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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KANSAS – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-TEXAS
Texas measles outbreak tops 500 cases, including multiple at a day care in Lubbock
SUMMARY: Public health officials say a day care facility in a Texas county that’s part of the measles outbreak has multiple cases, including children too young to be fully vaccinated. West Texas is in the middle of a still-growing measles outbreak with 505 cases as of Tuesday and the state expanding the number of counties in the outbreak area this week to 10. The highly contagious virus began to spread in late January. Three people who were unvaccinated have died from measles-related illnesses this year, including two elementary school-aged children in Texas. Lubbock Public Health director Katherine Wells says day care there had seven cases as of Friday.
WORDS: 498 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 11:46 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d90c3ea9050c12dbc74a8f8142a6355&mediaType=text
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MINNESOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–TRUMP-EDUCATION
Democratic-led cities and states push back on threats to cut US school funding over DEI
SUMMARY: Some Democratic-led states and cities are pushing back on a Trump administration threat to cut education funding over diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, creating a standoff that could test how far the White House is willing to go to press its demands on the nation’s schools. State leaders in Minnesota and New York said they will not comply with an Education Department order to gather signatures from local school systems certifying compliance with civil rights laws, including the rejection of what the federal government calls “illegal DEI practices.” Chicago’s mayor promised to sue over any cuts. California and Vermont told schools they don’t need to respond.
WORDS: 828 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 11:19 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b79551813a611ba6301f3f48252357ac&mediaType=text
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HEALTH INSURERS-MEDICARE ADVANTAGE RATES
Health insurers rally after government lays out better-than-expected Medicare Advantage raise
SUMMARY: Shares of major health insurers jumped early Tuesday after the federal government announced a better-than-expected, 2026 payment increase for Medicare Advantage plans. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Monday after markets closed that final rates are expected to increase more than 5% in 2026. Leerink Partners analyst Whit Mayo says that wound up “well above expectations.” BTIG analyst David Larsen said separately that the final increase more than doubled what was initially proposed in January. He added that it likely accounts for higher care use that the program has seen recently.
WORDS: 281 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 9:13 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fa63b549d1859e4edbd7c3545b9ad2f4&mediaType=text
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MINNESOTA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BBO–TWINS-ROYALS
DESCRIPTION: Minnesota plays Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 6:40 p.m. CDT, Text
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BKN–TIMBERWOLVES-BUCKS
DESCRIPTION: MILWAUKEE – Bobby Portis is scheduled to make his return from a 25-game suspension as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Minnesota Timberwolves. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. CDT.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 7:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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MISSOURI – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–TRUMP-EDUCATION
Democratic-led cities and states push back on threats to cut US school funding over DEI
SUMMARY: Some Democratic-led states and cities are pushing back on a Trump administration threat to cut education funding over diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, creating a standoff that could test how far the White House is willing to go to press its demands on the nation’s schools. State leaders in Minnesota and New York said they will not comply with an Education Department order to gather signatures from local school systems certifying compliance with civil rights laws, including the rejection of what the federal government calls “illegal DEI practices.” Chicago’s mayor promised to sue over any cuts. California and Vermont told schools they don’t need to respond.
WORDS: 828 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 11:19 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b79551813a611ba6301f3f48252357ac&mediaType=text
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US–SEVERE WEATHER
Kentucky watches for surging rivers to recede so widespread cleanup can begin
SUMMARY: After days of unrelenting downpours swelled rivers to near record levels across Kentucky, residents are closely monitoring waterways for signs they are cresting or even receding in hopes that widespread cleanup can finally start. But with temperatures dipping below freezing early Tuesday in places, that process could get even more complicated. The National Weather Service says freeze warnings are in effect in much of Kentucky and a freeze watch has been issued for Tuesday night. Inundated rivers have posed the latest threat from persistent storms that have killed at least 23 people since last week as they doused the region with heavy rain and spawned destructive tornadoes.
WORDS: 797 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 6:04 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2c18eb88c921a28234fbfb8cbe5e508e&mediaType=text
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MISSOURI – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BBO–TWINS-ROYALS
DESCRIPTION: Minnesota plays Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. 150 words, more on merit.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 6:40 p.m. CDT, Text
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BBO–CARDINALS-PIRATES
DESCRIPTION: PITTSBURGH — Pirates ace Paul Skenes makes his first home start of the season when Pittsburgh hosts St. Louis. Sonny Gray starts for the Cardinals. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 6:40 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 8:40 p.m. CDT, Text
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NEBRASKA – UPCOMING – NEWS
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WINNER-TAKE-ALL-NEBRASKA
DESCRIPTION: LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Legislature is set to take up debate Tuesday on bill that would see the state revert to a winner-take-all system of awarding its Electoral College votes in presidential elections. The measure currently lacks the votes to survive a promised filibuster in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, but pressure is mounting on Republican Sen. Merv Riepe of Omaha, who has vowed to vote against winner-take-all. Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that split their electoral votes by congressional district. By Margery A. Beck. STORY ON MERITS.
ON MERITS: By 04/08/2025 6:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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NORTH DAKOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–KEYSTONE PIPELINE-RUPTURE
Keystone oil pipeline shut down after a rupture in rural North Dakota
SUMMARY: The Keystone oil pipeline has been shut down after it ruptured in North Dakota, halting the flow of thousands of gallons of crude oil from Canada to refineries in the U.S. The cause of Tuesday morning’s rupture and the volume of crude oil spilled are unclear. Officials said an employee working at the site near Fort Ransom heard a “mechanical bang” and shut down the pipeline within about two minutes. Oil was reported surfacing 300 yards south of the pump station in a field and emergency personnel responded to the site. Officials say no people, structures or nearby streams were affected by the spill.
WORDS: 388 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 12:37 p.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:36e86142566763a5464e1dd132eede56&mediaType=text
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OKLAHOMA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-TEXAS
Texas measles outbreak tops 500 cases, including multiple at a day care in Lubbock
SUMMARY: Public health officials say a day care facility in a Texas county that’s part of the measles outbreak has multiple cases, including children too young to be fully vaccinated. West Texas is in the middle of a still-growing measles outbreak with 505 cases as of Tuesday and the state expanding the number of counties in the outbreak area this week to 10. The highly contagious virus began to spread in late January. Three people who were unvaccinated have died from measles-related illnesses this year, including two elementary school-aged children in Texas. Lubbock Public Health director Katherine Wells says day care there had seven cases as of Friday.
WORDS: 498 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 11:46 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d90c3ea9050c12dbc74a8f8142a6355&mediaType=text
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US–CHILD CARE-EDUCATION
Scholarships for child care are drying up. Now families are paying the price
SUMMARY: Many parents need child care scholarships to work. But qualified families are increasingly being turned away from state child care assistance programs, thanks to the rising costs of child care and the end of pandemic aid. In at least three states — Arizona, Colorado and Texas — parents who apply face long waitlists. Other states, including Nevada and Oklahoma, have increased copayments for parents or have said they will serve fewer children. In Idaho, enrollment was paused for part of last year. Last week, some employees were laid off from their jobs helping states implement child care scholarships. It all has left advocates worried about the future of federal child care programs.
WORDS: 1252 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 12:23 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1a0c569943fb606e4a0db7630ec4821a&mediaType=text
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OKLAHOMA – UPCOMING – NEWS
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US–MEASLES OUTBREAK-EXPLAINER
DESCRIPTION: Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma provide updated case counts on Tuesday. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos by 4 p.m. ET.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 5:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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OKLAHOMA – UPCOMING – SPORTS
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BKN–LAKERS-THUNDER
DESCRIPTION: OKLAHOMA CITY — The Los Angeles Lakers look to beat the Thunder for the second time in three days when they visit Oklahoma City. The Thunder are closing in on the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but they’ve lost two straight. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING: By 04/08/2025 10:00 p.m. CDT, Text, Photo
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SOUTH DAKOTA – NEW AND DEVELOPING – NEWS
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US–TRUMP-TARIFFS
White House keeps world guessing as clock ticks down to Trump’s new tariffs
SUMMARY: The White House is sending mixed messages on tariffs as it pursues conflicting goals, frustrating foreign leaders and business executives who are desperate for clarity on a generational overhaul of international trade. Administration officials have alternated between talking about seeking negotiations or pushing forward with tariffs no matter what. President Donald Trump tried to have it both ways this week, saying “there can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.” That has left world leaders and businesses holding their breath as the stock market craters and the clock ticks down to the new tariffs taking effect on Wednesday.
WORDS: 1313 – MOVED: 04/08/2025 11:41 a.m. CDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b7dc71bc8a610e14cbef24e8e6311b1e&mediaType=text
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