JOPLIN, Mo. – Authorities in Joplin release the identity of the man who drowned in Grand Falls this week. The man is identified as 35-year-old Standley Luke of Carterville, Missouri. Authorities say on Tuesday Luke tried to go over the falls with a pool toy, hit a rock and drowned. Search crews from several local departments had been looking for Luke since he went missing. They found his body shortly after 6:00 pm Wednesday. Read previous updates on this story here.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma House and Senate fail to reach a deal on a tax cut package that Governor Kevin Stitt was urging them to pass. On Thursday, the house adjourned a special session after passing an array of tax cut options, but senate leaders dismissed the proposals as “political theater”. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat said he would assemble a working group to consider a more methodical approach to tax cuts. Republican Governor Stitt called the legislature into a special session to consider cutting the state’s sales tax on groceries and reduce the individual income tax rate.
TOPEKA, Kan. – Republican Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach endorses lowering the Kansas legal drinking age to 18. He promises that if he’s elected this year, he’ll challenge the federal policy preventing the move. Kobach criticized a 1980’s federal law that threatens states with the loss of highway dollars if their drinking ages are below 21. He says he believes the U.S. Supreme Court would now overturn that law. Kobach said if 18-year olds can go to war, they should have all the rights other citizens enjoy.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Some inmates at the Bourbon County, Kansas jail are being moved. Officials say there just aren’t enough jail employees to properly staff it. The jail needs a minimum of 12 staff members, but come Monday they will be down to eight. The inmates are being moved to other facilities in southeast Kansas. The HVAC system at the jail has also been out for several days. Work to fix it began this week and is expected to finish the coming days. Read more about the staffing issues here.
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: Paramount Plus releases a new movie this weekend called “Jerry and Marge Go Large.” Bryan Cranston plays “Jerry Selbee,” a man who discovers a mathematical loophole while playing the lottery. The real life Selbees grossed more than $26 Million from playing the lottery! This morning we are asking… do you play the lottery? Join our KOAM Facebook discussion and weigh in on our KOAM InstaPoll @ koamnewsnow.com
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