Great Plains News Digest
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NEBRASKA
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US–Congress-Town Hall-Nebraska
GOP congressman faces heated town hall where hundreds boo him for supporting Trump’s big bill
SUMMARY: Republican congressman Mike Flood has gotten an earful during a Nebraska town hall held to defend his support of President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts law. Flood braved the ire of a Democratic-leaning college town audience dominated by hundreds of people intent on expressing their displeasure chiefly with cuts to Medicaid benefits and tax reductions tilted toward the wealthy. Flood described the law Monday in Lincoln as less than perfect but stood firm on its Medicaid and tax provisions, fueling a barrage of jeers and chants from the hostile audience. How voters receive the law could go a long way to determine whether Republicans keep power in next year’s midterm elections.
WORDS: 796 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 9:29 a.m. CDT
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NORTH DAKOTA
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US–Massive Mural
An Australian artist is painting huge murals on silos in the US Midwest
SUMMARY: A huge grain elevator and silo in North Dakota are the site of a massive mural by an Australian artist. Guido van Helten has been working on the project in Minot for over a year, and when it’s finished, it will be visible across town. He has painted similar murals in the U.S. Midwest as well as in other countries around the world. The artist says that when he creates murals on large, old structures, “it becomes part of the landscape.” The mural will cost about $350,000 and will be covered through donations.
WORDS: 698 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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US–Executions-Glance
A look at the status of US executions in 2025
SUMMARY: Twenty-eight men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and nine other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the rest of 2025. A 69-year-old Tennessee man was killed by lethal injection Tuesday for the 1988 killings of his girlfriend and her two children. Byron Black had a defibrillator implanted for his heart and his attorneys had argued the device could shock him when the lethal chemicals take effect. Black said he was in pain during his execution. Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Utah also have scheduled executions for later this year.
WORDS: 1307 – MOVED: 07/25/2025 5:15 p.m. CDT
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–South Dakota-Voter Data
Top South Dakota official apologizes for releasing voter data
SUMMARY: South Dakota secretary of state Monae Johnson is apologizing for accidentally revealing sensitive voter registration data about thousands of residents last month. The office made voter registration data available on their website for free to comply with a new election integrity state law, but the list included information about individuals who registered to vote at public assistance agencies. The information has since been taken down, but the data leak drew condemnation from across the state. The ACLU called it a violation of federal law and say it may pursue legal action against the state.
WORDS: 353 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 2:04 p.m. CDT
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SD–Healthy Nutrition Collaborative
How nonprofits are teaming up to fight hunger in South Dakota
SUMMARY: Forty South Dakota organizations have formed a collaborative to help people who don’t have enough to eat at a time of reduced government support and increased demand. A “meeting place” is how Jennifer Folliard characterizes the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative. She’s a steering committee member and coordinator for the collaborative, which launched in September. It’s the first organization of its kind in the state dedicated to helping the 113,500 South Dakotans who were food insecure in 2023, meaning they had limited or inconsistent access to enough food. Folliard says the goal is to improve their health through education, sharing resources and aligning actions across the state.
WORDS: 911 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 2:14 p.m. CDT
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SPORTS
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KANSAS
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FBN–Chiefs-Rookie Returns
Chiefs rookies have shined in camp, helping turn positions of weakness into a strength
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have addressed key weaknesses identified after their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. General Manager Brett Veach focused on improving the left tackle and wide receiver positions. The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and drafted Josh Simmons, who has impressed in training camp. Simmons has shown no lingering effects from a knee injury and has solidified the starting job. The wide receiver group has also improved with the addition of Jalen Royals and the return of healthy players such as Rashee Rice.
WORDS: 821 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 12:33 p.m. CDT
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MINNESOTA
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BKL–Lynx-Collier-Injury
Napheesa Collier out for a few weeks with sprained right ankle
SUMMARY: Napheesa Collier will be sidelined for a few weeks after spraining her right ankle against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, the team announced Monday. Collier will be reevaluated in the coming weeks. The MVP frontrunner appeared to step on teammate Alanna Smith’s left foot and immediately went down near Las Vegas’ bench with the Lynx holding a 92-49 lead late in the third quarter.
WORDS: 204 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 6:00 p.m. CDT
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BBO–Twins-Tigers
Kerry Carpenter’s homer leads Tigers to 6-3 win over Twins
SUMMARY: Kerry Carpenter homered in a three-run sixth inning and the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday. Wenceel Pérez and Dillon Dingler also homered for the Tigers, while Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner had homers for Minnesota. Detroit has won six of its last eight games since losing 12 of 13. The Twins have lost five of six. Casey Mize picked up the win, allowing three runs in six innings while Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his second Tigers save. Noah Davis took the loss in relief.
WORDS: 334 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 7:53 p.m. CDT
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FBN–The Old Guys
NFL longevity demands wisdom as much as determination and talent. These seasoned guys can explain
SUMMARY: NFL careers are notoriously short. Yet the young man’s league still has some space for the most seasoned players. Wisdom is just as important to sticking around as determination and talent. There were 30 active players who were born in the 1980s when training camps opened. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the oldest at age 41. Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith is 36 and the only defensive back in the group. He has focused his training in recent years around joint mobility to simulate game situations in pursuit of endurance, strength and injury prevention.
WORDS: 1054 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 12:57 a.m. CDT
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BKL–Around the WNBA
Injuries to key players dampen excitement for WNBA’s inaugural Rivals Week
SUMMARY: The WNBA hoped to create some buzz with its inaugural Rivals Week, which is slated to begin on Saturday. Unfortunately, injuries to key players like Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has dampened some of the excitement. The week was set to tip-off with a primetime matchup between Clark’s Fever and Reese’s Sky on Saturday night. Clark is definitely out while still recovering from a groin strain that’s sidelined her already for a few weeks. Reese has missed four of the past five games with a back injury.
WORDS: 510 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 12:53 p.m. CDT
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MISSOURI
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BBO–Royals-Red Sox
Red Sox ride Duran HR, strong outing from Bello to 6th straight win, beating Royals 8-5
SUMMARY: Jarren Duran hit a three-run homer and Brayan Bello pitched six effective innings, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 for their sixth consecutive victory. Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs, and Duran added a leaping, run-saving catch in front of the Green Monster in the fourth. Bello allowed an unearned run and six hits. The Royals got back-to-back homers from Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia off Jorge Alcala as part of a four-run eighth. But Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth for his 21st save.
WORDS: 323 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 9:26 p.m. CDT
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FBN–The Old Guys
NFL longevity demands wisdom as much as determination and talent. These seasoned guys can explain
SUMMARY: NFL careers are notoriously short. Yet the young man’s league still has some space for the most seasoned players. Wisdom is just as important to sticking around as determination and talent. There were 30 active players who were born in the 1980s when training camps opened. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the oldest at age 41. Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith is 36 and the only defensive back in the group. He has focused his training in recent years around joint mobility to simulate game situations in pursuit of endurance, strength and injury prevention.
WORDS: 1054 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 12:57 a.m. CDT
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FBN–Chiefs-Rookie Returns
Chiefs rookies have shined in camp, helping turn positions of weakness into a strength
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs have addressed key weaknesses identified after their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. General Manager Brett Veach focused on improving the left tackle and wide receiver positions. The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and drafted Josh Simmons, who has impressed in training camp. Simmons has shown no lingering effects from a knee injury and has solidified the starting job. The wide receiver group has also improved with the addition of Jalen Royals and the return of healthy players such as Rashee Rice.
WORDS: 821 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 12:33 p.m. CDT
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NEBRASKA
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GLF–Golf Glance
Scottie Scheffler is the top seed as the PGA Tour postseason begins
SUMMARY: The PGA Tour’s lucrative postseason gets started with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at the TPC Southwind. The top 70 have advanced to the FedEx Cup playoffs. Rory McIlroy is the only eligible player who is skipping the first week. PGA and British Open champion Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 seed for the second straight year. LIV Golf is going head-to-head with the PGA Tour. It plays three straight tournaments in the Midwest. That starts with LIV Golf Chicago. The European Tour goes to Trump International in Scotland. The PGA Tour Champions is near Seattle for the Boeing Classic.
WORDS: 1345 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 9:32 a.m. CDT
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OKLAHOMA
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BKO–NCAA Tournament Expansion
NCAA: No expansion of basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams this season, talks ongoing about 2027
SUMMARY: The NCAA has decided not to expand the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams in 2026. Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, announced the decision. Discussions about possibly expanding to 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 tournaments remain ongoing. NCAA President Charlie Baker believes adding teams could enhance the tournament’s value. He mentioned having productive talks with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros. Their current deal, valued at about $1.1 billion annually, runs through 2032.
WORDS: 541 – MOVED: 08/04/2025 1:44 p.m. CDT
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WRE–RAF Main Event
Hendrickson to headline wrestling event as Hulk Hogan’s venture continues after his death
SUMMARY: Wyatt Hendrickson will face Mostafa Aly Elsayed Gabr Elders in Real American Freestyle wrestling’s main event on Aug. 30. RAF01 is set to go as planned at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland despite the death of commissioner Hulk Hogan last month. Elders was the African Games champion at 97 kilograms in 2024 and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hendrickson beat Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March. The event will be streamed on FOX Nation.
WORDS: 328 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 10:00 a.m. CDT
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US–Dog Fighting-Conviction
Former NFL player convicted in large-scale dogfighting operation in Oklahoma
SUMMARY: A former NFL player from Oklahoma has been convicted for his role in a large-scale dogfighting operation. Federal prosecutors announced this week that 54-year-old Leshon Eugene Johnson of Broken Arrow was convicted of six felony counts of possessing dogs for use in an animal-fighting venture. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count when he’s formally sentenced in the next couple of months. Johnson’s attorney, Billy Coyle, says his client was a dog breeder who was never accused of fighting dogs. Coyle said the jury acquitted Johnson on 17 additional counts.
WORDS: 384 – MOVED: 08/05/2025 11:29 a.m. CDT
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