Great Plains News Digest
The following AP stories are planned for today or have moved. For text, photos, video, live and audio plans beyond the next 24 hours, please visit Coverage Plan.
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IOWA – UPCOMING – NEWS
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TRUMP PROTESTS
DESCRIPTION: Activists are promising a national demonstration on Saturday to protest President Trump’s economic agenda. Organizers have dubbed the protest the “Hands Off” day of action. They accuse Trump and (B) billionaire Elon Musk of an illegal power grab that is looting social security and medicaid. Story on merit, based on events.
ON MERITS: By 04/04/2025 11:01 p.m. CDT, Text, Audio, Video, Photo, LiveVideo
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KANSAS – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-EXPLAINER
US has twice as many measles cases so far this year than in all of 2024
SUMMARY: The U.S. now has more than doubled the total number of measles cases in 2024. Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma all have active measles outbreaks. Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
WORDS: 1227 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 12:36 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33&mediaType=text
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US–PRIEST SHOT-KANSAS
A man is in custody after the fatal shooting of a beloved Kansas priest
SUMMARY: Authorities say a 66-year-old Oklahoma man has been detained in connection with the fatal shooting of a Catholic priest at a church rectory in northeast Kansas. The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook that Gary Hermesch of Tulsa is being held in the Nemaha County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. Authorities called to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca on Thursday afternoon found Arul Carasala suffering from gunshot wounds outside the rectory. The 57-year-old priest was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.
WORDS: 343 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:53 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f418a0f3933baaef73b359e32abd8363&mediaType=text
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MINNESOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–EDUCATION-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Federal officials are quietly terminating the legal residency of some international college students
SUMMARY: A crackdown on foreign students is alarming college leaders, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country. College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from wanting to study in the U.S. Colleges across the country have been startled to find that some of their students are being ordered to leave the U.S. — often without warning. Some have been targeted for pro-Palestinian activism or criminal infractions, while others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government. President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
WORDS: 1256 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 11:17 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7a1d186c06a5fdb2f64506dcf208105a&mediaType=text
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US–JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-GANG ARRESTS
Bondi announces charges in MS-13 killing as the Trump administration highlights its gang crackdown
SUMMARY: Attorney General Pam Bondi says three alleged MS-13 gang members have been federally charged in connection with a killing a decade ago in Florida. Bondi is seeking to highlight the Trump administration’s push to prosecute violent gangs. Bondi joined law enforcement officials Friday in Fort Lauderdale to promote the Justice Department’s efforts to go after the gang, which the Republican administration has designated a “foreign terrorist organization” and has seized on as the threat posed by illegal immigration. The three alleged gang members are among nine who’ve been arrested in four killings in South Florida in 2014 and 2015. The three were arrested in Florida and Minnesota.
WORDS: 334 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:49 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7dfd73e36360acba14d55e0a09a25cb6&mediaType=text
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US–TRUMP-ELECTIONS
States sue to block Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution
SUMMARY: The White House is criticizing Democrats’ lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections. Democratic officials in 19 states say what the Republican president wants to do is an unconstitutional invasion of states’ clear authority to run their own elections. The lawsuit filed Thursday is the fourth against Trump’s executive order issued a week ago. The suit seeks to block key aspects of Trump’s order, including requirements people provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a demand all mail ballots be received by Election Day. A White House spokesperson Friday called the proof-of-citizenship requirements “common sense” and said objections from Democrats are “insane.”
WORDS: 875 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:48 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5790caa7d4d801c4053e73dfa50622e9&mediaType=text
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US–RENTAL SOFTWARE LAWSUIT
RealPage sues California city officials over rental algorithm ban
SUMMARY: Real estate software company RealPage has filed a federal lawsuit against a Northern California city that has become the latest to try to block landlords from using algorithms when deciding rents. Officials in many cities have blamed the company’s products for driving up the price of housing. But RealPage said Wednesday that the city of Berkeley’s newly passed ordinance violates the company’s free speech rights and is the result of a misinformation campaign. The Department of Justice sued Realpage in August, saying the company’s algorithm uses sensitive competitive information, allowing landlords to align their prices and avoid competition that would otherwise push down rents.
WORDS: 564 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:54 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7eed2dc41ad657745f9bdc674386abfd&mediaType=text
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MINNESOTA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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HKN–WILD-ISLANDERS
DESCRIPTION: The Minnesota Wild visit the New York Islanders. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 10:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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MISSOURI – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–SEVERE WEATHER
South and Midwest face potentially catastrophic rains and floods while reeling from tornadoes
SUMMARY: Parts of the Midwest and South are facing the possibility torrential rains and life-threatening flash floods. The fresh storms on Friday come as many communities are still reeling from severe tornadoes that destroyed whole neighborhoods and killed at least seven people. Kentucky’s governor said floodwaters swept away and killed a boy Friday in his state. Forecasters warned of catastrophic weather on the way, with satellite imagery showing thunderstorms lining up like freight trains. Those who died in the initial wave of storms on Wednesday and early Thursday were in Tennessee, Indiana and Missouri. Forecasters say it was the opening act for days of wild weather that could bring flash floods across the nation’s midsection.
WORDS: 966 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 12:31 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:814bc595ee7851faf10ccc9501468449&mediaType=text
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US–SEVERE WEATHER-WHAT TO KNOW
What to know about the severe storms and flash flooding hitting parts of the US
SUMMARY: At least seven people have been killed in a wide swath of violent storms and tornadoes that hit the South and Midwest. And officials are bracing for more severe weather and flooding in the coming days. The destruction is the result of a potent storm system that forecasters expect to bring life-threatening flash flooding each day through Saturday. More than 90 million people are at risk across an area stretching from Texas to Minnesota and Maine.
WORDS: 511 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 9:40 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9ba2f5f1dcc3f2f9a50de67d52d4c30d&mediaType=text
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MISSOURI – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BBO–CARDINALS-RED SOX
DESCRIPTION: St. Louis plays Boston at Fenway Park. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 1:10 p.m. CDT, Text
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BBO–ORIOLES-ROYALS
DESCRIPTION: Baltimore plays Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 6:40 p.m. CDT, Text
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OKLAHOMA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-EXPLAINER
US has twice as many measles cases so far this year than in all of 2024
SUMMARY: The U.S. now has more than doubled the total number of measles cases in 2024. Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma all have active measles outbreaks. Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
WORDS: 1227 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 12:36 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33&mediaType=text
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US–PRIEST SHOT-KANSAS
A man is in custody after the fatal shooting of a beloved Kansas priest
SUMMARY: Authorities say a 66-year-old Oklahoma man has been detained in connection with the fatal shooting of a Catholic priest at a church rectory in northeast Kansas. The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook that Gary Hermesch of Tulsa is being held in the Nemaha County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. Authorities called to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca on Thursday afternoon found Arul Carasala suffering from gunshot wounds outside the rectory. The 57-year-old priest was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.
WORDS: 343 – MOVED: 04/04/2025 10:53 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f418a0f3933baaef73b359e32abd8363&mediaType=text
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OKLAHOMA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BKN–THUNDER-ROCKETS
DESCRIPTION: HOUSTON — The Oklahoma City Thunder look to extend their winning streak to 12 games when they visit the Houston Rockets. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 300 words. Photos.
UPCOMING: By 04/04/2025 7:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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