylin Williams to a multi-year extension. The team announced the move Sunday. Williams started nine games this past season and produced triple-doubles in three of them. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 16.7 minutes per game for the championship-winning Thunder. Oklahoma City took Williams with the 34th pick in the 2022 draft. ESPN reports that the deal for Williams is for three years and $24 million, with the third season a team option.
WORDS: 94 – MOVED: 06/29/2025 3:22 p.m. CDT
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US–Supreme Court-Transgender Issues
Supreme Court throws out appellate rulings in favor of transgender people in 4 states
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court has thrown out appellate rulings in favor of transgender people in four states following the justices’ recent decision upholding a Tennessee ban on certain medical treatment for transgender youths. But the justices took no action Monday in cases from Arizona, Idaho and West Virginia involving the participation of transgender students on school sports teams. The court could say by Thursday whether it’ll take up the issue in its next term. The high court ordered appellate judges to reexamine cases from Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma and West Virginia involving access to medical care and birth certificates. Those rulings all found violations of the Constitution’s equal protection clause, the legal question raised in the Tennessee case.
WORDS: 332 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 9:09 a.m. CDT
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BKN–Thunder-Williams Surgery
Jalen Williams is set for wrist surgery after managing injury through Thunder’s title run
SUMMARY: Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti says Jalen Williams plans to have surgery on his right wrist after tearing a ligament before the Thunder started their run to a championship. Williams played in all 23 postseason games. He scored a playoff career-high 40 points in a Game 5 win over Indiana in the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City won the series in seven. Presti says Williams is expected to be ready for next season. Williams missed the final two games of the regular season.
WORDS: 306 – MOVED: 06/30/2025 12:10 p.m. CDT
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