Great Plains News Digest
To see stories that have already moved, please visit AP Newsroom. For text, photos, video, live and audio plans beyond the next 24 hours, please visit Coverage Plan
——————————-—
IOWA
————-———————
US–Active Shooter-False Alarms
Spate of hoax calls about active shooters stir fear at college campuses around the US
SUMMARY: A rash of hoax calls about active shooters on at least a dozen college campuses around the U.S. has spread fear among students as the school year begins. The hoax calls and false alarms have sent students and teachers scrambling for safety in classrooms and under desks amid urgent text messages urging them to “run, hide, (and) fight.” Yet officers who swarmed the campuses looking for any threat found none. Security experts say campus officials now must find the right balance in keeping students and teachers on guard — but not panicking — in case of any real threats in the future.
WORDS: 1043 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 1:59 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–Democrats-Presidential Primary
Democrats eye new presidential primary calendar in 2028, with South Carolina’s top spot in jeopardy
SUMMARY: The Democratic National Committee is seriously considering scrambling the party’s next presidential primary calendar. And South Carolina, the state that hosted the Democrats’ first-in-the-nation contest in 2024, is far from a lock to go first. That’s according to several members of the DNC’s new leadership team, including Chair Ken Martin. He said the DNC would not simply “rubber stamp” the 2024 calendar. The order of each party’s state-by-state presidential nomination process has major implications for the economies of the states involved, the candidates and ultimately the nation. The same states — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — have dominated the process for decades.
WORDS: 957 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 12:07 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–Election 2025-Iowa
Democrat Catelin Drey’s victory in Iowa special election breaks GOP supermajority
SUMMARY: Democrat Catelin Drey has won a special election for an Iowa state Senate seat in a district that previously leaned Republican. The victory adds to the Democratic Party’s hopes of flipping more seats during the 2026 midterms. According to unofficial results, Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch on Tuesday. The election was held to fill a vacancy left by the death of Republican Sen. Rocky de Witt. Drey’s win breaks the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate, giving Democrats 17 seats to the GOP’s 33. The Iowa Republican Party downplayed the win, while Democrats see it as a sign of momentum.
WORDS: 602 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 9:23 a.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
KANSAS
————-———————
US–Officer Killed-Kansas City-Kansas
A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has died after being struck by a fleeing driver
SUMMARY: A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has died after a fleeing driver hit tire-deflating devices and veered into him, authorities said. His police chief called the death was “an intentional act of homicide.” Officer Hunter Simoncic was the second law enforcement officer to die within a month in the city. The suspect didn’t get far, wrecking the car before officers arrested him. In Kansas, a conviction for intentionally killing an officer can result in a death sentence. Chief Karl Oakman said the suspect’s intent was clear, and that this individual felt the need to run the officer down and kill him. Simoncic was 26.
WORDS: 298 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 1:36 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–Active Shooter-False Alarms
Spate of hoax calls about active shooters stir fear at college campuses around the US
SUMMARY: A rash of hoax calls about active shooters on at least a dozen college campuses around the U.S. has spread fear among students as the school year begins. The hoax calls and false alarms have sent students and teachers scrambling for safety in classrooms and under desks amid urgent text messages urging them to “run, hide, (and) fight.” Yet officers who swarmed the campuses looking for any threat found none. Security experts say campus officials now must find the right balance in keeping students and teachers on guard — but not panicking — in case of any real threats in the future.
WORDS: 1043 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 1:59 p.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
MINNESOTA
————-———————
MI–Lake Superior-Mussels
Scientists wonder if Lake Superior can continue to avoid an invasion of mussels
SUMMARY: Scientists wonder if Lake Superior can continue to avoid invasive mussels that have destroyed ecosystems and killed fish in the lower Great Lakes. Scientists believe that low calcium levels and the cold water of Lake Superior weren’t conducive to mussels surviving and reproducing. But a few recent outbreaks have officials wondering if conditions could change. Boats also travel to Lake Superior from other lakes that are infested. While a recent dive near Isle Royale turned up three adult mussels, several hundred are found every year. That’s down from 3,000 in 2018. However, there are people who believe a full-blown infestation in Lake Superior is inevitable and see no point in fighting it.
WORDS: 1514 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 2:02 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–Minnesota Woman-Racial Slur
Minnesota woman charged for using racial slur against Black child as her fundraising tops $800,000
SUMMARY: Minnesota prosecutors have filed misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges against a woman accused of using a racial slur against a Black child at a playground. A video of the incident in whcih the woman admits to the slur has gone viral. As of Tuesday, she has raised over $800,000 on a Christian fundraising platform. The woman faces three counts of disorderly conduct, each carrying a potential penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The NAACP Rochester chapter raised $340,000 for the child’s family before closing their campaign in May.
WORDS: 804 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 4:20 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–Democrats-Presidential Primary
Democrats eye new presidential primary calendar in 2028, with South Carolina’s top spot in jeopardy
SUMMARY: The Democratic National Committee is seriously considering scrambling the party’s next presidential primary calendar. And South Carolina, the state that hosted the Democrats’ first-in-the-nation contest in 2024, is far from a lock to go first. That’s according to several members of the DNC’s new leadership team, including Chair Ken Martin. He said the DNC would not simply “rubber stamp” the 2024 calendar. The order of each party’s state-by-state presidential nomination process has major implications for the economies of the states involved, the candidates and ultimately the nation. The same states — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — have dominated the process for decades.
WORDS: 957 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 12:07 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–School Shooting-Minneapolis
A shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school kills 2 children, injures 17 people
SUMMARY: Authorities say a shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Minneapolis Catholic church and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says two children were killed and 17 people were wounded in the shooting Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School. He calls the violence “absolutely incomprehensible.” The children who died were 8 and 10, and 14 other kids were among the wounded. Police believe the shooter killed themselves. Officials were looking into the suspect’s motive. O’Hara says the man was in his early 20s, does not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone.
WORDS: 1033 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 9:24 a.m. CDT
——————————
US–School Shooting-Minneapolis-What To Know
What to know about the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school
SUMMARY: A shooter has opened fire during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school, killing two children and injuring 17 other people before killing himself. The victims include two children, aged 8 and 10, who were fatally shot while in the church pews. Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured. Authorities say a man in his early 20s fired dozens of rounds through the church windows before killing himself in the parking lot. Officials did not say whether he had any known connection to the school. The White House has been briefed on the situation, and the FBI is investigating.
WORDS: 527 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 12:04 p.m. CDT
——————————
US–School-Shooting-Minneapolis-The Latest
The Latest: A shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school kills 2 children, injures 17 people
SUMMARY: Officials say a shooter opened fire during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school, killing two children and injuring 17 other people before killing himself. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says the shooter approached the side of the church Wednesday morning and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School. The school was evacuated, and students’ families were later directed to a “reunification zone” at the school. President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in separate social media posts that they had been briefed on the shooting.
WORDS: 1584 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 10:22 a.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
MISSOURI
————-———————
US–Officer Killed-Kansas City-Kansas
A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has died after being struck by a fleeing driver
SUMMARY: A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has died after a fleeing driver hit tire-deflating devices and veered into him, authorities said. His police chief called the death was “an intentional act of homicide.” Officer Hunter Simoncic was the second law enforcement officer to die within a month in the city. The suspect didn’t get far, wrecking the car before officers arrested him. In Kansas, a conviction for intentionally killing an officer can result in a death sentence. Chief Karl Oakman said the suspect’s intent was clear, and that this individual felt the need to run the officer down and kill him. Simoncic was 26.
WORDS: 298 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 1:36 p.m. CDT
——————————
——————————
SPORTS
——————————
——————————-—
KANSAS
————-———————
FBN–Chiefs-Kelce
Pop-Tarts and diamond rings: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement rips through Chiefs practice
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid had just finished speaking about the coming season when the news broke that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are engaged. Defensive end Mike Danna was the only team member available to comment. He expressed happiness for the couple and joked about gifting Swift some Pop-Tarts. It’s unclear when and where the engagement happened, but Swift’s publicist confirmed details about the ring. Kelce, who has been balancing a busy career and personal life, is focused on the season opener in Brazil next weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers.
WORDS: 742 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 3:12 p.m. CDT
——————————
FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati-Arrowhead
As business of college football booms, the Chiefs bet big on Nebraska-Cincinnati game in Kansas City
SUMMARY: Cincinnati has agreed to play a home game against Nebraska in Kansas City, Missouri, mainly for financial reasons. The game, originally planned for Indianapolis, was postponed due to the pandemic. Now, with NIL deals reshaping college sports, the Kansas City Chiefs’ president, Mark Donovan, saw an opportunity. He offered Cincinnati more money to host the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Nebraska fans have quickly bought tickets, and the event has attracted sponsorship. The Chiefs aim to create a memorable event, potentially influencing future stadium decisions and showcasing their ability to host major events.
WORDS: 933 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:23 a.m. CDT
——————————
FBN–Chiefs-Rice Suspended
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is suspended 6 games by NFL, person familiar with decision tells AP
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. The suspension follows his guilty plea to two third-degree felony charges related to a March 2024 crash in Dallas. The NFL’s decision comes after an internal investigation and voids a scheduled hearing. Rice will miss several high-profile games, including the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil and a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles. He will be eligible to return on Oct. 19 when Kansas City faces the Raiders.
WORDS: 791 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:36 a.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
MINNESOTA
————-———————
BKL–Around the WNBA
New York Liberty aim for top four playoff seed as stars return from injuries
SUMMARY: The New York Liberty are finally getting healthy and hope to make a run at getting at least a top four seed and homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs. The defending champions have been beset by injuries this season with stars Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart both missing extended time. Now the team is almost completely healthy heading into the stretch run. Stewart returned Monday after a 13-game absence to recover from a bone bruise in her right knee. The Liberty held off Connecticut 81-79.
WORDS: 560 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 1:14 p.m. CDT
——————————
FBC–Minnesota-Playing It Koi
Travis Hunter, meet Koi Perich. The Minnesota sophomore might be football’s next multi-position star
SUMMARY: Koi Perich has been taking regular turns at wide receiver in practice with Minnesota after a propitious debut at safety last year. He led the Big Ten and set the program freshman record with five interceptions in 2024. Perich was a second-team preseason AP All-America pick and could be the sport’s next two-way star following the departure of Travis Hunter to the NFL. Perich was also a productive punt and kickoff returner last year for the Gophers. Hunter didn’t even do that over his career at Jackson State and Colorado that ended with a Heisman Trophy in his hands.
WORDS: 931 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 3:48 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO–Twins-Blue Jays
Gasper hits tying homer in 9th, Wallner adds winning blast as Twins rally to beat Blue Jays 7-5
SUMMARY: Mickey Gasper hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, Matt Wallner added a go-ahead homer and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5. Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman came on in the ninth with Toronto ahead 4-3, but Gasper greeted him with a game-tying home run, the first of his career. Four batters later, Wallner gave the Twins the lead with a two-run homer, his 20th. The blown save was Hoffman’s seventh in 35 chances. Hoffman has allowed 12 home runs this season.
WORDS: 351 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 9:26 p.m. CDT
——————————
BKN–Timberwolves-Caldwell
Matthew Caldwell leaving Cup champion Panthers, becoming CEO of Timberwolves and Lynx
SUMMARY: Matthew Caldwell is stepping down as the business operations president of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and accepting a 10-year deal as CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. The teams announced the deal on Wednesday. Caldwell will begin overseeing “day-to-day business operations and high-level strategic initiatives for the Timberwolves, Lynx, and (the G League’s) Iowa Wolves” on Sept. 2.
WORDS: 481 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 10:31 a.m. CDT
——————————
FBN–Panthers-Vikings Trade
Vikings bring back veteran Adam Thielen for WR depth in trade with the Panthers
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Vikings have reacquired veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen from the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings traded draft picks for Thielen, who has the third-most catches in franchise history. The team needed more depth after losing Rondale Moore to a season-ending knee injury and Jordan Addison to a three-game suspension. Thielen is a native of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He became a success story after starting in 2013 as an undrafted player. He made two Pro Bowls with the Vikings. The 35-year-old still lives in Minnesota and has worked out with new Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy over the past two summers.
WORDS: 587 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 9:05 a.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
MISSOURI
————-———————
FBN–Chiefs-Kelce
Pop-Tarts and diamond rings: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement rips through Chiefs practice
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid had just finished speaking about the coming season when the news broke that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are engaged. Defensive end Mike Danna was the only team member available to comment. He expressed happiness for the couple and joked about gifting Swift some Pop-Tarts. It’s unclear when and where the engagement happened, but Swift’s publicist confirmed details about the ring. Kelce, who has been balancing a busy career and personal life, is focused on the season opener in Brazil next weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers.
WORDS: 742 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 3:12 p.m. CDT
——————————
ENT–Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce-Ring
Taylor Swift stuns with vintage-inspired engagement ring designed by Kindred Lubeck
SUMMARY: Taylor Swift has confirmed her engagement to Travis Kelce. The pop star’s representative says the superstar’s new ring was designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. The vintage-inspired ring features a rounded rectangle diamond in an old mine brilliant cut and bezel setting. Swift shared the engagement news with a series of photos showing off the ring as the couple posed among flowers in a garden setting. She wore a striped Ralph Lauren dress and her favorite Cartier diamond-encrusted watch. Lubeck is the daughter of Jay Lubeck, a well-known goldsmith in Neptune Beach, Florida. Kindred Lubeck is based in New York.
WORDS: 280 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 2:13 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBM–Minor League Drug Suspensions
St. Louis’ Zeke Wood suspended 80 games, Houston’s Emilio Gonzalez for 56 for positive drug tests
SUMMARY: Major League Baseball has suspended St. Louis pitcher Zeke Wood for 80 games and Houston catcher Emilio Gonzalez for 56 games following positive tests for performance-enhancing substances under minor league drug programs. Wood tested positive for GW1516 and Gonzalez for Boldenone. Wood, 25, signed with St. Louis in June. Gonzalez, 17, signed with the Astros in January. Thirteen players have been suspended this year for positive tests, including 11 under minor league programs.
WORDS: 218 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 4:00 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO–Pirates Moves
Pirates designate Andrew Heaney for assignment and activate Oneil Cruz from injured list
SUMMARY: The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated left-hander Andrew Heaney for assignment and activated center fielder Oneil Cruz from the concussion injured list. Heaney allowed five earned runs in the fifth inning Monday night in a 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The 34-year-old was signed in the offseason by the Pirates to a one-year deal. Cruz collided with left fielder Jack Suwinski on Aug. 13 while diving for a ball. The Pirates also recalled right-hander Dauri Moreta from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned Ronny Simon to Indianapolis.
WORDS: 226 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 3:24 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO–Pirates-Cardinals
Henry Davis, Bryan Reynolds help power Pirates past Cardinals 8-3
SUMMARY: Henry Davis homered, Bryan Reynolds hit a pair of doubles and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-3. Mitch Keller allowed three runs on three hits and struck out nine in six innings for the Pirates, who have won five of six. Andre Pallante allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, in five innings. He is 0-4 with a 11.65 ERA over 17 innings in his last four starts. Nolan Gorman hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, his 13th of the season.
WORDS: 321 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 9:29 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO—Royals-White Sox
Massey, Isbel get run-scoring hits in 9th as Royals rally to beat White Sox 5-4
SUMMARY: Michael Massey hit a tying two-run single in the ninth inning and Kyle Isbel had a go-ahead run-scoring single as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. Maikel Garcia had a two-run single in the eighth inning as the Royals rallied from a 4-0 deficit. Jonathan India had two hits and scored two runs. Sam Long (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the win, and Carlos Estévez got the last three outs for his 35th save as the Royals advanced (68-65) remained in the wild-card race. Jordan Leasure gave up two runs in the eighth and Grant Taylor (0-4) was charged with three in the ninth as the White Sox fell to an AL-worst 48-84.
WORDS: 277 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 10:04 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO–Cardinals-Contreras
Cardinals’ Willson Contreras gets 6-game suspension for on-field tirade and plans to appeal
SUMMARY: Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been suspended for six games and fined an undisclosed amount for his tirade in St. Louis’ 7-6 win over Pittsburgh on Monday night.Contreras has informed Major League Baseball he plans to appeal the suspension, which means it will not take effect immediately. He was in the lineup for Tuesday night’s 8-3 loss to the Pirates and went 0 for 3, driving in a run with a groundout in the sixth inning. On Monday, Contreras threw a bat that mistakenly hit Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown and tossed bubble gum on the field after he was ejected. Manager Oliver Marmol also was tossed during an animated argument with the umpires after a called third strike in the seventh inning.
WORDS: 237 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 5:34 p.m. CDT
——————————
BBO–Mets-Helsley
Struggling reliever Ryan Helsley booed off Citi Field mound after latest meltdown with Mets
SUMMARY: Ryan Helsley is having one heck of a time adjusting to his new role in the big city. And he’s hearing it from New York fans, too. Acquired by the Mets in a late July trade to give them a lights-out tandem at the back of the bullpen, Helsley endured his latest meltdown when he coughed up an eighth-inning lead against rival Philadelphia. The struggling reliever served up a two-run homer to former St. Louis teammate Harrison Bader that tied the score at 5. After a walk to pinch-hitter Bryson Stott, the right-hander was booed off the Citi Field mound by a crowd of 41,914. All-Star closer Edwin Díaz rescued the Mets, who recovered to win 6-5, but Helsley’s troubles are a major concern for the team.
WORDS: 636 – MOVED: 08/26/2025 11:23 p.m. CDT
——————————
FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati-Arrowhead
As business of college football booms, the Chiefs bet big on Nebraska-Cincinnati game in Kansas City
SUMMARY: Cincinnati has agreed to play a home game against Nebraska in Kansas City, Missouri, mainly for financial reasons. The game, originally planned for Indianapolis, was postponed due to the pandemic. Now, with NIL deals reshaping college sports, the Kansas City Chiefs’ president, Mark Donovan, saw an opportunity. He offered Cincinnati more money to host the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Nebraska fans have quickly bought tickets, and the event has attracted sponsorship. The Chiefs aim to create a memorable event, potentially influencing future stadium decisions and showcasing their ability to host major events.
WORDS: 933 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:23 a.m. CDT
——————————
FBN–Chiefs-Rice Suspended
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is suspended 6 games by NFL, person familiar with decision tells AP
SUMMARY: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. The suspension follows his guilty plea to two third-degree felony charges related to a March 2024 crash in Dallas. The NFL’s decision comes after an internal investigation and voids a scheduled hearing. Rice will miss several high-profile games, including the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil and a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles. He will be eligible to return on Oct. 19 when Kansas City faces the Raiders.
WORDS: 791 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:36 a.m. CDT
——————————
——————————-—
NEBRASKA
————-———————
FBC–Nebraska-Cincinnati-Arrowhead
As business of college football booms, the Chiefs bet big on Nebraska-Cincinnati game in Kansas City
SUMMARY: Cincinnati has agreed to play a home game against Nebraska in Kansas City, Missouri, mainly for financial reasons. The game, originally planned for Indianapolis, was postponed due to the pandemic. Now, with NIL deals reshaping college sports, the Kansas City Chiefs’ president, Mark Donovan, saw an opportunity. He offered Cincinnati more money to host the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Nebraska fans have quickly bought tickets, and the event has attracted sponsorship. The Chiefs aim to create a memorable event, potentially influencing future stadium decisions and showcasing their ability to host major events.
WORDS: 933 – MOVED: 08/27/2025 11:23 a.m. CDT
——————————
If you have a coverage enquiry, please contact Editorial Support (available 24/7) via editorialsupport@ap.org
<END>
