St. Louis toddler fatally shoots himself; investigation underway

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A toddler fatally shot himself in the head in a St. Louis neighborhood, authorities say.

Police said the boy was taken to the hospital Monday afternoon before officers arrived. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that he was pronounced dead later that day.

No additional details about the shooting were immediately released, but the parking lot of an auto parts store was taped off by police afterward. The police child abuse unit is handling the investigation.

The boy is one of nearly 20 children killed by gunfire this year across the metropolitan area.

 

Missourians share their opinion on Roe V Wade, Student Loan forgiveness, and more

MISSOURI – KOAM partnered with Gray TV stations across Missouri to gather data through a series of polls on a variety of political races and topics; Here are the results.

Our recent poll shows Missourians’ views on abortion rights differ markedly depending on the respondents’ sex.

The poll asks Missourians whether they agree or disagree with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs Wade. 35 percent of all respondents agree with the high court decision, 46 percent disagree, and 19 percent aren’t sure.

41 percent of men agree with the recent supreme court decision and 39 percent disagree. Among women, only 29 percent agree with the decision, while 53 percent disagree.

poll1

The poll of one-thousand Missouri adults was conducted from September 19 through the 22nd.

Missourians were also asked about Filibuster reform and Student Loan Forgiveness seen below

Poll2

Click below for links to the data:

Poll 1

Poll 2

 

Kansas primary voter turnout higher than past

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Registered Kansas voters took to the voting booths for the primary election.

The August 2, 2022,  Kansas Primary elections regarding the “Value Them Both” (HR 5003) amendment and electing representatives in the state are underway.  The “Value Them Both” amendment sparked after the overturning of Roe Versus Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022.  This controversial decision has caused debate amongst the states. Kansas voters have the ability to voice their opinions on the amendment through private voting today.

The State of Kansas Secretary of State voter registration statistics show registration numbers have risen in the last month, since the Supreme Court decision in June 2022, by 7,325 voters in July 2022.

Rebecca Stephens, a Kansas voter, said, “I think it’s important that we get votes from all sides of the issues, because it’s just people saying what they truly believe is right.”  The amendment is bringing out voters, which is causing higher numbers for representatives.  “It’s important for people to voice their opinions on that,” said Nancy Ingle, Kansas registered voter. “Even City Commission, it’s not a partisan election, but you should be out supporting who you think will best represent you on the City Council.”

The State of Kansas Secretary of State primary election voter statistics show: 2016 had a 23.5% voter turnout; 2018 had 27.1% voter turnout; and 2020 had 34.2% voter turnout.

Marsha Wallace, a Pittsburg election worker, said, “It seems to me that this has been a much higher turn out for a primary election, more like a general election, so it’s interesting to me to see what the total count will be.”

You can find results to the proposition as they come in below. You can also find more Aug. 2, 2022, election results here.

 

U.S. SENATOR

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Jerry Moran Winner
    79.9%


    60,131

  • Joan Farr  
    20.1%


    15,120

75,251
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

SECRETARY OF STATE

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Scott J. Schwab  
    58.0%


    100,799

  • Mike Brown  
    42.0%


    72,954

173,753
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Derek Schmidt/Katie Sawyer Winner
    77.7%


    93,429

  • Arlyn Briggs/Lance Berland  
    22.3%


    26,885

120,314
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

ATTORNEY GENERAL

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Kris Kobach  
    38.8%


    72,300

  • Kellie Warren  
    38.2%


    71,078

  • Tony Mativi  
    23.0%


    42,826

186,204
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

STATE TREASURER

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Caryn Tyson  
    50.0%


    83,536

  • Steven Johnson  
    50.0%


    83,370

166,906
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

BOARD OF EDUCATION 9TH DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN KANSAS

  • Jim Porter  
    63.8%


    5,679

  • Luke Aichele  
    36.2%


    3,227

8,906
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

U.S. SENATE

DEMOCRAT KANSAS

  • Mark R. Holland Winner
    41.6%


    77,696

  • Patrick Wiesner  
    19.1%


    35,650

  • Paul Buskirk  
    18.8%


    35,167

  • Mike Andra  
    10.4%


    19,430

  • Robert Kingenberg  
    6.9%


    12,880

  • Michael Soeteart  
    3.2%


    6,055

186,878
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

KS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

The Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no KS constitutional right to abortion?

  • No  
    63.0%


    365,870

  • Yes  
    37.0%


    214,667

580,537

47.3% precincts reporting
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR

DEMOCRATIC KANSAS

  • Laura Kelly/D. Toland Winner
    94.8%


    189,822

  • Richard Karnowski/B. Franco  
    5.2%


    10,448

200,270
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

PRESIDING COMMISSIONER

REPUBLICAN BARTON COUNTY, MO

  • David W. Johnson Winner
    45.6%


    1,196

  • Judy I. Fast  
    20.4%


    535

  • Garry Garrett  
    13.6%


    357

  • Terry Thieman  
    10.9%


    287

  • Kim O’Sullivan  
    9.5%


    250

2,625
Last updated: August 2, 2022 9:34 PM 9:34 PM CDT

Federal court blocks enforcement of Biden’s recent ruling on women’s sports

TOPEKA, Kan. – A federal district court seeks to halt the enforcement of a recent Biden administration ruling regarding transgender athletes and related matters of gender identity.

Late Friday, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee granted an injunction sought by Schmidt and 19 other state attorneys general halting enforcement of guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Education against the plaintiff states.

The guidance purports to resolve highly controversial issues, such as whether schools must:

  1. allow biological males to compete on girls’ sports teams
  2. whether employers and schools may maintain sex-separated showers and locker rooms
  3. whether individuals may be compelled by the government to use another person’s preferred pronouns

“The federal court has recognized this overreach by the Biden administration to unilaterally resolve these sensitive questions that are better addressed by elected representatives,” Schmidt said. “It is clear that the administration is determined to make sweeping one-size-fits-all policy changes without public comment or proper notice.”

The federal court injunction prohibits enforcement of the guidelines in Kansas and 19 other states that filed the lawsuit. A copy of the federal court order is available here.

Some Oklahoma schools now require biological sex affidavit for student-athletes

GROVE, Okla. – Some Oklahoma School Districts have recently begun enforcing a new law that requires students to submit a biological sex affidavit to participate in School Sports.

In Northeast Oklahoma, schools are getting the word out to their communities, however, some members of the public have dissenting opinions.

“There was a separation between church and state for a reason, said Nina Short, Co-Founder of Four-State Youth for Equality. “Their views have no business in our school system.  These kids are born this way.”

Check out KOAM news at 6:00 p.m. to hear the Superintendent of Grove Public Schools speak on the issue.

To learn more on Senate Bill 2, click here.

Several people shot at Copenhagen shopping mall, police say

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish police said Sunday that several people were shot at a Copenhagen shopping mall.

Copenhagen police said that one person has been arrested in connection with the shooting at the Field’s shopping mall, which is close to the city’s airport. Police tweeted that “several people have been hit,” but gave no other details.

Copenhagen Mayor Sophie H. Andersen tweeted: “Terrible reports of shooting in Fields. We do not yet know for sure how many were injured or dead, but it is very serious.”

Images from the scene showed people running out of the mall, and Denmark’s TV2 broadcaster posted a photo of a man being put on a stretcher. Witnesses said people were crying and hid in shops.

Laurits Hermansen told Danish broadcaster DR that he was in a clothing store at the shopping center with his family when he heard “three-four bangs. Really loud bangs. It sounded like the shots were being fired just next to the store.”

A huge presence of heavily-armed police officers was on hand, with several fire department vehicles also parked outside the mall.

“One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting at Fields. We currently are not able to say more about the person concerned,” Copenhagen police tweeted. “We have a massive presence at Fields and are working on getting an overview.”

The shopping center is on the outskirts of Copenhagen just across from a subway line that connects the city center with the international airport. A major highway also runs adjacent to Fields.

Protesters in Joplin gather to show their opposition to the recent SCOTUS Roe V. Wade decision

 

JOPLIN, Mo. – Some protesters hit the streets today in Joplin to express their opposition to last week’s SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe V. Wade.

This gathering is one of many in the 4-State’s area in recent days.

“I’m out here because I’m in a fight for women’s rights,” said Protester Eliie Wolsey. “I believe that the Supreme Court has taken actions against women and we need to fight using our first amendment right, we have the right to do so. ”

Protesters met at Hill Park and marched to Rangeline.

Catch KOAM and FOX 14 tonight for the whole story.

 

Students at Carthage High School walk-out in support of Roe v. Wade

CARTHAGE, Mo. – Students at Carthage High School hosted a walk-out event to show their support for Roe V. Wade on May 18.

According to the event organizer Xzandria Avina, the purpose of the walk-out is to stand against the Supreme Court’s leaked decision to overturn Roe V. Wade.

“Here in Missouri, a woman’s right to bodily autonomy will be stripped from her, with an Anti-Abortion bill ready to be passed if the decision goes through.”

-Avina

Students began their protest at the roundabout on Grand and Fairlawn and made their way to the city’s courthouse.

Students also started a petition to show their support.

Be sure to stay with us as this story develops. Find out more tonight on KOAM & Fox 14.

Oklahoma governor signs Texas-style ban on most abortions

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a Texas-style abortion ban on Tuesday that prohibits abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, part of a nationwide push in GOP-led states hopeful that the conservative U.S. Supreme Court will uphold new restrictions.

Stitt’s signing of the bill comes on the heels of a leaked draft opinion from the nation’s high court that it is considering weakening or overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nearly 50 years ago.

The bill Stitt signed takes effect immediately with his signature, but abortion rights advocates already have challenged the new law in court. It’s not clear when the Oklahoma Supreme Court might issue a ruling in the case, but abortion providers say once the new law is in place, they will immediately stop providing services unless the court intervenes.

“There will be people who lose access, even if the halt in services is only brief,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates abortion clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

The new law prohibits abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which experts say is roughly six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. A similar bill approved in Texas last year led to a dramatic reduction in the number of abortions performed in that state, with many women going to Oklahoma and other surrounding states for the procedure.

Dr. Iman Alsaden, the medical director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said Texas’ law that took effect in September has given their employees an idea of what a post-Roe country might look like.

“Since that day, my colleagues and I have regularly treated patients who are fleeing their communities to seek care,” Alsaden said. “They’re taking time off of work, taking time out of school and taking time away from their family responsibilities to get the care that until September 2021 they were able to get safely and readily in their communities.”

The bill authorizes abortions if performed as the result of a medical emergency, but there are no exceptions if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

Like the Texas law, the Oklahoma bill would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion for up to $10,000. After the U.S. Supreme Court allowed that mechanism to remain in place, other Republican-led states sought to copy Texas’ ban. Idaho’s governor signed the first copycat measure in March, although it has been temporarily blocked by the state’s Supreme Court.

Stitt earlier this year signed a bill to make performing an abortion a felony crime in Oklahoma, but that measure is not set to take effect until this summer, and legal experts say it’s likely to be blocked because the Roe v. Wade decision still remains the law of the land.

The number of abortions performed each year in Oklahoma, which has four abortion clinics, has declined steadily over the last two decades, from more than 6,200 in 2002 to 3,737 in 2020, the fewest in more than 20 years, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In 2020, before the Texas law was passed, about 9% of the abortions performed in Oklahoma were women from Texas.

Before the Texas ban took effect on Sept. 1, about 40 women from Texas had abortions performed in Oklahoma each month, the data shows. That number jumped to 222 Texas women in September and 243 in October.

(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)